STARKVILLE- On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, Brett B., a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 45 in Starkville and a member of St. Joseph Parish, received the Ad Altare Dei emblem. Farther Lenin Vargas presented it during Thanksgiving Day Mass
Ad Altatre Dei is one of the highest honors a Boy Scout can receive. It means “to the altar of God.” The purpose of the program is to help Catholic scouts develop a fully Christian way of life in a faith community. The program is organized in chapters based on the seven sacraments.
The presentation of The Ad Altare Dei emblem marked the end of a spiritual journey that took Brett across two dioceses (Jackson and Nashville). It included a service project for wounded warriors, attending a priest ordination and serving at a wedding at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, Tennessee. While visiting, Brett became friends with Bishop David  Choby,  Bishop of Nashville and also with Andrew Bulso, a seminarian studying in Rome.
“It was an amazing thing that I was able to make the friendships that I did with these men of my faith and have been able to remain in close contact with them. ” says Brett.
Bailey also had to attend a weekend retreat for the program. He attended the Dwelling Place and spent time with founder and director, Clare Van Lent. He attended a Mass at Corpus Christi in Macon where he used a shield and staff that he made, blessed by Father Mario Solórzano, in the procession.
Brett was guided through the program by his counselor, Dr. Randolph Follett, a fellow parishioner at St. Joseph.
After the Thanksgiving Day Mass Brett and his family prepared and served gumbo to fellow parishioners in the fellowship hall before they went off to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with their families.
(Story and photos submitted by Rosalind B..)
(For more information on the Ad Altare Dei Emblem and how a Boy Scout can begin the program, please contact your local Boy Scout Council office or the Diocese office.)