TO THE ALTAR OF GOD, Who giveth joy to my youth!
St. Mary, Salem parishioner John Streff, son of Eugene and Julie Streff, was presented the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Scouting medal and the Eagle Scout medal by Fathers Duman and Lawrence of St. Mary, Help of Christians on Sunday, October 12, 2008 following the Postcommunion Prayer of the Holy Mass. The Ad Altare Dei award (Latin for “to the altar of God”) is for Catholic scouts who desire to increase their knowledge of the Catholic faith through Bible study. The program workbook is organized in chapters based on the seven sacraments, encouraging spiritual growth. The emblem itself is a bronze cross suspended from a ribbon of Papal colors – yellow and white with a fine red, white, and blue strip down the center of the ribbon. To receive the prestigious Eagle Scout award, John had to meet many requirements: earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, take part in community service projects, and plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project of his choice. John’s Eagle Scout project was to oversee volunteer helpers as they constructed 300 single-decade rosaries to be sent to mission churches here in the United States. The Eagle Scout medal is that of an eagle, suspended from a tri-color ribbon of red, white, and blue. John is a ninth grade student, and a dedicated Altar Server at both the ordinary (English) Mass and the Traditional Latin Mass. Introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam…I will go unto the altar of God, to God Who giveth joy to my youth.