Religious Emblems Program
Parvuli Dei Requirements

Eligibility:

Any boy who has completed the second grade can work for the Parvuli Dei emblem if he is a registered Cub Scout of Catholic faith.

Purpose:

The purpose of the emblem program is to help young boys explore a wide range of activities in order to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their daily lives as members of their families and parishes, and also to develop a good, positive self-image through the contributions they can make to the group or community.

The program activities are simple ones. They are family oriented, and much of the success of the program depends upon the parents or other adult who acts as an advisor to the child.

Requirements:

It is necessary that each participating Cub Scout have an individual Parvuli Dei activity book. Completion of the requirements is primarily the responsibility of the Cub Scout with the assistance of the parent or guardian in the family environment. (Note: Working in a den or classroom setting is contrary to the purpose of family enrichment in the program). It is suggested that a half hour be set aside each week for each of the activity book steps. In this setting, the boy sees the importance of the parents' time and sees the church as a priority. The parent helps the Cub Scout understand the material, and signs each step in the activity book.

Workbook Activities:

STEP 1: FAMILIES

  1. Ask your Mom or Dad to help you find the story of creation in the Bible and read it together (Genesis 1).
  2. After you've finished reading the story, find and cut out pictures from magazines, or draw the things that God created - light and darkness, the sun, the moon, the ocean, stars, trees, fruit, birds, animals, and people.
  3. Make a list of how these gifts from God help us every day. For example, the sun gives us light and keeps us warm; we eat fruit and it tastes good.
  4. Make up a prayer and write it down, thanking God for all these gifts that he gives to us. Share it with your family the next time you have supper together.
  5. Draw and cut our a treasure chest for each person in your family, including you. When you have finished, gather everyone together and give each one a chest and a pencil or pen. Ask each family member to write his or her name on the front of the chest and give it back to you. On the back, list one or two special gifts or talents they have. Then ask each one to pass his or her her chest to the next person. Have them write what they think is special about that person. Keep passing the chests alone until everyone has added a "treasure." Afterward, give each person his or her chest. Ask each member to share their treasures with the family.

    6. Now answer these questions:
    (a) What did you learn about yourself that you didn't know before?
    (b) Did you discover any treasures that you and no one else in your family possesses?
    (c) How often do you tell others about the special qualities or "treasures" that they have?

STEP 2: GOD OUR FATHER, HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND I

  1. To show their love, respect, and belief in Jesus as savior and king, the shepherds and Wise Men visited him in the stable where he was born and brought him the finest gifts they had. If you were a young shepherd boy, what would you give to the baby Jesus or do fir him? Paste in cut-out pictures, draw, or write about your gifts.
  2. Think about the things you can do for Jesus today. Write, draw, or paste in cut-out pictures of yourself doing these things and put them inside the "present."
  3. Talk to your parents about how they learned about Jesus when they were your age. Think about how you can learn about him, then write your answers and compare them. Are your answers different or alike?
  4. Jesus says that "you are the light of the world." This means that your gifts are special and will grow as you share them with others. For this activity you will need a large candle for each person in your family, a flashlight, and a Bible.
  1. Gather your family together around a table. Choose family members to help with the readings.
  2. After a few minutes of silence, turn off the lights. Use the flashlight and begin the first reading: John 1:1-5 and 9.
  3. Light the large candle in the center of the table; continue with the second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
  4. Call each one of your family by name and present him or her with one of the small lighted candles (light off large candle). Thank each person for a special gift that he or she gives to others (for example, cheerfulness, patience, kindness). Then say: "You bring more love- light into the world."
  5. After each person has received a symbol of his or her light, finish with the third reading: Matthew 5:14-16.
  6. Write down what you felt about the prayer service. How did you feel about your family praying together?
  1. What are some of the ways that you can show the members of your family how much you love them? After you have done something to show your love for them, either write or draw what you did.

STEP 3: JESUS, OUR CHURCH AND I

  1. Read John 15:5 and then fill in the spaces shown in the "family tree", indicating the persons in the church and your parish who make up the branches.
  2. Look around and see what other people are doing in your parish. Talk to someone who is doing something that you would like to do. Who did you talk to? Write about what you learned.
  3. Find out what kind of activities are going on in your parish. How so these activities help the parish or other people.
  4. Just as you and your family celebrate special events - birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and so on, the church also celebrates special events. Make a list of these celebrations and write them down.
  5. In the first column make a list of the things that you can do for your family. In the second column, write down some things that you can do for your parish.
  6. Find pictures of children from around the world and paste them in the book. Write the countries they live in.

STEP 4: JESUS, HIS PEOPLE AND I

  1. Read the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) with your parents and then explain it to them in your own words.
  2. Make a card or gift, write a poem, or draw a picture to give to someone in your neighborhood pr parish who is sick, poor, elderly, shut-in, or handicapped. Try to spend a little time with this person. Or perhaps you could run an errand, do a small job, or read a story to the person you visit. Afterward, write about your visit and tell how you felt.
  3. Attend Mass with your family, and pray for the person you visited.
  4. Sharing Tic Tac Toe: Complete any three good deeds by either working across, down or diagonally.
  5. Pretend that you are a person in business. Think about some of the things that you could sell that the world or your community needs to make it a better place. Write or draw these things.
  6. If you have hurt or made someone in your family angry, tell them that you are sorry. Is this hard to do? Why? Talk about it with your mom or dad. Write what you did to show that you were sorry.

STEP 5: CHILDREN OF GOD, OTHER CUBS AND I

  1. Together with your mom or dad read the story of Zaccheus, a man who was willing to do all he could to know Jesus better and to serve him. It can be found in Luke, chapter 19, verses 1-9. Now answer the questions below.
  1. What was Zaccheus' job?
  2. Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus, but it was hard for him. Why?
  3. What did he do to solve this problem?
  4. When Jesus spoke to Zaccheus and told him He would visit his house, Zaccheus was very happy. He was so happy, in fact that he did something. What was it?
  1. Think of something that you do very well - playing baseball, mowing the grass, roller-skating. Teach someone else this skill and then have them teach you one thing that they do very well. Write or draw what you did.
  2. Choose one day out of the week and make it your special day. On this day show someone "I Love You." Write about your experience and what you did.
  3. Make a banner out of fabric or paper. This banner should show designs that tell about you and some things you have learned, or activities that you have done to receive your Parvuli Dei Emblem.  Present your banner to your parish priest, school, or pack for display.

    4.