Cub Scout Pack #653 is a Catholic ministry of St. Mary Parish.  As such, all that we do flows from Christ and is directed toward Him.  Our mission is to help the youth of our community to embrace the fullness of life that Christ offers, helping them to become responsible, mature, and committed disciples and citizens – strong in body, strong in mind, strong in spirit.  We are committed to living out the vision of the Boy Scouts of America, as expressed primarily in the Scout Oath and Law, and to deepening our own commitment to Jesus Christ and to His Church.

GOALS
Flowing from our mission statement of who we are, we set the following as our goals:

1. To become better disciples of Jesus Christ, and faithful members of His Church.
2. To promote personal and spiritual maturity.
3. To enrich family life by fostering deeper relationships between children and their parents.
4. To uphold the Code of Scouting, which is centered on being good Christians, living virtuous lives, and being responsible citizens of the United States of America.
5. To learn about the teachings of the Catholic faith and our spiritual heritage.
6. To foster devote living through participation in the sacramental life of the Church and through personal prayer.
7. To promote moral courage in making decisions and living lives of virtue.
8. To have fun in all that we do, enjoying life as a gift from God.

OBJECTIVES
We will strive to meet our goals through these activities:

1. We will purposefully include elements of fun in all of our activities.
2. Our pack meetings will always include a recitation of the Scout Oath and Law, as well as a prayer or Catholic devotion (such as a decade of the Rosary, the Angelus, a litany, etc.).
3. We will make time to explain different aspects of our Catholic beliefs and practices, encouraging the scouts to fully participate in the life of the Church.  Special emphasis will be given to Sunday Mass.
4. A variety of activities will be planned to foster physical, spiritual, and personal maturity.
5. All volunteers will always model responsible, moral and polite behavior.  The scouts will be expected to act in ways that are responsible, moral and polite.  Activities focused on learning and practicing moral choices will be offered.
6. We will encourage the scouts to earn religious medals along with the medals and badges promoted by the Boy Scouts of America.
7. We will always encourage strong relationships between scouts and parents, inviting parents and family members to attend pack meetings and other activities.
8. We will teach the scouts about the saints, holding them up as models to be imitated.
9. Service activities will be planned which will teach the scouts the value of serving the community.
10. We will encourage the scouts to pray about their vocations, and to listen to the Holy Spirit’s call in their lives.

TEN PURPOSES OF CUB SCOUTING (FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA)

1. Character Development
2. Spiritual Growth
3. Good Citizenship
4. Sportsmanship and Fitness
5. Family Understanding
6. Respectful Relationships
7. Personal Achievement
8. Friendly Service
9. Fun and Adventure
10. Preparation for Boy Scouts