The NCCS Activities Committee announced a new patch activity called the "Footsteps of American Saints" in 2008. The Footsteps of American Saints Activity program is a religious activity program that encourages youth to learn about several individuals that have shaped the landscape of Catholicism in America. 

This religious activity honors those men and women who led heroic lives of faith. Their words, their deeds, and their devotion to prayer and to the sacraments, inspire all American Catholics. In the church calendar for the United States, some have the rank of "Saint" and are venerated by the universal church. Some have the rank of "Blessed" and are venerated by the local church. Some have the rank of "Venerable" and, while on the way to becoming a "Saint", may be venerated by Catholics. Most of these men and women lived and worked in North America in what is now the United States. Some others never set foot in America, however they had a huge impact on the Catholic American landscape. All of them sought to follow Jesus.

The goal of this activity is to share the lives of several Saints so that the youth might relate to what these people have done and maybe look to these individuals as role models.

Great story on how a Catholic School learned about the Saints             as part of Catholics Schools week!

 http://stlouisreview.com/article/2011-02-02/students-emulate

FOOTSTEPS OF THE AMERICAN SAINTS: PRIEST NAMED A SAINT

I want to share some exciting news related to one of our activities called the "Footsteps of American Saints." I learned that Pope Benedict approved a miracle attributed to the Blessed Damen of Molokai intercession, declaring that a Honolulu woman's recovery in 1999 from terminal lung cancer was the miracle needed for him to be made a saint.

I encourage all of you to share this information with the Scouts in your units. Blessed Damen of Molokai is a wonderful role model for our youth. Take this opportunity to learn more about his life by working on the Footsteps of American Saints activity for Blessed Damen of Molokai. For more information about Blessed Damen of Molokai and other saint activities, please visit the NCCS Website.

UPDATE: The Footsteps of American Saint Patches are now available for purchase from in the Office of Catholic Scouting. Order them on-line or in the office today!

• Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton
• St. Isaac Jogues
• St. John Neumann
• Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
• St. Peter Claver
• Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini
• Blessed André Bessette
• Blessed Mother Marianne Cope
• Saint Catherine Drexel
• Blessed Damien of Molokai
• Saint Isadore (the Farmer)
• Blessed Junípero Serra
• Blessed Carlos Rodriguez
• Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher (Jan 2011)
• Saint Paul of the Cross (Jan 2011)
• Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (Jan 2011)
• Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro (Jan 2011)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe (Jan 2011)

More will be listed as time goes on; for pictures and descriptions in detail of all the saint patches, please visit the NCCS website.