Before you begin: Training is required for all mentors and moderators wanting to work with the girls. A separate leader’s guide is given to the adult leaders at training. We offer many different training dates for the Mary, the First Disciple Program all through out the year. To check out dates for Moderator Training, click here.

Click here to visit our online store to purchase the Mary, the First Disicple Book and other items.

What: Beginning in 1956 and the first award offered to Girl Scouts, this program actively involves the participants in an understanding of Mary as a model of openness and spirituality – a woman of the Church through various projects, discussions, and liturgical celebrations over a period of months. Program must be completed by December 1st of every year in order to receive the award in March the following year.

Who: For youth in grades seven to twelve who are interested in completed the Mary, the First Disciple Faith Building Program.

Where: Medals are presented each year at the Cathedral Basilica during a prayer service on Presentation Sunday.

Purpose: To enable them to “proclaim the greatness of the Lord”. It is also a unique opportunity to develop new insights into their personalities, friends, parents, and the world around them. They will grow in http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1005014.htmappreciation of Mary and in understanding of themselves.

Chapters of the book include:

1. Called and Chosen
2. God With Us
3. Mary Made a Difference
4. Mary, a Woman for all Time

Once you have begun: There are many opportunities offered by the Office of Catholic Scouting that can be helpful in completing the Mary, the First Disciple Faith Building Program. Such events include: The Day of Discipleship (required for all Mary, the First Disciple recipients); the Romantic Revolution; and the Catholic Weekend Retreat for Girls. These events are listed on our calendar of events on the Office of Catholic Scouting website.

Resources: The Office of Catholic Scouting has available a DVD library available for lending. The following is a list of available DVDs:

• "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima"
• "The Song of Bernadette"
• "Jesus of Nazareth" (2 copies of available)
• "Mary of Nazareth"
• "Mary, Mother of Jesus"
• "Picturing Mary"
• "Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America"

Information links:

• Assumption of Mary [New Advent]
• Assumption of Mary [Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 966]
• Mary as a Patron Saint [Catholic Forum]
• Compassion [Passionists]
• Immaculate Conception [Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 490]
• The Luminous Mysteries [Catholic Update]
• MarianLand.com [Books, Videos, Information]
• The Marian Library [University of Dayton]
• The Assumption- Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Fr Tom Pastorious Website (Great website packed full of resources)

Read the great news about the first Marian apparition approval in the US!

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1005014.htm