AHG Catholic Faith Awards Overview

Catholic Faith Awards FAQ from Faith Award Overview

Do girls need a specific person to work on the CFAs?

For Tenderhearts and Explorers, the girls should work with their parents. Pioneers and Patriots should work with a mentor who has taken the AHG Catholic Faith Award Mentor Training available in AHGequip.

Who should be my girl’s mentor?

A Catholic Faith Award Mentor should be a well-formed Catholic such as the Troop Shepherd, an adult who has had catechesis training, the parish director of religious education, or a religious sister, brother, or priest. The mentor should always have two-deep leadership.

Can girls work with girls from other Troops or dioceses?

Deus et Civitas Mea: God and My Community and Femina Integritatis: Woman of Integrity both work best in a group setting. For Troops with only one Pioneer or Patriot, AHG encourages the formation of a group with girls from other AHG Troops to earn their Catholic Faith Awards together. Troops are highly discouraged from joining a group outside of their diocesan boundary. If there are no Catholic girls within the diocesan boundary, please contact the AHG National Catholic Committee for additional help at catholiccommittee@ahgncc.org.

Do girls need to complete all activities, service projects, and outings?

Yes, girls should complete all of these. If a requirement is particularly challenging in your area, please consult with your diocesan Authorized Purchaser to ask about modification.

If a girl joins AHG in the second or third year of a Program Level, where should she start?

Catholic girls can start with Segment One of their Program Level’s CFA or the Segment corresponding to their year within that Program Level. For example, if a girl joins AHG in the 5th grade, she may begin with Segment Two of Deus et Patria Mea: God and My Country. She may also complete Segment One, but she cannot jump ahead to Segment Three until she advances as a third-year Explorer. Patriots should always start with Segment One of Femina Integritatis: Woman of Integrity.

Can a girl work on Segments outside of her Program Level (i.e., can an Explorer go back and work on a Tenderheart Faith Award)?

No, a girl should only work on Segments within her Program Level. She should not move ahead or work on previous Program Levels’ segments.

How do Catholic girls satisfy the Faith Award requirement for each Level Award?

Tenderhearts, Explorers, and Pioneers are each required to complete one Segment of their Program Level’s Catholic Faith Award. Patriots must complete Segments One and Two of Femina Integritatis: Woman of Integrity to earn their Abigail Adams Level Award.

If a girl has already earned her NFCYM award during her current Program Level, could she still work on the Catholic Faith Awards for the remainder of her Program Level?

Yes, absolutely! Any girl may work on a Catholic Faith Award even if she already has earned an NFCYM award.

If a girl has already earned her Spirit Alive or Marian Medals as a first-year Patriot, can she count this toward the Abigail Adams Level Award requirement?

Yes, if a girl has earned Spirit Alive or the Marian Medal as a Patriot before the release of the Catholic Faith Award Program on June 1, 2020, she may count it toward the Abigail Adams Level Award.

How are the patches and medals presented to the girls?

Ask your diocesan Authorized Purchaser if they conduct a special award ceremony for youth earning religious awards. Some dioceses have an annual “Scout Mass,” typically held between January and May. Dioceses usually only award the medal. Troops or churches should award patches at a special ceremony, such as a Court of Awards or Holy Mass, at the discretion of the parish priest.

Can a Catholic girl earn a B.Y. Faith Award?

Yes, Catholic American Heritage girls may complete any of the B.Y. Faith Awards that are Catholic or ecumenical. She should work with her family and priest to determine the best Faith Award option for her time in AHG. While Catholic girls are encouraged to work towards their Catholic Faith Awards, AHG recognizes that a girl may be interested in a particular B.Y. Faith Award, and she may pursue that interest under the mentorship of a Troop Shepherd, Unit Leader, or parent. Troops and girls may pursue any of the approved Faith Award options as long as the faith traditions of each family and the Charter Organization are respected at all times.

What should I do if my diocese wants more information about the Catholic Faith Awards?

Contact the AHG National Catholic Committee at catholiccommittee@ahgncc.org.

Where do I go if I have additional questions?

If you have reviewed all materials on AHG’s online resource library, including the listing of AHG National Catholic Committee Resources, and have more questions, please contact the AHG National Catholic Committee at catholiccommittee@ahgncc.org.