As we enter into our second century of Scouting in the United States, it is important to know that 100 years ago, our country was still a mission country in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Frederic Baraga was the missionary priest that set up a mission church on the west side of the Grand River in what is now Grand Rapids for the Ottawa in 1832. He spent the next 36 years ministering to Native Americans and settlers from Europe. Missionary priests brought the Roman Catholic Church to America and continue to bring our faith to all corners of the world.

To celebrate the work of all missionaries, the Grand Rapids Catholic Committee on Scouting offers the opportunity for Scouts to earn the Bishop Baraga Missionary Trails Award. Since the award was introduced, the Vatican has recognized our saintly Bishop Baraga as a Servant of God and on May 10, 2012, he was declared Venerable due to his heroic virtues and he is one step closer to becoming a saint.

The Missionary Trails Award was given to Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Both have imparted their Apostolic Blessing on the Grand Rapids Catholic Committee on Scouting for the work being done with Catholic Scouts in the Diocese. 

The medal is available from the Grand Rapids Catholic Committee on Scouting for $15 plus $3 for shipping.

To earn this award, you must complete all of the following:

1. Give a brief history of a Missionary Priest that served the Catholic Church in your Diocese. Bishop Baraga must be used for this requirement for the Grand Rapids Diocese. Scouts in the Diocese of Kalamazoo may use Bishop Baraga or one of the following:
   • Fr. Anthony Label
   • Fr. Francis O'Brien
   • Fr. Edward Sorin (Founder of Notre Dame University)
2. Explain the difference between a Missionary Priest and a Diocesan Priest.
3. Visit a Catholic shrine and give a brief history of the shrine OR attend the ordination of a Priest or Deacon OR attend a ceremony where a religious Sister or Brother takes their vows.
4. Pray the Stations of the Cross at a church or shrine and describe the crosses that a Missionary Priest may encounter as they spread our Catholic faith throughout the world.
5. Attend a Mass at a church that was operating when the Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910.
6. Explain how you as a Catholic Scout in the United States in the 21st century can be a missionary today.
7. Prepare a map that shows the locations that the Missionary you chose preached the Word of God and evangelized the people who lived in those places.