On October 19, Jeffry McDougal became the second member of Wareham's Troop 39 to receive the Boy Scouts of America's Ad Altare Dei Roman Catholic Award.

The Ad Altare Dei, which translates to "to the alter of God," is a program to help Catholic Scouts of the Roman Catholic Rite develop a Christian way of life in a faith community.

Jeffry worked with Fr. Ron Floyd at St. Patrick's Church in Wareham, which sponsors Troop 39. He pedaled his bike to the church weekly after school last year to meet with Floyd to complete the program.

"I learned about how Scout values and Christian faith fit together," noted Jeffry, an 8th-grader at Wareham Middle School. "I studied the Seven Sacraments and my faith."

Part of the program landed Jeffry at a retreat where he spend a day with Floyd and students at the Holy Family Holy Name School in New Bedford.

Jeffry and the other students spent the day acting out different scenarios and skits based on the theme of reconciliation.

"It was a lot of fun," Jeffry says.

Jeffry's mother, Donna, who works at Bishop Stang High School, noted that the retreat was "cool for Jeffry [to experience], because he doesn't go to a Catholic school."

"I'm proud of him," Donna continued. After school, "he would go right to meeting with Fr. Ron [Floyd] for an hour and a half. While most kids were starting homework or watching TV or playing video games ... he was learning about his faith."

Jeffry thanked Fr. Floyd, who he described as "awesome," for his help throughout the program. The scout passed his review in August, and on October 19,  Fr. John Sullivan of St. Patrick's Church presented him with the award at the church's 4 p.m. Mass.

A total of 25 friends, family members, and troop members were there to support Jeffry.

"I haven't felt like that in years," he said, describing the experience as "a little bit [more] awesome" than his first Communion.

"I want to thank all of the people who were supporting me," he added.

Jeffry is hoping to attend Bishop Stang as a freshman next year. He is currently preparing for his Confirmation in the spring. You can catch him at St. Patricks Church at noon on Sundays, where he frequently serves at the altar.