Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the lead consultant for the archdiocesan office of evangelization and Catholic formation of youth.
by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
Baptizing five babies in a day is really inspiring.
Recently, I had the privilege of baptizing my grandson Isaac and four other treasured children.
In each of their parents’ eyes, you could see the love for their children. You could see how far they would go to protect and equip their child for life on earth and for life in eternity.
Each of these parents desired to be, as the baptismal rite says, “the first and best teachers” of the faith for their children. This is not easy. It is a lifelong commitment.
Being a parent of five kids, we have needed help from grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, trusted friends and heavily vetted organizations to meet this bar of “first and best.”
We are blessed to have amazing family and friends that have reinforced the faith lives of our children.
Heavily vetted organizations, religious education, Catholic schools and Camp Tekakwitha, and their teachers/counselors have deeply impacted the faith life of our children.
I want the best of the best faith formation and experience for my kids and my grandchildren, Isaac and Eleanor.
Because I want the best of the best faith formation and experience for your kids and my grandchildren, that is why — going into our 22nd year of operation — my wife Deborah and I are still directing Camp Tekakwitha.
We assemble an extremely dedicated, spirit-filled staff that creates deeply moving faith experiences each summer. Ask your family and friends, check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts and YouTube channel.
Past campers are our best advocates. They will tell you how much fun they had at Camp Tekakwitha. They will tell how great the cabins and food were. But mostly, they will tell you how great their counselors were and how much they got out of eucharistic adoration, Mass and the prayer times.
Mountain board and bikes, high- and low- ropes courses, horses, waterslides, climbing towers, and nightly concerts and events are just the backdrop to the lasting faith formation experiences that make Camp Tekakwitha such a treasure of our archdiocese.
Silence, slowing down, listening, being listened to, praying over Scripture and meeting Jesus face to face in eucharistic adoration are interwoven with memorable outdoor adventures.
We work year-round assembling our staff and experiences to help you be the “first and best teachers”; we strive to reinforce the values and virtues that you have rooted at home.
Now, for the first time, you can give Camp Tekakwitha for Christmas. The registration schedule is as follows:
- Campers entering 9th to 12th grades in fall 2019: Register on Nov. 27.
- Campers entering 7th and 8th grades in fall 2019: Register on Dec. 4.
- Campers entering 5th and 6th grades in fall 2019: Register on Dec. 11.
- Family Camp: Register by email to Jennifer at: camptekreg@gmail.com on Nov. 27.
