by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1022).
Laughter and tears are two of God’s most compelling inventions. Joy, empathy and holiness draw people in.
We, of course, want our friends and families to know and follow Jesus. And the joy, tears, adventures and holiness that we share are key elements in helping others establish a firm foundation.
Camp Tekakwitha is a fusion of joy, laughter, adventure and holiness. Fun, faith and friends is what Camp Tekakwitha is all about. Lots of research say people are drawn to and committed to faith that they can feel and experience.
Camp Tekakwitha, the March For Life, NCYC, and the F.I.R.E. Retreat help people experience faith that can be felt and experienced with parish and diocesan friends. Campers build a support structure to complement their family foundation.
Camp registration is open online at: www.archkck.org/camp. Financial assistance is available. Check out website videos and our Instagram.
In Lent across the archdiocese, parishes will launch three-year plans that they have each created to implement “Enflame Our Hearts, Homes and Communities.”
Each parish is asked to equip missionary disciples with the vision and tools for passing on the faith. Jesus says in the Great Commandment and Great Commission what he desires to be important to us.
Look at your personal and your parish’s calendar and checkbook. Your priorities are reflected tangibly in your calendar and your checkbook. Enflaming our hearts, homes and communities means prioritizing praying, caring and sharing with our families, neighbors and friends.
The camp curriculum will equip campers to enflame our hearts, homes and communities. All of the Camp Tekakwitha offerings — from special-needs family camp to Extreme Camp — strengthen individual faith and build strong community.
The world is full of isolation, judgment, disconnect and hopelessness. The church is called to be full of connection, understanding, belonging and hope.
Each of us is to be like the star that guided the Magi to the Nativity. Our witness flows out of our love and relationship with Jesus and out into our homes and community. Check out the website at: www.archkck.org/enflame to see how to be a guiding star to the Magi in your life.
It is difficult to fulfill our resolutions and aspirations by ourselves. We are designed to live in community and to grow and learn in community.
Young believers benefit from experiences like Camp Tekakwitha because camp is a joyful, laughter-filled adventure in a tightknit, holy community.
Camp Tekakwitha speaks the teachings of the Gospel in words and experiences that are easy to understand and follow.
Parish life should be dotted with tears and laughter-filled adventures — experienced in tightknit, holy community — and sharing the Gospel in ways that are easy to understand and follow.
