Vocation Camp hopes to plant a seed

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Playing basketball. Hiking. Swimming. Musical chairs. Not the typical activities middle school students might engage in with nuns and priests.

But it’s exactly how Father Steve Bruno, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, envisioned the inaugural Vocation Camp for fifth through seventh graders Aug. 4-6 at Camp Abbey Retreat Center in Covington.

“This gives them a chance to be around a nun or a priest in a comfortable setting,” he said. “I wanted to get them in an environment so they will see we are real people. We go hiking. This gives kids interested in vocations more opportunities to enter into a dialog with priests and nuns.”

Right from the moment they arrived at Camp Abbey, the 47 participating campers were introduced to religious, including deacons, Christian Brother Jerry Vincent, and Sacred Heart Sister Diane Roche and Sister of the Holy Family Carmen Bertrand, who will be directors and mentors at the new Magnificat Discernment House for Women. The sisters regaled the campers with stories of events that influenced their call to religious life.

 “I think this is very appropriate for this age,” Sister Diane said about the camp. She stayed the night, looking forward to hiking with campers. “For me, this is fun.”

“It makes them aware that there is another way of life they can choose,” Sister Carmen said. “It’s a good thing for them to start thinking early that ‘I could give my life as a sister or brother.’”

Making new friends

Campers became acquainted through ice-breaker games such as naming their favorite saint, musical chairs and selecting an adjective best describing themselves and attaching it to their name in the “Name Game.”

Facilitating the games were 10 Teen Cross leadership members ages 15 to 17 and adults who had completed the Safe Environment training.

“We wanted to get them to have a good time while interacting with religious in a more comfortable environment outside of Mass,” said Mary Ann Casadaban, 15, a Teen Cross member and student at Mount Carmel Academy.

“I wanted to be involved in this because I didn’t know anything about vocations when I was a kid,” Teen Cross member and Chapelle student Marissa Ramsey said. “It’s cool for them to know about this early on and be open to it.”

“Kids aren’t introduced to the sisters (in school anymore) and the only thing they know about priests is that they give them bread  (Jesus’ body),” Ashley Cobb of De La Salle said. “It’s good for them to interact with religious.”

Campers from several parishes throughout the archdiocese were having a ball.

“I thought it would be a good thing to meet new people,” Sarah Short, 10, said about the camp. “I had never been to a sleepover camp before, and it would be out of my comfort zone and I could be closer to God.”

Why a vocation camp

“It came up as a follow up to Calling All Fifth-Graders,” said Father Bruno about the annual event where students and religious interact. “We didn’t have any event that invited them to go deeper (in their faith exploration).”

When he began discussing a vocation camp with others, Father Bruno said he was greeted with overwhelming support from St. John Vianney Prep Alumni Association, their wives and more than 20 parents who volunteered and offered donations. St. John Prep also brought snacks and prepared a BBQ dinner for campers and their families.

“They are the backbone of all of this,” Father Bruno said about the volunteers.Parents were delighted about a vocation event for middle schoolers.

“I am trying to get him more involved with the church,” dad and volunteer Ed Morris said about his son Kenneth, 13, a Mandeville Junior high student and altar server at St. Anselm Parish. Kenneth had expressed interest in the priesthood when he was younger.

“This will given him exposure to this, and we’ll see where it goes,” said Morris, a lector and Bible study leader with his wife Tammany.

During the camp, participants toured St. Joseph Abbey and attended Mass with the monks. Archbishop Gregory Aymond also celebrated a Mass, and campers were the “beads” in the living rosary for vocations.

“It’s planting seeds,” Father Bruno said. “These children are more open to hearing about religious life, the priesthood and what God has in store for them. They were not here just to go swimming.”

            Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected].