Camp Xavier
Offers a Summer Program of Faith and Fun for Older Parish Youth
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hat can our older parish youth do for summer fun when they have aged out of Vacation Bible School? They can have an outstanding time at Camp Xavier! The camp theme this summer is “Walk as Children of Light,” based on Ephesians 5:8. The campers will focus on what it means to live a life for Christ — and what can be better than that? This will be the third year for Camp Xavier, which was first organized by Fr. O’Brien. While Vacation Bible School serves youngsters from kindergarten through fifth grade, there was nothing held during the summer to reach our older youth. Fr. O’Brien and Ashleigh Martin, youth minister, realized that our older youth from sixth grade through high school needed opportunities in the summer to grow in their faith. Camp Xavier was the result.
Social distancing was observed, but the embrace of a loving community in Christ remained in place during Camp Xavier.
“We wanted to give them the opportunity in the summer to get together and still strengthen their faith,” Ashleigh says. “So, Fr. O’Brien came up with it. We love it!” This year, Camp Xavier will be held from July 18-22 in the Youth Center. The hours are 6-9 p.m. The fee is $10, which covers snacks and a t-shirt. The program sessions include snacks, games and a speaker.
In addition, there is adoration, praise and worship time, and an opportunity to go to confession. When the youth have completed the week of Camp Xavier, they will be equipped to better share their faith and evangelize to others. “We will talk about how we are called for relationship, how our relationship is broken and restored through Jesus, how we are called to radiate Christ’s love continued on back cover
“We will talk about how we are called for relationship, how our relationship is broken and restored through Jesus, how we are called to radiate Christ’s love to others and accept Jesus as the center of our lives. It’s really going to be great!” — Ashleigh Martin
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