Against a backdrop of woods, a manmade lake and Amish-built structures, Bishop Edward Malesic got his first look at Damascus Catholic Mission Campus, home of the Catholic Youth Summer Camp in Centerburg, Ohio on July 23, a picture-perfect summer day.
Dan DeMatte, co-founder and executive director of Damascus, gave the bishop a private tour of the nearly 500-acre facility, located about 40 minutes northeast of Columbus and about two hours from each major city in the state. He was accompanied by Deacon Ian Kelly, a seminarian at Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland, who is on track for priestly ordination next spring. Deacon Kelly spent several summers as a missionary – akin to a counselor – at the camp. De Matte whisked them around the property in a small vehicle, showing the bishop some of the camp’s adventure features, including a giant swing, high ropes, paintball, archery, the lake and a huge, five-story climbing wall that was donated to the camp, which was founded in 2001 as a parish initiative to help young people live the adventure of their Catholic faith.
There are actually two camps operating simultaneously, DeMatte told the bishop. When the campus was developed, consultants suggested building to accommodate 1,200 campers. “They told us that way we’d have plenty of room and wouldn’t sell out,” he said. However, they underestimated the demand for the camp and its programs because it sold out the first year – and continues to do so. After a few years, DeMatte said they developed a second camp for grades 9-12, which doubled camp capacity. There also are buildings used for retreats, development programs, etc. outside of summer camp season. During the summer, those buildings are used for campers.
Pointing to a large, undeveloped swath of land, DeMatte told the bishop he envisions further developing the property to meet the growing demand for the programs.
Although located in the Diocese of Columbus, DeMatte said the camp has strong ties to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Several hundred youth campers, grades 6-12, attend summer camp annually and Cleveland seminarians are among the summer missionaries at camp. DeMatte said many benefactors from the Cleveland Diocese support the camp and its ministry.
CYSC has typical camp activities, including swimming, canoeing, campfires, sleeping in cabins, etc. but activities are all focused on the Catholic faith. The counselors – missionaries – participate in formation to prepare them to help guide the campers spiritually during their weeklong session. Nine sessions serving about 500 campers each are offered during the summer.
DeMatte said campers begin and end the day with prayer. They attend daily Mass and spend time with the missionaries discussing and learning about various aspects of their faith. Visiting priests celebrate daily Mass and are available for confession and spiritual guidance. Adoration at the lake is a cherished part of the camp experience. The closing Mass, which takes place the Friday afternoon of each camp week, is attended by campers, missionaries, camp staff and invited guests including parents, grandparents, other family members and friends of campers, who hail from throughout Ohio and several states. During Bishop Malesic’s visit, there were campers from Georgia, Michigan, Indiana and beyond.
The bishop was the main celebrant at the July 23 closing Mass. Deacon Joe Menkhaus, who also is a Saint Mary seminarian on track for priestly ordination next spring, served as deacon. He has been a summer missionary at Damascus.
Before Mass, the bishop heard dozens of campers offer testimonials about their experiences during the week. Some talked about life-changing experiences, including feeling the presence of Christ and his healing touch, developing a deeper relationship with him and making new friends.
“I never felt closer to God,” said Josh, a camper from Cleveland. “I loved Adoration and after confession, I felt so light,” he added.
The campers were full of energy, singing, clapping and affirming fellow campers’ testimonials.
“I love being around people who are seeking Jesus,” the bishop told the campers. It’s great to see young people who are on fire with the love of the Lord.”
In his homily, the bishop said someone once said that “Your life is God’s gift to you; what you do with your life is your gift to God.” He encouraged them to “Make yourself a gift to God. Give God your life and the time you will spend on this earth to God. Live your life – every minute of it – for God.”
But this requires asking God daily what he wants of you and asking him to give you the courage and strength to do his will. It may not be easy to follow God, especially with all the distractions today, Bishop Malesic said, noting there are many things that try to pull them away from God, “The devil being the first and foremost being that wants your heart and your life.” He tries to keep us away from God, choking us “with the things in this world and our everyday fears so that you think more about our own needs than about God’s great love for you.” The devil turns the world that God created upside down, the bishop said. “Think about how the Church used to be a good thing, respected by most people. But, today, in the minds of many people, religion is a bad thing. Don’t let the devil turn your world upside down. God is good all the time and all the time, God is good. That you can count on,” he said.
He invited those at the Mass to “Choose Jesus. Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, fall on the good soil that is in you.” By doing so, they can bear good fruit for the Church, their communities, their families and even for the vocation to which God is calling them, whether that be a priest, religious sister, husband, wife, etc. But they must follow God and his commandments and do it with love “because love’s source is found in God.”
Bishop Malesic told the campers “a lot of weeding went on this week” as they found God. “I hope you encountered Jesus in one another, in the beauty of this place. I hope you encountered Jesus in the Eucharist and in your prayer. I hope you have heard Jesus speak to you in the quiet of your heart, where he says, ‘Come and follow me.’” He also urged them not to put off for tomorrow what they can do today. “Say ‘yes’ to God. God is counting on you and we are depending on you. How good it is to be here with you today. Your fire for Jesus has made my fire for Jesus burn even brighter.”
After Mass, Deacon Kelly invited campers who felt a stirring from the Lord to come forward, first the boys, then the girls. He extended his hand, prayed for and blessed them, as did the bishop and others.
“Some say you are the future of the Church. You are the Church. The question is not what you want to be, but what God wants you to be. I want you to know that God loves you and you can do great things,” Bishop Malesic said.
Click here for more information on Damascus and CYSC.