Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost spent a recent Friday visiting Catholic Youth Summer Camp.
Accompanied by Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, they traveled to Camp Damascus in Centerburg, Ohio – which is in the Diocese of Columbus – to learn about the popular camp that draws people from all over Ohio and beyond. Many campers and missionaries are from the Diocese of Cleveland.
Dan DeMatte, executive director of Camp Damascus, used a golf cart to give the bishops a tour of the spacious grounds and facilities. They stopped to view some cabins, Lake Joy, some of the adventure activities and the St. Francis Adoration Chapel. Bishop Malesic experienced the camp once before
They joined a group of parents, camp staffers and others for lunch and to hear testimonials from some parents who shared what the camp means to them, their children and family.
DeMatte said the camp is a place where young people can become awakened, empowered and equipped to grow their faith. Youth ministers have an important role in helping to develop the faith in young people. However, there is much turnover among youth ministers and they often are pressed into other duties. He stressed the importance of having qualified ministers available to work with youth in order to renew the Church and help foster a culture of vocations.
“We believe that at Damascus. God is reclaiming this generation of youth,” DeMatte said. “We are seeing a real Eucharistic revival here. After three weeks of camp this year, 99.5% of the campers believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Because of the camp experience, 57% are more interested in discussing religious life. God is asking us to commit more of our time, talent and treasure to the young Church,” he added.
The missionaries at Camp Damascus who work with the young people know they are called to bring light and they have much hope, DeMatte said. He told the bishops 350 young adults are being formed this summer to minister to youth. “We need to pray for them and to seek more,” he said.
DeMatte said the outdoor pavilion where the bishops had lunch doubles as the site for middle school programming. It can accommodate about 450 campers and programming is weather dependent. He told the bishops there are two other camps – one in Minnesota and one in Michigan – that are serving 1,000 campers this summer. Camp sessions are filled with waiting list, he said.
In addition to the usual camp programs like boating, hiking, games and adventure activities, there is a strong faith component. Priests and religious sisters spend time with the campers during each session. Mass is offered daily, and, there are times for confession and adoration.
The bishops celebrated the closing Mass for the camp session that ended on June 30. Hundreds of parents arrived to take their children home and to attend the Mass. Before the liturgy, some of the campers shared what the camp experience meant to them and how it changed them.
One boy said he felt “spiritually dead” when he arrived, but after a week, he was renewed.
In his homily, Bishop Malesic told the campers and their families that the Gospel had been focused on the Sermon on the Mount for the past three weeks. He connected that with the camp experience, telling those gathered for the liturgy that the end of their camp session is like coming down from the mountain.
“You can’t stay there forever,” he said. After coming down from the mountain, the bishop said the campers can and should still follow Jesus.
“I see the Church at its best today seated at the feet of Jesus. Be part of the movement that walks from this experience – from the mountaintop – and take the Eucharist with you. Jesus lives within you today, tomorrow and wherever you go. When this experience begins to fade – and the devil wants that – know that your experience here was not a fantasy. This is real. Jesus spoke to you heart to heart and he wants to stay with you. Remember when you saw Jesus like never before in June 2023 and your hearts, eyes and ears were opened,” the bishop said.
“Young Church, don’t keep this a secret. Jesus came down from the mountain and got to work, He healed the leper and others. We want the same thing. We came here with a kind of leprosy of the soul that only Jesus could heal. Remember -- he will never leave you. There is nothing he doesn’t have the power to do and there is no sin too great that he cannot forgive. Never forget the love of Jesus. He wants all of us to go to heaven, to be saints and to have eternal life,” the bishop said.
“Go, be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Be disciples of Jesus forever – not just this week. When the seas get rough, be sure Jesus is in the boat with you because he can calm them,” he added.
The bishop reminded the group that the Church has been following Jesus for almost 2,000 years with the torch of faith being passed on to generation after generation.
“Open wide the door of your heart to Christ and you will find joy beyond belief. You lift up my own faith because I see Jesus in you,” he added.
Click here to learn more about Camp Damascus and its offerings.