Tampa: Get to Know Camp Mary Help

By Ms. Chioma Okoye, Communications Director, Mary Help of Christians Center, Tampa, FL

(Tampa, FL – July 16) – The Salesians have sponsored a summer camp here at Mary Help of Christians Tampa for many years. Although each year is a little different than the last, a few constants remain. Salesians understand that faith and fun go together. At Camp Mary Help, this is our motto.

Each day begins with a lively and joyful celebration of the Mass. Campers and counselors are altar servers, choir members, and lectors. Also, each day we have faith time, a break in the middle of the day, which allows further exploration of the Catholic faith.

Each week, the faith time team gives a theme that guides all activities for that specific week. For example, in the fifth week, the theme was forgiveness. At Mass, the priests spoke about God’s merciful love, while at faith time, the counselors led discussions about forgiveness and the sacrament of Reconciliation. During the week, the campers also had the opportunity to receive the sacrament, to which they positively responded.

“We focus on the camper as a whole,” the Camp’s director, Stephen Watkins, shared. “We are trying to form good character [in youths and transform them into] upright citizens! When campers arrive, they immediately become members of the community—and the community is everything here.”

Throughout the seven weeks we have summer camp, campers and counselors experience many new things. These include, but are not limited to, shooting arrows at archery, playing water polo in the pool, serving at Mass, and participating in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

With this natural integration of both faith and fun, all who spend the summer with us get a taste of the fullness of life the Lord has created us for. In the words of St. John Bosco, “Enjoy yourself as much as you like— if only you keep from sin.” This is what we do best!