Set

Okay, all of this is moot now, since the confirmation has passed, but I feel obliged to continue this series as promised.

Anyway, as part of our formation, several outings were planned. And one of them was a stay-over camp at St. Anne's Shrine. The place was mainly chosen for it's fabulous facilities and conducive surroundings. We did not plan a camp during the holidays, but during a weekend. There are several advantages and disadvantages to this. Camps during holidays often attract a larger crowd of participants. Many come out of boredom because there's nothing much to do, especially during the long holidays. One can only sleep so much and watch so much TV before everything begins to be deathly boring.

On the other hand, an outing planned for the weekend attracts those who are really committed to learn more about the faith and are willing to give up their weekend of rest and relaxation and and willing to sacrifice and commit their time to learning more about their faith. I find that the smaller number of participants often consist of those who are really interested to learn and therefore the camp before more conducive and meaningful.

I planned this camp as a sort of recap camp. Not too much fun and games and what-have-you but more of a didactic camp where the faith and the practice of the faith will be emphasized and handed on.

It was a serious affair. =)

The theme of the camp was GIFT or Growing In Faith Together. And the plan was to really make the kids grow in the maturity of faith, to tackle the important question and most importantly, to manifest and live that interior faith by love of God and of neighbour.

Faith is meant to be shared and put into practice, and thus the sharing sessions.

Of course, there were moments of fun and gaiety as well. And plenty of hilarious things were said and done.

Another important component of formation is stressing our specifically Catholic identity.

And so there were the Stations of the Cross.



Praying at the hilltop Shrine of St. Anne.



Lighting candles at the old Shrine Church.



I thought that it all went rather well and much leaning was done, on both sides.



It was also terribly exhausting.