By Emily Clark
Thanks to a grant from Foundations in Faith, teenagers from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport had a unique opportunity last week to experience Bible Camp. In addition to attending daily Mass and praying the Rosary, they also completed service projects, played basketball and even went to the beach, rounding out a week made possible through a partnership with St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Fairfield.
With “Chosen by God” as its theme, this camp focused on the passage from Jeremiah that reads: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart.” It’s one that St. Charles’ youth minister Segundo Ruiz said helps the kids understand that they are special.
“I want them to know that they are here for something, for a reason, and that they have a purpose,” he said. “They are not on the street. They are here and safe.”
As inner city youth, these high schoolers are often at home without something to do in the summer. Having grown up in Waterbury, Fr. David Roman, pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, understands that. After applying for the FIF grant, he was thrilled to be awarded the full amount of $10,000 to fund this program. “It’s beyond a Bible camp,” he said, as these young people have so much to keep them engaged, spiritually and otherwise.
“St. Thomas is the host, providing space with a field, cafeteria, gym, and the beach,” Fr. Roman explained, noting how it came together as he worked with Ruiz, group leader Fatima Molina and St. Charles’ pastor Fr. Abelardo Vasquez.
“We didn’t expect such a great response and never thought we’d have something to this scale. We’re so grateful to the diocese and Foundations in Faith. We couldn’t have done this without them.”
Over 40 boys and girls, all from St. Charles, signed up. In addition to the activities, the teens receive transportation and both breakfast and lunch from local favorites like Chick-Fil-A and Vazzy’s. The local Knights of Columbus chapter also gave $1,000 for Bibles for each participant, which they have taken with them to daily Mass at St. Thomas.
During daily Mass at St. Thomas, campers like Juan Pablo “JP” Corona Sanchez had the chance to participate as readers and altar servers. “When I did a reading at Mass, it really touched my heart. It made me really want to follow in God’s footsteps with him by my side in my school journey,” said JP, an incoming 10th grader. “I feel very blessed that I have this opportunity.”
Eileen Marie Ortiz, who will be a high school senior in the fall, said she enjoyed the Masses and liked relaxing at the beach. “This is a fun Bible camp. It’s not like when we were little,” she added.
Participants also engaged in service work, including delivering sandwiches to Operation Hope in Fairfield, which reinforced the theme that God has chosen them for a purpose in life.
Ruiz said he wanted a retreat-type program for those at St. Charles and has enjoyed working as a team with Fr. Roman and those at St. Thomas. It’s especially exciting for him to spread the Word of God to the kids, which was made easier with testimonies from diocesan seminarians. “It gives them knowledge of vocations.”
For Molina, a group leader from St. Charles, this camp provided the youth with a special encounter with Christ. “I hope the Holy Spirit touches their hearts, so they see the Church as a place for many blessings. A happy place.”
