Catholic HEART Workcamp Blog

CHWC loves its Priests!

2012-01-04T14:31:00.003-05:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp has been blessed with many youth friendly, spirit centered and fantastic priests. Over 90 Priests were involved either as campers or camp chaplains this past summer!

Just to name of few that have been instrumental are: Fr. Geoff Rose, Fr. Ed McCarthy, Fr. Jeff Lucas, Fr. Jeremy Wind, Fr. Karl Bergin, Fr. Kevin McCarthy, Fr. Steve Bauman, Fr. Scott Thomas, Fr. Rich Litzasa, Fr. Mike Marone, and Fr. Tom Reilly. Let’s support our priests and thank the good Lord for them.

There was an article written on one of the priests involved with CHWC in a Lexington, Kentucky newspaper. Here is part of the article.

It’s safe to say that Fr. Norman Fischer is not your typical Catholic priest. As the son of an African-American father and Filipino mother, he is one of a relatively few priests of color in the United States. But the most atypical characteristic about Fischer belies his appearance and confounds even the stereotypes. The beloved “Father Norm” just loves to have a good time. Whether he’s rapping the homily for high school students, jumping up and down during mass at his church, or dancing the night away after performing a wedding ceremony, Fischer’s penchant for fun and celebratory spirit are evident in nearly everything he does. He’s the priest, who loves to perform skits and recite poetry; the one who is comfortable leaving the confines of the podium and running up and down the aisles to preach the Gospel. “I really believe there’s a great synergy with faith and fun,” said Fischer, the chaplain at Lexington Catholic High School and pastor at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Lexington. After all, Fischer says, “Jesus had good times,” why shouldn’t his followers? “In the spirit of love, anything is possible.” The secret to Fischer’s success? Aside from spiritual guidance from God, he attributes his success as a priest to an ability to relate to people – no matter their age, no matter their background, no matter their race. “I can’t see myself not relating to everyone,” he said. And relating to people means “I meet them where they are.”

Here is Fr. Norm during one of his homilies at CHWC in Eagle Pass, TX.

Thank You Jesus for Fr. Norm’s ministry and using him to touch so many with God’s love.

LISTEN, AND SAY YES!

2011-12-25T15:49:00.000-05:00

The greatest gift that God has given us was his son Jesus Christ, An innocent child, that we can adore and learn from. In reflecting on this I thought of my son, who is two years old. Every night before he goes to sleep we say our prayers. These moments are some of the proudest that I have as a father, every night he folds his hands as we pray:

Dear God, GOD! (he says as intensely as a 2 year old could) we thank you for our day YES! (I might add that he prays like a preacher, everything I say he resounds with a convincing YES!). Thank you for all the fun we had today, YES! And the friends we made, YES! And we pray for Grammy, YES!, Nana, NANA! (and so on....) he prays with such passion that I am astounded and amazed. He makes me yearn for such passion. One of my favorite bible verses has always been Matthew 18:3, There Jesus encourages us to have faith like a child. I just liked it, it seemed to strike a chord with me, but I didn't fully understand it until I became a father, and I can see that God wants us to have such unquestioning, unadulterated, unflappable faith that we shout YES! to him and his will. In my life I always think that I know what is best for myself. But in reality that is far from the case. If I would simply turn off my thoughts, and listen to what the Father wants, and shout YES! I would be truly doing his will.

I pray this Christmas season we can say YES! To what God is asking of all of us. That is to say yes, to a calling to listen and follow him, To let him lead us and not try and over-think and interpret what he is saying to us. Let us just listen and say YES!

-Nick Balabanski, Director of Media

Extremes

2011-12-20T13:15:00.007-05:00

If I were to sum up Catholic Heart Workcamp in one word, I would definitely have to say “Extremes”. I have been working for CHWC for the past 6 years either as a Staff member or a Musician and have been to almost 50 camps across this beautiful country of ours and the one thing that my stands out in my mind is how extreme my experiences have been.

There are many different aspects of Catholic Heart, all of which are important threads in the fabric that make the experience so wonderful. There are Tacos, camouflage, prayers, skits, dancing, sun, paint, floors, spotlights, ladders… I could go on, but I’m sure you have other things to do today. Every single one of these elements are things that CHWC and all those involved, from the campers to the office staff, go Full Tilt on. Nothing is held back and it is always all or nothing. For me, the parts that have kept me going all these years can be found on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at camp.

Dance Party. Even typing that word makes my heart beat a little faster and sweat bead on my forehead. I love to dance, and the Tuesday night dance party is a marathon of awesomeness that gets everyone up out of their seats and get their hearts a-bumpin’. I cannot think of anywhere else in the world that has such a high octane and energy driven event. For those 20+ minutes, I feel like nothing can touch me and I have gone to a different place where hip shaking and arm waving is the international language of love. When it’s all over, I just want to fall down and enter into hibernation. It is such a joyful and wonderful experience that takes me to my limits in my energy and ability to keep dancing.

The next night takes on a much different feel with Four Corners. This is a much different extreme than what we were feeling the night before. Instead of strobe lights, there are candles; instead of dancing, prayers; instead of sweat, there are tears. Four Corners, a night dedicated to prayer and healing, is an experience that can’t truly be described. It is moving and powerful. In the same way I feel the spirit of dance moving through me the night before, I feel the Holy Spirit moving through the room during Four Corners. I am always amazed by this experience. It is a reverent and faith focused time of prayer and reflection. People there have no inhibitions and leave their hearts on their sleeves, open for the Will of God. Everyone there comes from a different background and has had different experiences, but at Four Corners, we are all God’s children. I have talked to and prayed with students whose faiths have put mine to shame, who are struggling with the same things I did, who are so desperately in love with God it cannot be put into words. There in that space, God is present. And God is Extreme.

When we talk about experiences, we often talk about our highs and our lows. What are the great things in our lives and the things that are not so great? At Catholic Hearts, these extremes are my eternal High. I have seen amazing things that have changed me as a person and a Christian. I have met people who have affected my life and challenged me to do better. I have been called to live every day, my faith and my life to the extremes. To not leave anything behind in this world, to leave my cards on the table, so that when I get to heaven, I’m prepared for the dance party that I know it’s gonna be.

Jon Pressimone
Click here to listen to Jon's new CD, "My Father's Apple Tree"

Camp Update

2011-10-16T12:39:00.002-04:00

We are so excited about what our 2012 summer has in store. Can you believe CHWC has 11 camps FULL? We have over 7000 campers registered for next summer. Did you know you can check the availability of our camps numbers are updated daily. Information on all of our camps, especially our newest location in Laurel, MD is available on our dates page.
Here are some reminders of some of our policies:

ADDING OR DELETING CAMPERS: If your group would like to add or delete campers please use our new Addition/Deletion form. If you are adding campers please be sure to check the availability of your camp on our website or for a more accurate number call the office at 407-678-0073.

12 & 15 PASSENGER VANS: Safety and liability issues are forcing churches to abandon 12 &15 passenger vans. In most dioceses they are no longer permitted. Therefore, CHWC will no longer permit 12 & 15 passenger vans. Mini-buses offer a viable replacement option for transportation.

PROCEDURE FOR PRIESTS AND DEACONS: Most diocese have in place a policy requesting a letter of suitability of all visiting priests & deacons. All priests and deacons that will be attending Catholic HEART Workcamp must inform the Chancellor of the Diocese in which they will be entering. If you have a priest or a deacon attending with your group please call the Workcamp Office. Attached you will find a PRIEST & DEACON INFORMATION FORM for you to complete and return to us in the office. CHWC will send a letter about the request and the procedure. Registration Fee for Priests - $75.00 (Excluding Jamaica)

CHWC STAFF: Catholic HEART Workcamp is committed to doing everything to ensure the safety of all those employed and attending a Catholic HEART Workcamp. CHWC does complete a National FBI Background Check on all employees. All CHWC Staff are also trained in the Virtus program “Protecting God’s Children” in order to be in compliance with the US Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

PAYMENTS: CHWC can no longer accept individual personal checks. We ask that you send one check for all participants.

God Bless,

CHWC Office Team

CHWC Postcard 2012

2011-09-20T11:11:00.005-04:00

Today our 2012 postcard went out with tentative dates for this summer. We have 48 camps scheduled for 2012.

More Than Just Service

2011-09-01T11:41:00.001-04:00

WRITTEN BY: Kelly Naas, Public Relations Diva

It’s always incredible to stop and think about the BIGNESS that is Catholic HEART Workcamp. After all the planning, fundraising, preparation, and prayer that goes into arriving at camp...you quickly become a part of something BIGGER than yourself. Gathered together, you create a once in a lifetime team, and in a community, for people you don’t even know...you SERVE. Joined with the multiplication of other cities, camps, teams, and teens around the country, lives are changed and hope is restored simply by the work of your hands. Who is serving through CHWC and how much of an impact does a summer of CHWC have on our world? Good question! We wondered the same things; check out some of these numbers for our 2011 summer!

11,712 campers
484 Groups
94 Priests
44 cities
1,563 Work teams
1,998 Residents and agencies were served

Catholic HEART Workcamp is much more than a week of service that simply ends when our participants depart home after camp. It is a sacrificial experience that has the power to strengthen faith and transform lives long beyond the bus ride home. Though we never know the exact way our campers are impacted, it is a testimony to our mission and ministry when we hear of stories where life and camp intertwine, coming full circle to prove that the CHWC experience is serving our participants as they too are serving.

In closing here is a letter we recieved from one of the residents that was served this summer.

In July this year, my husband and I were blessed to have a team from CHWC come to our home. We are elderly, living on a pension and unable to tackle the task of painting the outside of our house. The team not only did that but also painted two rooms inside and weeded our large yard. We are so grateful for CHWC and for the opportunity to meet young people and their chaperones who are willing to give time and effort into helping those in need. We pray God’s blessing on these camps and those who take part in them and send our sincere thanks.
Sincerely, Cynthia & Ernie Seddon
P.S.-We have written to the Holy Father expressing our appreciation.

Story from a Camper.....

2011-08-21T11:09:00.000-04:00

Growing up I had a cousin named Carolyn, who was just three months younger than me. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a mild form of Autism. She had a lot of difficulty in school, making friends and staying out of trouble. Both of these things impacted her learning. She changed schools a lot and she was just always looking for her place in the world.

When I was a senior in high school, my youth group planned a trip to Nashville, TN to go to Catholic Heart Work Camp. My mom suggested that Carolyn drive down from Saint Louis, Missouri to go to camp with my youth group in Memphis. I hesitated selfishly as I weighed the options and what it would cost me personally. I agreed that it would be an excellent opportunity for her, and she ended up coming.

On the three hour bus ride, Carolyn had already started to make friends with other people in my youth group. By the time the camp started, she was fully involved in the camp.

From the opening song at the first program, when she was allowed (and encouraged!) to be silly and get into it, she found her niche. CHWC was a perfect catalyst for her to find a way to be herself and be accepted. She did work projects and helped others in a way she never would have been able to do without the CHWC setting. More importantly she built relationships with people who accepted her without question. She felt a connection with God that had never been present before.

Coincidently (or not so coincidently I guess) there was a youth group from Saint Louis that was at the same camp as us. The youth leader and several of the members of the youth group made an effort to welcome Carolyn and invite her to join them at their weekly youth group events. When school started again, her mom drove her 30 minutes away to go to the youth group events at that church. Like everyone else, her mom noticed a change that had taken place in Carolyn and wanted to allow her to build those relationships.

I always knew that Carolyn had been heavily impacted by the experience at Catholic Heart. Years later we were sitting at her kitchen counter just chit-chatting. She was telling me about a tattoo her friend was thinking about getting. I asked her if she had any new tattoos she hadn’t told me about. Then she showed me the “Shift 2 Degrees” symbol she had gotten tattooed on her side. It wasn’t a large area that was inked, but it spoke volumes to me.

It was then that I realized that sometimes it truly only takes 2 Degrees.

Merchandise added to Store

2011-08-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

Due to its popularity at camp the Boo-Yah! shirt is now for sale in the CHWC Store!

Also all of the summary videos and pictures CD's are completed so they are available to purchase.

Spreading the Brotherly Love....

2011-06-21T22:56:00.007-04:00

Every year Catholic HEART Workcamp grows, reaching new people and doing

work in communities across the country. Last week, CHWC took

Philadelphia by storm for the first time! And what better place than the

City of Brotherly Love to live life uncovered and spread the CHWC love.

Among the 35 work groups working in the city, three groups worked at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Parish in the Kensington neighborhood of the city. Clearing nearly a hundred bags of garbage from neighborhood streets, painting the Visitation BVM School cafeteria, and

renovating a local convent, these groups made a monumental difference.

In the process they also learned that This Place Matters.

Visitation is currently one of a hundred finalists in the national This

Place Matters competition run by the Historic Trust for Historic

Preservation. In order to win though, Visitation needs votes! Currently

ranked 7th in the nation, Visitation will use the prize to continue the

outreach efforts of the Parish, which sustain the neighborhood and are

estimated at a value of $22 million. To learn more about the work

Visitation does and to cast your vote visit:

http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/this-place-matters/community-challenge/places/visitation-bvm-parish.html

Voting runs through the end of June. Each e-mail address can only vote

once, so vote with every address you have!

This is a great way to continue the work that begins at CHWC and allows

the agencies we work with to flourish! So take a minute- share it with

your friends- vote & spread the brotherly love!

What an Unbelievable 4 Days

2011-06-18T11:56:00.009-04:00

What can 407 Catholic HEART Workcampers do in a community in 4 days?
At 117 different houses we scrapped and painted, 11 houses on the outside, 96 rooms inside, 3 sets of kitchen cabinets, 7 unattached garages, 14 sheds, 3 swing sets, cleaned and repaired 12 bathrooms, completely tore down and built a new deck, rototilled 3 yards, power washed 14 homes, removed 15 stumps, repaired or moved 4 electrical services, assisted 12 homeowners with their computers, removed and replaced carpet 2 homes, washed over 500 windows inside and out, scrubbed 20 houses inside entirely, reset or replace 15 toilets, repaired and painted 22 doors, totally vacuumed 18 houses, fixed 12 screens, hung 5 ceiling fans, repaired 3 swamp coolers, 7 floors, 6 light fixtures, 5 leaky faucets, 12 drywall jobs, 2 garbage disposals, repaired 12 decks, painted 24 decks, repaired and painted 1000 foot of fence, cleaned and repaired 6000 foot of gutters, poured a concrete sidewalk, fixed 3 concrete steps, help plant and weed 18 gardens, pulled weeds at 46 different homes, trimmed and cut grass at 48 homes, varnished 5 staircases or tables, laid mulch at 36 homes, built one clothes line, repaired 5 sprinkler system, built 4 iron hand rails, moved and help build 12 stone gardens, help plant flowers at 9 houses, sorted 1000’s of books to be sent to library in Kenya, removed 7 old appliances, 50 old tires, cut down over 50 trees, cut and trimmed bushes at many houses, but more than that we removed over 350 compressed cubic yards of trash from our neighborhood. But more important than all that. These 407 campers brought excitement for life and Christ to the homeowners.
WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE 4 DAYS.

-Roger Gudenkauf, CHWC Denver Manager

Staff Training #2

2011-06-06T11:07:00.000-04:00

The first staff is on the road, and teams 2,5&6A are here for a week of training. Here are pictures of the teams.

TEAM 2

TEAM 5

TEAM 6A

Introducing CHWC 2011 Staff

2011-05-30T13:10:00.000-04:00

Well Staff Training is upon us and staff member from all over the country are here in Orlando for a week of training before they leave for an adventure of a lifetime. There are 3 teams here this week and three come next week. Here are pictures of the teams.

TEAM 1A

TEAM 3A

TEAM 4A

Introducing CHWC 2011 New Merchandise

2011-05-20T12:44:00.002-04:00

There are many ingredients that make a week of CHWC a memorable one. Taco Tuesday is the most festive night of the week and this year we have revamped our design for the camper who just cannot get enough…TACOS!

What elements of CHWC make your experience an EPIC one? Chances are pretty good that you may find some of your responses to this question featured on the back of this shirt. Our super soft, tri-blend EPIC shirt encompasses tons of factors that make camp unlike anything else you will experience this summer!

Classic. Bold. Comfortable. This hoodie is ready to be worn all year long and is very likely to become your next favorite sweatshirt! Heather grey with maroon "CHWC" featured on the front.

The Catholic HEART Workcamp Family is growing...

2011-03-10T14:29:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Wayne and Daisy on your new arrival! God has blessed them with a beautiful, healthy little girl...Stella Daisy Nassis! Born on March 2 at 1:03 am and weighing in at 7lbs. 14oz. The proud parents are enjoying their precious gift! Welcome Stella to the CHWC family!

Manager's Meeting 2011

2011-01-19T14:48:00.002-05:00

This weekend all of the managers for CHWC came to Orlando for a meeting. It was a great time and lots was accomplished. We are getting closer to the summer of 2011, only a couple short months away now and our managers are now beginning work on finding the work projects for this summers camps. Below is a picture of everyone from the meeting.

Merry Christmas from CHWC

2010-12-27T11:56:00.008-05:00

Our Savior’s Birth

Christmas

The Epic Event

The Grand surprise from Gabriel

Mary's Ambitious "Yes!"

Joseph's Heroic Faith!

The Marathon on a donkey

The Impressive birth in a simple manger

The Savior of the World comes to us…

God's Love Revealed

The Epic Event

Merry Christmas,

The Catholic HEART Workcamp Office Team

CHWC Theme for 2011

2010-12-17T16:48:00.005-05:00

Soul: Life Uncovered

We are called to wake up and do a little SOUL SEARCHING! To live life UNCOVERED. When we look within at the core of who we are, we are awakened to learn that our faith journey is to be lived, asking the questions, “how can I make a difference for the greater good?” and “how can I serve to bring about Christ’s love?” This is living with “SOULFULNESS!”

This summer at Catholic HEART Workcamp you will be inspired to live your life UNCOVERED, to live your Catholic faith boldly and know your “soul truth”...that you were made for goodness! Soulful living says, I care about my neighbor, and I live with passion and purpose, it is here that I can find connection with my community and my God.

And Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

CHWC at NCCYM

2010-12-13T00:18:00.001-05:00

We went to the NCCYM which is the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry. We had a weekend full of great acronyms and great people. We met and mingled with over 2000 youth ministers from all over the country. We had a great time in New Orleans and are looking foward to NCYC in 2011.

Here is a picture of our booth with Nick, Kelly, Wayne and Lauren

It looks like Kelly found one of the best parts of New Orleans, the hot sauce

New CHWC Newletter

2010-12-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp wants to keep in touch with the CHWC community. In order to accomplish this we are creating a newsletter every other month to share stories from camp and also to keep everyone updated on what's going on in the CHWC Office. To see the December Newletter go here: http://heartworkcamp.com/newsletters/DEC2010/what.html. If you want to get on our e-mail list you can go to http://heartworkcamp.com and sign up at the bottom of the page.

New camp announced!

2010-11-29T14:40:00.000-05:00

We are excited to have a new camp added to 2011. This camp is on an Indian Reservation in Northern Washington and will be a very unique Workcamp experience. Check it out. http://heartworkcamp.com/cities/Inchelium/Inchelium.htm

CHWC Postcard it out!

2010-10-08T12:28:00.007-04:00

The new CHWC Postcard came out today! Most of our dates are set but a few are still tentative. You can see the availability of our camps at http://heartworkcamp.com/camp%20avail.htm We update this page daily.

Summary DVD's are now Finished

2010-09-08T13:01:00.013-04:00

All of the Summary DVD's and Picture CD's are done and ready to be shipped. You can order them at http://heartworkcamp.com/store if you would like to purchase one. Also the theme song for CHWC 2010, written by Andy Cloninger, is now available on itunes or you can go here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rhythm-god-chwc-cadence-theme/id386322017

CHWC Photos

2010-08-10T14:28:00.000-04:00

We post all of the photos taken at our camps on our website as well as on facebook. They are now all posted for the summer of 2010, so check them out. http://heartworkcamp.com/interact/photos.html

It's a wrap

2010-08-03T12:59:00.000-04:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp 2010 has officially come to a close. We had over 10,500 campers share and experience Life with a New Rhythm this summer. We thank all who attend camp this summer and are already working on next year.

CHWC on YouTube?

2010-07-13T13:47:00.011-04:00

Yes, that is correct we have are very own YouTube Channel with all kinds of videos from our camps in the summer and other videos to help you prepare for camp.

http://www.youtube.com/CatholicHEARTWC

Here is one of the videos on the channel: Josh Blakesley in Charlotte signing "I am Free."

Catholic HEART Workcamp Week 1

2010-06-10T13:34:00.000-04:00

So many wonderful stories are going to come from CHWC 2010, the first one is Scott Thomas a former CHWC staff member was ordained yesterday and celebrated mass today at our Jackson Camp. Thanks Fr. Scott for sharing this moment with us.

The 2010 Staff Takes to the Road

2010-06-04T16:40:00.002-04:00

After a week of training the 2010 summer staff has left for there first camps. Teams 4 and 5 left for their cities on Thursday and Teams 1 and 3 left today. Memphis, Jackson, Chicago and Omaha here we come. The summer of 2010 is going to be an excellent summer, with over 11,000 participants in 41 cities. We are very excited about the next two months.

Below is Team 5 loading their truck on Thursday.

Team 1 loading up on Friday.

We pray for safe travel of all the staffs this weekend and for all the groups attending the first week camp's.

Media Training

2010-05-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

Every year the CHWC Media Managers for all the teams come to Orlando for a weekend of wires, technology, and fun. This training is an intense immersion into the world of CHWC Media. The weekend was a total success, we trained two new media managers and brushed up on the skills of the returners. Below is a picture of equipment day, where we setup and test ALL the media for all five teams, it is quite an experience!

Ladder Day!

2010-04-01T14:25:00.001-04:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp is concerned about safety 365 days of the year, but one day a year we take safety to the next level. That day is today, Ladder Day. Every year when spring arrives we unload all the ladders out of the sheds, dust them off, and have them inspected from top to bottom. It is quite a site to behold.

You may ask 'Who inspects your ladders?' Well, we have a relationship with a local contractor, David. He is responsible for the wonderful care card racks you see at camp and the crosses we have on stage. David inspects all the ladders from top to bottom and gives them the seal of approval. Below is David hard at work.

Well as the sun sets on the annual Ladder Day event, you can rest assured when you are painting Mrs. Smith's trim, that the ladder you are standing on was inspected by CHWC on Ladder Day.

CHWC at the LA Congress Day 2

2010-03-19T20:53:00.004-04:00

Day two was a very busy day at the LA Congress. We met tons of people and caught up with some old friends. There were a lot of people interested in the new west coast camps that CHWC has for the summer of 2010 and 2011. We hope that this translates into CHWC able to continue to grow in the Western U.S. Our favorite acoustic/humor/rock band Popple stopped by for a visit. Below is a photo of Dan and Kyle from Popple at our booth.

CHWC at the LA Congress

2010-03-18T19:53:00.001-04:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp has sent a group of individuals to to the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, this week. The LA Congress is the largest annual gathering of Catholics in the United States with roughly 40,000 people attending. The focus of the congress is for those in attendance to learn more about the Catholic faith as well as seeking personal growth. We have a booth at the event and are very excited to be here.

At the booth: Wayne, Kelly and Lauren just finished setting up.

Managers Meeting, Staff, and Pre-Trip Packs

2010-02-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

There is so much going on at the CHWC Office these days. We had the second managers meeting last week. We had the remaining 25 managers from all over the country come to sunny Orlando for the weekend. Johannin our new musicians from Portland played music for the event. The meeting was very successful.Also going on this week we are picking the 2010 CHWC Staff. Applications were due on 2/1 and the staff will be picked by the 15th. We had over 145 applications for about 75 positions. There are so many qualified people, it is a rather difficult process. The picture below is a snapshot of the process of picking the staff.

If that wasn't enough, the pre-trip packets are going out to all of the groups registered for camp also this week. Over 400 packets and 10,500 pre-trip planning books. Wanna see what 11,000 pre-trip planning books look like.

Support for Haiti

2010-01-21T09:59:00.001-05:00

Our prayers go out to the millions of people effected by last weeks earthquake in Haiti. There are many ways that we as Catholics can help. One good organization to donate to is Catholic Relief Services. Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 80 million people in more than 100 countries. Their website is http://crs.org The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education. They are providing invaluable assistance to Haiti. http://www.redcross.org The easiest way to donate is to text the word "Haiti" on your cell phone to the number 90999, which automatically adds a $10 pledge to your phone bill. This money goes to the Red Cross. So far over 22 million dollars has been raised via text.Locally here in Orlando the company we purchase our T-Shirts from, Uth Stuph, is preparing to take supplies directly to Haiti. They are in need of tarps, cords, blankets, inexpensive tents, medical supplies (triage, operation, gauze, Neosporin, bandages, stuff for casting) powder Enfamil, liquid Enfamil, diapers-all sizes, bottoms and baby items for Our Hands and Feet and other orphanages Send them to the Stuph Clothing office as soon as possible. (6790 Edgewater Commerce Parkway Orlando, FL 32810). They are preparing 4 planes to make a drop next week. The project that Stuph is involved with is Change this World. http://www.changethisworld.com

CHWC Managers Meeting 2010

2010-01-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

Every year the managers of Catholic HEART Workcamp come to Orlando for a weekend of fun, fellowship and learning. The first meeting was last weekend. Here is a picture from that meeting.
The managers are some of the hardest workers in the CHWC family and without them our camps would not be possible. We really do appreciate all they do for the camp.

CHWC Donations

2010-01-05T15:02:00.012-05:00

As many of you may know the proceeds of our Love 140 shirt went to help the children of Peidras Negras, Mexico. We sent a check for $7000 to Sr. Ursula, a nun who lives in Eagle Pass, TX and helps support various orphanages across the border in Mexico. Some of that money went to help give these children a very special Christmas. Below are photos of Steve and Rochelle and some of the gifts that were given to these children.

Did you know CHWC is on YouTube?

2010-01-04T15:03:00.002-05:00

CHWC FUNDRAISING IDEAS

2009-12-10T15:33:00.001-05:00

We are constantly asked if we have any fundraising ideas, so we asked a bunch of youth ministers what they did to raise money for CHWC this list is a compilation of some of the best ones. If you have any fundraising ideas email us at catholichrtcamp@msn.com

Flamingo Sale…Your youth can sell pink flamingo yard ornaments. People in the parish pay for a flamingo (or 100) to be put in someone’s yard. The group would then one night drive to the homes and “deliver” the flamingos. The group can also sell “flamingo insurance” for the homeowners that don’t want any in their yard. Joe Welch, Oklahoma City, OK

Make a map that shows the distance from our church to Workcamp. Parishioners can buy a mile to help you get closer to your goal of getting there. Make a cross or a hammer cutout and put their family name on it. Could say something like: The ________family supports St. Joseph Youth. Rene Platten, Memphis, TN

At CHWC we have Taco Tuesdays…TACO TUESDAYS NIGHT…Invite the parish for a free taco dinner (have someone sponsor the food). Have the teens give witness talks and show pictures and videos of their work at CHWC. You can then ask the people to write checks and leave them in the paint cans on the tables. The pictures and stories will touch people’s hearts! Maggie McGowan, Lakeland, FL

“Change for Change” Have your teens talk at mass about what they will do at CHWC. Ask the parishioners to donate their spare “change” (bills and checks) to help us make a change in the world. Have your teens stand outside of mass with paint buckets for the people to put their money in. Michelle Murphy, Sanford, FL

Pancake Sausage Breakfast…Ask all the teens going to camp to donate a specific food item for the breakfast, that way you will have no cost and everything you make is pure profit. They are “All You Can Eat” breakfasts and all you ask is a free will donation. Mickey Nickrent, Mahomet, IL

Sell wreaths, garland, etc. for Christmas. Get merchandise from www.sherwoodforestfarms.com. There is no money due until a couple of weeks after after delivery of merchandise, which is nice. Mickey Nickrent, Mahomet, IL

Homemade Pizzas…order all supplies from Sam’s. Make them available for pick-up Superbowl weekend. This makes very good money. Mickey Nickrent, Mahomet, IL

Take Stock in our Youth…Make a flyer that will say…Our youth will be participating in Catholic HEART Workcamp (explain what CHWC is). Add what the total cost of the trip will be. Our Teens are selling “STOCK” in themselves to raise money for this service trip. A donation of $10.00 or more entitles the donor to a piece of this experience. The donor will be invited to attend the Saturday evening mass before the trip, with a cookie and punch reception following to meet the people they have invested their money in. They will be sent a “dividend statement” from the camp updating them on the work being completed. And finally, invite them to another cookie and punch event to view pictures of the week and hear stories of the participant’s adventures and how their experiences enhanced their faith. To purchase stock ask them to mail their contribution to (put name of contact and address where to send.) Maureen Ragsdale, St. Louis, MO

Super Bingo...We pre-sell tickets...$25 per person...$1,000 jackpot...20 regular games with specials and other "rip-off" games of chance. We start with a plate lunch that the kids serve and we really make money when people buy extra cards and specials. The last few years we have averaged $4,500-$5,000 for one afternoon of work. We have found that the Saturday between the last NFL playoff game and before the Super Bowl weekend is ideal to catch all of the Bingo Aficionados...male and female...also we advertise the Bingo at the local area bingos several weeks before the event...the diehard bingo players...not necessarily our parishioners are the ones who support these Bingos. They like the lunch and helping the kids too! Mary Blythe, North Huntingdon, PA

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater...The kids in the youth group do a dinner theater play...we serve a dinner and give away a few door prizes. We love it because the kids have a ball putting the play together...it doesn't require a lot of extra practices or scenery etc. The audience likes getting dinner and guessing "who dun it". Mary Blythe, North Huntingdon, PA

We sell Advent Supplies (Calendars, Candle sets, Wreaths, Religious Cards etc.) after Masses for two weekends before Advent begins...the Parishioners are grateful to get their Advent sacramentals and we make about $1,500 for very little work. Mary Blythe, North Huntingdon, PA

"Cross Ornaments"...We make crosses out of construction paper...attach a small envelope (coin size) to the envelope and on it write..."You're invited to..." then inside the envelope we ask the people to pray for our youth who are going to NCYC OR CHWC etc. so that they will grow spiritually...then we also invite them to share the monetary burden if they choose by returning the envelope through the collection basket with any donation they care to make. People put in $5 - $500. We hang the cross ornaments on a Christmas tree in the back of church for a couple of weeks about 2 months before the designated event. Mary Blythe, North Huntingdon, PA

We do Hoagie sales after all Masses one weekend every 3 months. Mary Blythe, North Huntingdon, PA

We host a 32 team 5th and 6th grade girls and boys basketball tournament. We have $4,000 in the bank from entry fees before the tournament even starts. With admission fees and concessions, we will make around $8,000! A lot of work over two weekends (we only play Friday night and Saturday) but great rewards…AND we use it as an opportunity to show everyone what we are doing at CHWC with a video playing the entire time. Randy Alderman, Greenville, IL

Websites for additional ideas http://www.catgear.com/ http://totallycatholicfundraising.com/ http://www.crownofthornsprints.com/

CHWC 2010 Theme

2009-12-10T11:13:00.000-05:00

When we choose to follow Christ and respond to the call of service

to others …. We choose a Life with a new Rhythm! The world

invites us to rush through life, to keep going, to get ahead and

achieve for ourselves. Yes, we should achieve, but this is the

beat of the world. God invites us to be a part of His rhythm,

to walk at His pace, to stop and look at the world around us

and to be a part of a Cadence of change!

Sure we can have high goals, but within the motion of life

we must look at the needs in our world where suffering,

loneliness, hunger, poverty, and injustice are real! God has

been calling an army of young people to serve through

Catholic Heart Workcamp. When we come together as the

body of Christ we are in harmony with one another and

with our God who calls us to choose a life with a new rhythm!

NCYC 2009: Kansas City

2009-11-22T10:33:00.002-05:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp was very excited to particpate in this years National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City. We saw lots of old friends and made some new ones. 20,000 Catholic Youth from all over the country were here this weekend. Here is a picture of our booth.

Here is the fabulous CHWC team at the booth on the opening morning. From Left to right (Lisa, Nick, Charlotte, Wayne, Kelly, Charles, Lauren)

Update from the CHWC Office

2009-09-20T23:53:00.000-04:00

Busy. Busy. Busy.

We are hard at work finalizing the 2010 dates. We already have so many for next summer camps are filling up. God is Good! The new postcard is in the mail now. Here is what it looks like.

All the merchandise orders have been filled and are in the mail, so be on the lookout. We are hard at work on sharing all the summary videos online so be on the look out for a way to view them.

We are always trying to improve CHWC as an organization and our web presence if you have any ideas or thoughts please let us know. http://heartworkcamp.com/contact.htm.

Our brochure is next on the agenda and is going to print in a couple of weeks. That is all we have for now. God Bless!

CHWC in the News

2009-07-13T19:46:00.001-04:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp has been all over the news stations this summer. Below we have two broadcasts one from Oklahoma City,OK and one from Greensburg,PA.

If you know of any other news coverage of CHWC this summer please send an email to nick@heartworkcamp.com

CHWC Going Green

2009-07-06T01:06:00.000-04:00

Catholic HEART Workcamp is doing all it can this year to be green. We have opted to use paper products where possible, and we are recycling plastic and cardboard in all of our kitchens. We understand that preserving our environment is a way of preserving God's creation and We are doing our part to do so.

Love Repeated

2009-07-04T01:34:00.001-04:00

Campers all over the country have been Love Repeated to hundreds of residents in 20 communties in the month of June. As the new staffs take over in July we want to focus on our theme Love Repeated. Love Repeated means taking the love that we are shown by our families and friends and duplicateing that love to those all we come in contact with. So far in 2009 we have had 5000 campers take that love and show it to all they have come in contact with, it truely has been something special. As we embark on the second half of the summer, we hope that the love that has happened already will not only serve as an example to those who follow, but contine to grow and spread to the commmunites that campers return to. Here is the theme song performed by the person who wrote it Jon Niven, in Charlotte, NC.

We pray for safe travels and that everyone will find a way to repeat the love they have received.

Week 2 CHWC

2009-06-21T22:36:00.002-04:00

Week 2 of Catholic HEART Workcamp 2009 is complete. Mishawaka, Virginia Beach, Toledo, Omaha and Jamaica(1) took place this week. It was another great week of love being repeated over and over again throughout these communities. Below is a video of Popple performing Days of Elijah during Monday night's program.

CHWC Memphis

2009-06-12T23:40:00.001-04:00

This was left on the CHWC Facebook page, it is a reminder why we do what we do.....

This week a group of wonderful people came to work on my parent's house. They painted, cut shrubs and bushes, put in a new fence, and cleaned up the vacant lots around their home. I am just in awe at the work that the Catholic Heart Workcamp students and Jacob's Ladder organization completed on my parent's home. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. They truly blessed our family this week.
-The Fowler Family in Memphis, TN

CHWC 2009 is underway

2009-06-09T10:43:00.004-04:00

The Summer of 2009 is underway with 5 camps going on this week. We are in Memphis, Denver, Tampa, Chicago and Jackson. The camps are all going very well through the first couple of days and many homes and communities are being rennovated. Below are pictures from the opening Mass in Jackson, MS. We ask you to pray for the safety of all the campers as they go out to the worksites today.

And they're off.....

2009-06-05T23:27:00.000-04:00

The trucks are loaded and the teams are on the road. Memphis, Tampa, Jackson, Chicago and Denver are first on the schedule. Below is Team 2 finishing their truck at the CHWC office.Team 5 has the farthest to go. Orlando to Denver is quite a drive, here is a picture of them loading their truck.
Team four is off to Chicago, below is a picture of them saying a prayer with CHWC Office Manager Charlotte before they hit the road.The trucks are loaded, the teams are en route, and the summer of 2009 is upon us...
Please pray for all the youth groups, as well as the staffs, that they travel safely to the first orkcamp cities this summer.

Staff Training

2009-06-05T23:15:00.000-04:00

Every year the staff comes to Orlando for a week of intense training, this year was no different. The staff went over thr rules, procedures and the 2009 program in a couple of days of training. Below is Lisa going over the theme 'Love Repeated' with the staff.It was not all business, during this training the staff make friendships that will last a lifetime. Below is a picture of Jeremy (captain team 4) and Lauren (captain team 1) learning the opening for 2009.

Media Weekend

2009-05-24T22:31:00.001-04:00

Summer is is almost here, but before the trucks get loaded and the staff arrives, CHWC invites all the Media Managers to Orlando for Media Weekend. This weekend crams all the knowledge a Media Manager needs to know to run the audio and video systems at camp into four day of training. Day Two is computer day, we go over video editing and the presentation software, one table, six laptops and 12 hours of clicking.
Day three is equipment day. After mass, we setup all the equipment used for all 5 teams in one gym. We test, sort, and organize. This day of intense learning is capped off with the 7th annual chicken wing dinner, does it get any better?

Directors Meeting

2009-05-02T23:47:00.000-04:00

Every year around this time the CHWC Directors come to Orlando to discuss the upcoming Workcamps. This year was exceptional like always. The picture below shows Steve trying out some of our new state of the art equipment on Brian. What is it you ask? You will have to wait until the camps start to find out.

Oh Baby!! There is a lot happening in the CHWC Office

2009-04-06T23:48:00.000-04:00

Over the past month it has been pretty much crazy in he Workcamp Office.
First off, Nick and his wife Melanie adopted a baby boy, James Anthony Balabanski, he was born on February 5th. He is a blessing to their family and they thank everyone for all the support they have received.Then, on the day Nick returned to work which was also the day before the second managers meeting Dodie went into labor three weeks early. Dodie and her husband Cory had a baby girl, Alexandria Dodie Hibbs, on February 20th.
Both Babies are very healthy and are doing great. James is happy that he won the contest for the longest name but Alexandria contests that she has prettier eyes. They are both a great blessing to the entire CHWC family.

Manager's Meetings 2009

2009-02-26T23:36:00.000-05:00

Every year we have all the CHWC managers come to Orlando for a weekend of prayer, reflection and of course instruction. This year we split the managers into two different weekends, one in January and one in February. These are very special weekends that are very important to us as a community and very vital to the process of Catholic HEART Workcamp. Both weekends were very much a success. Below are pictures of both meetings.

CHWC at NCYC in Cleveland

2008-12-12T23:17:00.000-05:00

Every year CHWC joins the National Federation of Youth Ministry for their annual event. This years was with Youth Ministers from all over the country. We got to travel to Cleveland, OH and experience a true Cleveland winter. Snow flurries and wind storms abounded but we weathered though and had a great time in the process. We enjoyed seeing new friends and making some new ones. Below is a picture of the CHWC crew in attendance.

from left to right: Jeff, Nick, Fr. Geoff, Steve, Wayne, Charlotte & Kelly

CHWC Salutes: The Media Manager

2008-09-06T23:43:00.000-04:00

The Media Manager and Media Assistants at Catholic HEART Workcamp are some of the most hardworking and overlooked staff members. We would like to take this time to salute them for all their hard work and long nights. We really do appreciate what they do and could not operate without them. In saying this the 2008 summary videos (that they made) and Photo CD's are almost done and should be all shipping out in the next 2 weeks. Go to our merchandise page to place an order.

Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to all those effected by Hurricane Gustav.

And that's a wrap....

2008-08-10T23:54:00.000-04:00

CHWC is officially over for the summer of 2008.

The remaining teams arrived in Orlando today and unloaded their trucks.
Now for some numbers...
10,000+ Workcampers
2000+ Residents were served
1600+ Homes were worked on
1400+ Workteams
222 Masses were held at Workcamp
87 Staff members gave of their summer to serve
56 Managers changed their communities
37 Cities were renovated
8 Workcamp teams traveled over 28,000 miles
4 Trucks were loaded to the max
1 God witnessed Love, Service, Compassion and Giving and was pleased.

We thank all those who were involved in making this summer a success, you are all in our prayers!

Prayin' in Memphis

2008-08-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

4 corners is a very memorable experience for CHWC campers. It is a time for prayer, reflection, and reconciliation. Many campers find 4 corners the highlight of their week. Below are some pictures of that night in Memphis, TN.

It is hard to believe that CHWC 2008 is almost over. The last week of camps take place in Kearny, Mobile, Buffalo and Piedras Negras, Mexico. It has been said that Catholic HEART Workcamps are the longest days of your life and the shortest weeks. This summer just flew by and we are already looking foward to 2009. Keep this week's campers in your prayers and pray for the continued success of our ministry.

Dante Schmitz: Musician Extraordinaire

2008-07-31T00:05:00.000-04:00

Dante is a musician that brings his unique style to Catholic HEART Workcamp for the 4th straight year. His mellow style brings rave reviews from campers and staff. This year Dante is in Tampa, Bluffton, Lexington, Louisville, Oklahoma City, Rockford, Champaign, St. Louis, and Buffalo. Dante is trying out for American Idol this summer, we wish him luck and send him our prayers. To contact Dante go to danteschmitz.com

Thurday Night in Champaign

2008-07-29T00:11:00.000-04:00

Week 7 of CHWC 2008 has just wrapped up, and it was a huge success. Dayton, Baton Rouge, Champaign, and Greensboro took place last week. Most of the photos from this week are posted (Dayton will be up very soon). We can hardly believe that this summer is drawing to a close. This week we look foward to serving in Memphis, Boston, St. Louis and Charleston. Please contine to pray for all the campers this week and those residents that we will serve.

Below is a snapshot of Thursday Night program these were taken on Thursday in Champaign.

Our favourite color is Popple.

2008-07-17T00:41:00.000-04:00

Popple aka Kyle and Dan is an acoustic humor rock band that is with CHWC for nine weeks of workcamp. They bring an incredible mix of energy, fun, comedy, and worship to our ministry. They are preforming at Twin Cities, Mishawaka, Greensburg, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Prince Frederick, Greensboro, Charleston, and our Mexico camp this summer. The picture above is from Prince Frederick, MD when they teamed with Fr. Geoff, our camp Chaplin, for a set of fast songs which cannot be described by the English language so we will call it as scrumtralescent. Check our more of Popple (and buy their CDs & book them for your own events) at popple.us
We plan to feature more of our CHWC musicians in the coming week. Check back to see the musicians at your camp.

CHWC 2009

2008-07-16T00:44:00.000-04:00

Yes that's right we are thinking about next summer already. The dates are posted for the CHWC 2009 already. Go to the 2008 dates and click on Tentative Dates to see the new dates, there is also a link on our main page as well. Also the merchandise order form is posted so you can order all of our 2008 t-shirts as well as the summary DVD and picture CD of your camp. There WILL be a way to order on-line coming in the next month, included in that will be away to register for 2009 on-line. Week 6 is cruising right along in Rockford, Orlando, Prince Frederick and Anderson. We ask you to pray for the campers this week as well as for us as we continue along this summer. Thank you for your participation and support this summer.

God Bless.

Taco Tuesday/Dance Party

2008-07-07T00:58:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night at Catholic HEART Workcamp is a memorable evening. It is Taco Tuesday and The Dance Party. The debate rages on 'which one is superior?' It is a question that will continue to be debated for a long while. Above is a photo taken at the Dance Party in Pittsburgh, PA, it was quite a memorable experience that was had by all. Louisville, Charlotte, Nashville, and Pittsburgh took place this week. By all accounts they were extremely successful. As CHWC 2008 continues on this summer we ask for your prayers and support as we continue to serve the less fortunate and impact the lives of teens across the country.