2012 Manager's Meeting

Every year the CHWC Managers escape the harsh winter and gather in sunny Florida for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and of course instruction. This is where the CHWC Managers learn to do all they do in the summer. It is a busy weekend, but it is very beneficial to all involved. This year was no exception!

CHWC loves its Priests!

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!

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

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

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

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

More Than Just Service

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.