Month: June 2016

Camp Franciscan 2016 Women of Strength, Women of God

Posted on by Sister Anne Marie Lom

Franciscan Sisters Camp Franciscan 2016 official photo

” I have been waiting all year for this!”

This came from one of the campers with lots of enthusiasm. This emotion was echoed by girls I have taken before and by the new ones who joined my Arizona group.  It is interesting listening to the “experienced campers” telling the newbies what to expect in Camp. It is always positive comments.

This year’s theme for Camp was “Women of Strength, Women of God”. The theme was carried out throughout the days of Camp.

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Work of love and prayer – something I know campers will always treasure. As they wear it, may it remind them to always walk with Jesus.

The campers were thrilled to make a rosary bracelet out of National Geographic pages of all things! I listened to the details and all the time put into this keepsake project. The girls told me they prayed the rosary as they added each bead.

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Quilting Time! Who said no one sews any more! The girls had fun sewing a quilt together for the needy.

 

Time was spent in our prayerful St. Francis Chapel. The campers met for morning and evening prayer and also daily Mass. The singing was beautiful from our Sister Musicians and from all the campers.

St. Francis of Assisi send us more followers to tend the Earth and bring others to Jesus.
St. Francis of Assisi send us more followers to tend the Earth and bring others to Jesus.

It is great to go to camp with friends from your hometown but just know you will end up making friends from all over the United States. The campers were thrilled to talk and share with high school girls and college girls. They never had such an opportunity before and they loved it.

The campers had lots of fun riding the bikes at the Motherhouse with all their newly created friends.  They got more exercise with the 2016 Summer Olympics. Take a look at some of the sports offered in this summer’s Olympics :):)

Time to practice our Olympic winning 3 step.
Time to practice our Olympic winning 3 step.
And we are off - and still standing :)
And we are off – and still standing 🙂
The wheelbarrow race took lots of skill and strategic planning.
The wheelbarrow race took lots of skill and strategic planning.
The team from Vietnam wont he Olympics.
The team from Vietnam won the  Olympics.

 

As Camp closed we saw The Women of Strength building their own pyramid. They all become women of Courage.
As Camp closed we saw The Women of Strength building their own pyramid. They all became women of Courage.
I know this group of campers will be back again.The mom chaperons loved camp too.
I know this group of campers will be back again.The mom chaperons loved camp too.

 

Thank you to the Sisters at Holy Family Convent for opening their doors to these Campers. Who knows, some day they may be climbing these steps to be a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity.

Thank you to all the Franciscan Sisters at Holy Family Convent for opening your doors to these girls and young ladies. It is an experience they will never forget and who knows - maybe some day they will be walking these steps so they too can be a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity.