By Susie Lloyd
Any day now, my girls will start hounding the mailman. They’re all waiting for that one piece of mail that holds the key to summer bliss — the camp application. Who will be the first to grab it and run to tell the others?
What was it, seven years ago that my good friend Barb told me about Morning Star Camp run by the Massachusetts Slaves of the Immaculate Heart? Since then, my husband and I have sent five out of six of our girls to their beautiful camp in New Hampshire (SaintBenedict.com). The sixth is counting down the years until she turns 10. If you think “nun camp” sounds boring and frumpy, you haven’t met the hundreds of girls who rush to fill out their applications each year before the weeks fill up. Which they do — fast.
There is something about the combination of swimming, sailing, skits, and silly hair with Mass, and catechism taught by lively young nuns in full habit. It’s irresistible. After a hefty school year and various part-time jobs it’s like a vacation, a whole week to do nothing but have a great time with your friends. That’s how the girls see it, anyway.
For seven years now, Greg and I have been sending them to live, learn, play, and pray among the inspiring Sisters, and reconnect with their Catholic friends. Young people of faith need support now more than ever. At camp they grow and learn in ways that reach beyond what we can provide at home.
Life Lessons
Theresa Sheehan was also looking for opportunities for her children to learn and grow when she first heard about Catholic HEART Workcamp (CHWC). Since she’s a physician with a banker husband, her four kids seem to have everything. “I wanted them to appreciate how difficult life could be for those less fortunate,” she says.
At CHWC, the teens grow spiritually by working to alleviate poverty. They clean yards, paint, even do plumbing and electrical work for people who can’t afford it. At the base of these works of mercy are daily Masses, frequent Rosaries, and evenings of recollection.
The hands-down favorite is the Four Corners offered midweek. The four corners of the gym are used for meditation, personal discussion with an adult counselor, creative prayer (write a note to God and nail it to the cross), and Reconciliation. “Imagine six to eight priests and a line of 100 waiting to confess their sins!” says Theresa. “At first the kids are wary of the whole idea, but by the end of the week a majority will say that Four Corners was a turning point for them.” Theresa’s kids say they feel like they get at least as much out of the experience than the people they help. That’s what keeps them and thousands of teens coming back year after year to over 47 locations around the country and in Jamaica (HeartWorkcamp.com).
Spiritual “Detox”
Ryan Young, director of Camp Veritas in the Catskills of New York (CampVeritas.com), knows the spiritual value of a week away. He describes the program offered by diocesan priests and the Franciscan Friars and Sisters for the Renewal and the Sisters of Life as a spiritual “detox.”
Teens are immersed in a frenetic, noisy, world that exerts constant pressure to live completely for themselves in the moment. Shutting that off for a week allows their heads to clear. They play baseball or kayak with the Friars and later attend Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and retreat conferences on the Blessed Mother or sin. Add the key ingredient of time and the lessons “marinate.” Teens find themselves confronting the eternal questions: Is the objective of my life heaven? Do I understand that there is a God and it is not me?
Young tells of one young man whose mother warned him that her son didn’t want to be there. Young assured her that this was, after all, a leadership camp, and that God often made the best leaders from rebellious types. At the end of the camp the young man came to Young and said, “This camp saved many souls this week, including my own.” Later, when Cardinal Timothy Dolan paid the camp a visit and brought along several seminarians, that young man was among them.
In just four years, the camp has grown from 50 campers to 260, just by word of mouth. The kids are so devoted to the experience that they want to share it with others. One girl donated all her babysitting money to the camp so a teen who couldn’t afford it would have the same opportunity.
Vibrant Faith Setting
Joanne Blackerby likewise appreciates the retreat aspect of her kids’ favorite camp, The Pines, in Southwest Texas (ThePines.org). “All of us need a retreat of some sort — a break from the pace of everyday life,” she says. “This is the opportunity for my children to experience the faith in an energetic and vibrant setting.”
Last year The Pines offered nine one week camp sessions to 1,500 young people from grade two and up. Kids choose from a wide range of activities including dance and drama, fishing and swimming, horseback riding, and rope climbing. “My kids are overjoyed to go to The Pines and joyful when they return home,” says Blackerby.
Camp counselors often stay in touch and send birthday cards throughout the year. A special feature during camp that really pleases parents is the video that is sent home daily so they can see their kids having a great time in a loving and safe environment.
When to Worry
What are the issues of concern that crop up at an overnight camp? Promiscuity? Meanness? How about everyday homesickness? I don’t have much worry about my own kids because they go to an all-female camp and are surrounded by their best friends, as well as their own sisters.
Besides, when my oldest “I’ll never be a nun” daughter came home after her first time and said, “If I ever join a convent, it will be theirs,” I realized the nuns made her feel perfectly at home.
But how do other people handle these issues?
Handling Homesickness
The Pines aims to prevent homesickness before it happens with a handy list of ways parents can get their kids ready, like having them sleep over at a friend’s house first, or reassuring them that they’ll be back for them at the end of the week. If those don’t take, camp counselors are well trained to deal with homesickness. In extreme cases, if a camper really can’t shake the misery, Mom and Dad are called.
Eyes On Safety
Ryan Young of Camp Veritas says that camp safety is all about caution and common sense. First, the kids are grouped by age and gender. “Each group is then supervised by two adults that have undergone background checks by the diocese,” Young explains. “There is never a time when an adult is alone in a closed space with a teen. There is never a moment when a teen is not within ‘eyeshot’ of their adult leaders.” They’ve never had a serious incident and they plan to keep it that way.
Parental Participation
Parents who still have doubts can always do what Theresa Sheehan did — volunteer as a chaperone to see firsthand what goes on. Theresa volunteered some time as camp doctor as well, which I imagine there must be a great need of after a hard day’s work and play. In addition to making her comfortable as a mom, it was a way to give back to the camp that gave kids who seemed to have everything the thing that mattered most.
Susie Lloyd Susie Lloyd is the author of “Please Don’t Drink the Holy Water and Bless Me, Father, For I Have Kids,” Sophia Institute Press. Her next book is due out in fall of 2013 with Ave Maria Press.By Robyn Lee
Sunday is a special day for Catholic Dad, Jimmy Oliveira. Even when his daughter Gina was still very young, he started the family tradition of Sunday Mass and watching the New York Giants game. “When I was a child that was the family tradition growing up. Church and football. When my daughter was born I decided this is going to be our thing. Going to church on Sunday and watching the Giants game,” says Jimmy.
7-year-old Gina, also loves their Sundays. She asked her dad if they would continue their Sunday tradition when she had her own house. She explained, “when I’m old and you’re old and I have my own kids we can tell them that we watched the games together.” The tradition of watching football was not the only thing that Jimmy wanted to pass on to future generations — he wanted Gina to know her Catholic faith.
Jimmy said he was away from the Church for a while, but it was the birth of his daughter that brought him back. He wanted to give the faith to Gina and started attending Sunday Mass regularly. He recalls the pastor announcing at Mass that there would be a parish retreat. “The priest told us, I promise you if you come every night God will do something. That is the only reason I went, because I wanted God to do something in my life. I could say right then and there my life began to change and I was happier and less stressed. I started giving God my problems.”
Jimmy and Gina continued to be regulars at Sunday Mass, so much so that Jimmy was asked to be an usher at the 11 a.m. Mass. He also started helping with the religious education program. “I started to be involved. My friends would ask me, why do you do this? You don’t get paid and it takes up all your time. But the only thing I’m missing out on is watching TV. I still play hockey and take my daughter where she needs to go. I’m helping someone else’s kid too. I just think we are one big family.”
Jimmy said that being Catholic is part of his identity. “I love being Catholic. Being Catholic reinforces my life. It is the spark that is the foundation of my life. God is there to protect and help guide me through everything and stay on the right path. Since I got involved in the church I’m happy. My daughter and I are closer.” Jimmy also credits the faith for helping him be a better father to his seven-year-old daughter.
It is dads like Jimmy that the National Center for Fathering wants to recognize and encourage. The National Center for Fathering, a nonprofit research and education organization based in Kansas City, held an online contest that asked fathers, their friends, and family members to submit videos as part of their efforts to promote responsible fathering. The winner would get two tickets to the Super Bowl.
Jimmy’s sister, Diana Marie Oliveira, saw the contest posted on the Fathers.com’s Facebook page and decided to put together a video of Jimmy and Gina. “When my sister first found out about the video she told me, ‘we have to do this. I’m telling you, you guys are so great together.’ I have to hand it to her she was the driver behind this. I have to give her all the credit.”
Diana Marie put together a video with pictures of Jimmy and Gina in Giant’s gear with Gina talking about her dad’s devotion to her. “My daddy is the best because he is the only daddy at the school on the PTA. He goes on my field trips, takes me to dance, plans my birthday parties and he even takes me to the dentist.”
When their video became one of the finalists, the family came together to help Jimmy and Gina get votes. “Even Uncle Gary who doesn’t go on the computer went on the computer to vote for our video,” says Jimmy. Everyone was hopeful, but Diana Marie was confident that their video was the best. She told her brother, “Jimmy, go watch all these videos. We have a great chance of winning. I’m telling you. Our video rocks. We are going to win.”
Meanwhile the Giants started winning too.
“I told everyone,” says Jimmy, “if the Giants make it to the super bowl and we win this contest this will be better than winning the lotto.”
Jimmy and Gina are both huge New York Giants fans who “eat, live and breathe Big Blue.” They both have their favorite players. Gina’s favorite is Victor Cruz. “I think it’s because of the salsa dance,” says Jimmy. “She is into dance. The salsa dance has her hooked.”
Jimmy’s favorite player is Eli Manning. Jimmy explained, “my daughter was born in 2004 and Eli was drafted shortly after. I always knew he was something special. I was always a believer in him. Even in 2007 when he had that bad game, I told people to give the kid a chance. Everyone has a bad game. He picks himself up and does a lot better.” Jimmy said that Eli is a good example to him in his own life. “You can’t give up on someone. You have to give them that support and they will show you something good. Going through the bad times makes us who we are in the good times.”
Jimmy also applauds the entire Giant’s organization. “I think the coach is great. Bradshaw broke curfew and he made him sit out. I respect that and use some the same ideas in parenting to guide and raise my daughter. Set a goal. Work hard to achieve your goal. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve your goal.”
The hard work of the Oliveira family paid off when one afternoon Jimmy got a phone call from Fathers.com thanking him for his video. “I got on a phone call and the person said, ‘I want to thank you for your video.’ I thought that I lost. Then he said, on behalf of father.com I would like to congratulate you. I said, what did you say? He told me, you are the winner. I just started crying. I never won anything in my life.”
Jimmy immediately drove up to the school to share the good news with his daughter. “I actually left my house and went right up to the school. When I ran in there I asked her, Guess what? She looked at me and I told her, we won! We’re going to the super bowl. She was crying. I was crying. It was just a real great feeling.”
When asked for a prediction on the game, Jimmy said, “I don’t want to give a score, but I’m very confident in this team and I think we are going to come out on top. It is going to be a good game. Going to the super bowl with my daughter is just like a dream. The fairytale will be complete.”
-- Robyn Lee blogs at Faith & Family Live.
Robyn LeeRobyn Lee is Managing Editor of Catholic Digest.By Brian O'Neel
It’s 11:00 p.m. Do you know where your atheist child is? An alarming number of Catholic parents these days have seen their deepest fear come true. Not only have their children rejected Catholicism, they no longer believe in God.
It is something Church leaders have noticed, as well. In 2009, Chicago’s Francis Cardinal George said, “In Chicago, we now have atheist clubs in high schools. We didn’t have those five years ago. Kids confirmed in the eighth grade say they’re atheists by the time they’re sophomores in high school. Not only did they stop going to church, now they make a statement. I think that’s new.”
This phenomenon is obviously not restricted to Chicago or even to big cities, but it is mostly restricted to young people. While only 2-5 percent of people nationwide profess atheism, 20 percent of young people describe themselves that way, a 9 percent increase since 1988. Indeed, were it not for those 18-50 years of age, atheists (73 percent of whom are in that age bracket) would be just 1 percent of our nation’s population.
In 2007, 80 colleges had Secular Student Alliance chapters on their campuses. Today, there are more than 200. Indeed, as teens move into adulthood, a Pew Center study shows they become more likely to abandon belief.
This all seems very alarming, as if atheism was some contagion preying on children and rapidly spreading throughout the nation.
Why people become atheists
The good news, however, is that it is not a contagion. Rather, according to those who spoke with Catholic Digest, atheism most often comes after a set of life experiences and only gets a set of intellectual theories built around it after the fact.
Every former atheist with whom Catholic Digest spoke noted that they either came from a broken home, had a terrible father figure, or both.
For instance, Matt Simmons of Lincoln, Nebraska, was raised in a broken home. His mentally unstable, non-practicing Protestant mother abandoned her family when Matt was three, leaving Matt’s atheist father to raise him and his sister. His mother’s “presentation of Christianity” wasn’t the most edifying. His father, on the other hand, worked all day and then went out “all evening.” This required Matt’s sister, seven years his senior, to raise him. Simmons says she, a child herself, made her unhappiness over the situation evident. All of this, Matt relates, “fed into a deep sense of fear and insecurity.” He felt “so unwanted and unloved” that he couldn’t fathom “a personal God who loved me and wanted a relationship with me.”
He remembers asking himself, “If my life is like this, then how is there a God? Why is my family a mess?” That was probably the underlying issue, he thinks now, and then over time, he worked in the intellectual constructs: “It was obvious that the world is not a pleasant place, and I couldn’t see how a good God would be involved in that. I didn’t see good. I didn’t see love. The face of God I did see was rigid, inflexible, and unloving.”
Raymond Vincent of Sacramento, California, also came from a less-than-ideal home. His non-practicing Catholic father spent most of Raymond’s childhood years in jail. His unaffiliated mother had a drug habit. He and his brother lived with their aunt and uncle, who, although they didn’t attend Mass, nonetheless put the boys into a parochial school. He left unimpressed with Catholicism, however, because “the Faith wasn’t really instilled at that school. At that time, my atheism was prescientific reasoning. That is, it was just my childhood experiences and sorting out the trauma of those. I distinctly remember as a child telling God about all of these things that were happening and telling him how, if he didn’t make things right, I wouldn’t believe in him anymore. I just decided that he didn’t exist.”
Jordan Signor of Nashua, New Hampshire, although he had parents who professed Catholicism, says, “My dad wasn’t a really a good example of a good Catholic. He’d tell us to go to church, and he’d go sometimes, but most of the time, he wouldn’t. He also cheated on my mom, and they ended up getting divorced.” When the Signor kids got in trouble, his dad would make them recite the Hail Mary as punishment.
Others leave the Church out of a desire to live life without restraint. Jane, from Buffalo, New York, says, “It was very convenient. The rest of the world looked like it was having a grand ol’ time not adhering to a One True God belief system, and I was finally ready for some good times to begin.” She soon saw, however, that “good times” weren’t necessarily that “good.” “Dark times set in,” she admits.
Though they are easily refuted, others fall for the arguments of Christopher Hitchens or author Dan Brown. For instance, one woman told the Pew Center that her “faith was rattled by nonfiction aspects of the novels The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons and shaken by her Internet research into world religions, with their competing claims and dire warnings to non-believers.”
Happily, with God’s grace and lots of prayer, all of these issues can be overcome.
The importance of relationships
For Raymond Vincent, it was his friendship with his evangelical Christian Kung Fu instructor that led to reassessing his atheist principles. Furthermore, their first conversation about faith did not take place until a year into their knowing one another.
Matt Simmons says his life was “empty” and “out of control,” and nothing filled “the hole” he felt inside, which left him “suicidal.”
His friend presented him with a choice: It’s either God or more of this. To humor his friend, he “prayed a prayer of surrender, and I was immediately flooded with God’s grace.”
Next, there has to be an authentic Christian witness. “Hypocrisy was a big deal for me,” says Jordan Signor. “It was such a turnoff.” What did appeal were people like his former pastor, who exhibits an affirmative faithfulness. There was also the “faithful witness of the RCIA leaders” and the example he remembers from his youth, when members of the local parish brought dinner and Christmas gifts to his family’s home during tough financial times.
Part of being an authentic Catholic witness includes being authentically Catholic. When he began looking into RCIA, Signor decided to not enter the program at the parish across the street because attachment to the Church’s teachings “was not strong, and the people didn’t seem happy. Even the priest wasn’t into it. I didn’t see anyone smile. It seemed like people didn’t really care what was going on, like they didn’t think anything special was going on at Mass.” A nearby parish, however, “was solid, and that was very appealing.”
As Vincent puts it, “If you want your kids to be Catholic, be Catholic yourself. If that’s going well, they’ll be more open to practicing the Faith, too.”
That means not relying solely on CCD programs or the parochial school to impart the Church’s teachings.
“Don’t think sending your kids to Catholic school will be enough, because it’s not,” says Vincent. “In high school or college, the teachers will attack your beliefs with a third-grade understanding of the Faith, and that’s not the Faith. So make sure the practice of the Faith is something living in your household and not just some sort of side note. That includes frequenting the sacraments.”
The empty nest
What if your child is grown and out of the house, and you are their main reason for rejecting God?
“If the kids are young adults, I don’t know if there’s much parents can do as far as speaking to them,” says Vincent. “They probably won’t be open to it. But they might be open to speaking to someone else. It took some outside source to talk to me, even though he was saying the same things my aunt and uncle were.”
“You earn the right to be heard,” observes Simmons. “If you’ve damaged things so they don’t hear you, the way you earn back that right to be heard is that you repent. Spend time in prayer and identify all things you did wrong. Go to confession, get it taken care of, go back to your kids, and make amends. ‘I was wrong. What can I do to make it right?’ As long as you’re reasonable, now you can show Jesus to them. It may take a day, a month, a decade. It may never happen, but that’s the only way to earn their trust back and earn the right to speak into their lives again. It’s never too late to start over.”
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If you want to lead atheists to Christ …
Things to say:
Ask probing questions.Speak to the inability of things—or even people—to fill the emptiness so many feel.Seek areas of agreement.Let them know God created us for union with him, we fell away from him in sin, and Jesus came so we could be united with him again. Also, don’t hesitate to talk about original sin. Atheists recognize that people often do things they don’t want to do and are self-destructive; they are aware that no technological advancement can cure this.You can say: “No sin is greater than his mercy. You can dare to hope in Jesus Christ who waits for you with open arms, who has loved you into existence and from the beginning of time.”Let them know you are willing to listen. “Should you ever wish to discuss your beliefs, I’m available. I’d like to hear about your beliefs and how you arrived at these.”Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know how to answer your question, but I will next time we speak.”Things to not say:
Walk the walk. For instance, don’t gossip, swear, or use the Lord’s name in vain.Don’t judge them or say they are doomed to hell. Such judgment is reserved to Jesus alone. Also, do not chastise them or rebuke them for leaving the Church. Instead, invite them back.Don’t water down the Church’s teachings to make them more palatable. Most atheists value truth above all else, so give them the unadorned truth. Be sure you know what you’re talking about, though. Don’t guess.Don’t say: a) Your position is irrational; (b) Deep down, you’re really a believer; (c) There are no atheists in foxholes; or (d) You’ll see things differently when you have a personal crisis.Don’t communicate the belief that atheists can’t be moral without believing in God. That is obviously false. Atheists act morally all the time, and theists act immorally all the time.Don’t say, “You just need to have faith. Then you’d understand.”Don’t attack their intentions, even when they’re argumentative and angry. Understand that most atheists don’t intend to be malicious. Rather, most sincerely believe in doing what they believe is best for themselves and humanity.Brian O'NeelBrian O'Neel is a writer and editor for hire who lives near Philadelphia with his wife and six children. He is the author of two titles, 39 New Saints You Should Know and Saint Who? 39 Holy Unknowns, both from Scepter Books. Contact him at CatholicPBwriter@yahoo.com.By Laurie Ghigliotti
“I’m bored!” What parent hasn’t heard that—from little ones to high-schoolers—during summer vacation? Summers are notorious for students losing academic ground while sleeping into the afternoon and spending long hours bonding with their game systems. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Many Catholic colleges around the country offer opportunities to expand horizons, keep up academic skills, and sharpen teens’ focus on their future as they prepare for the challenges of higher education.
Some colleges also cater to the younger set, helping to dispel the boredom of a long summer by maintaining academic skills and helping younger students get acquainted with the college environment.
Testing the waters for rising high-school seniors
The high-school graduating class of 2014 will make important decisions soon about where they will continue their education. Catholic colleges are ready to help by offering summer programs designed to introduce high-school students to the tantalizing intellectual feats that await them in college.
Immersion in a college’s culture can help a student make the critical choice of where to further their education. College programs like those at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia, Thomas Aquinas College in California, and others give high-school students an opportunity to check out campus life, experience the educational culture of the college, and meet other young people grappling with similar decisions.
Attending a college’s summer program gives a student a more in-depth experience of college life than a short campus visit during the regular semester. Even if the student doesn’t choose that particular college, the experience can be rewarding and fulfilling.
High-school Great Books program
Thomas Aquinas College introduces high-school students to its Santa Paula campus and its liberal arts curriculum through a two-week summer program at its campus.
“The goal of [the high-school Great Books program] is to introduce students to a way of learning that deepens them intellectually and spiritually and awakens in them a sense of wonder about reality,” said the college’s admissions director, Jonathan Daly.
Students report that the two-week program is the best part of the summer. “I believe they feel this way for a number of reasons, all of which are grounded in their honest pursuit of the truth in a genuinely Catholic community,” Daly said.
“Not surprisingly, they all enjoy the sports and activities that are scheduled throughout the program, but a welcome surprise for many of them is how interested they are in the classes, which are unlike anything most have ever experienced,” Daly said.
Program participants meet in small groups to discuss works by Plato, Euclid, and other classical masters. “As a group, they find themselves as eager to engage in animated conversation with their peers about law and justice in Plato’s Crito as they are willing to commit themselves to a brief and highly illuminating study of the principles of math through Euclidean geometry,” Daly said.
“This isn’t perhaps what you would expect from a group of high-school students, but it is what we find time and time again. It is this experience of earnestly searching after the truth in a Catholic setting with real friends that make it the best two weeks of their life.”
The program at Thomas Aquinas also provides time for exploration of the natural and cultural offerings of the area, with a hike into the Los Padres National Forest, a visit to the Hollywood Bowl for an evening of music, a tour of the Getty Center art museum, and a trip to Santa Barbara. Masses are offered twice daily, and there are other opportunities for community prayer—making for an experience that addresses all aspects of the students’ lives.
Jim McCafferty, parent of a previous year’s participant, said his daughter Sadie fully intended to attend a university in her home state of Mississippi to study theater, but he hoped she would consider Thomas Aquinas and its Great Books course of study.
McCafferty had read about Thomas Aquinas College many years before and remembered being impressed. He was glad when Sadie agreed to try the summer program. “It was a sacrifice for us to send her, but we felt it was worthwhile,” McCafferty said. “She called us on the second night, saying, ‘This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life!’”
His daughter also met a lot of kindred spirits, McCafferty said, and she decided to make Thomas Aquinas College her college destination.
Experience Christendom summer program
Christendom College, in Front Royal, Virginia, will be offering five one-week sessions of their Experience Christendom Summer Program. Open to current high-school juniors, the program also allows for some sophomores to attend. Tom McFadden, director of admissions, expects to have about 225 students attend this summer, an increase from 2012 when there was a long waiting list for the four sessions scheduled.
“[The program] seamlessly blends all the great things that Christendom College provides—academic life, social activities, liturgical life, athletics, etc.—so that the students can truly experience what Christendom offers: a Catholic cultural educational experience where Catholicism is ‘the air that they breathe,’” McFadden said.
One Experience Christendom Summer Program participant was nervous about leaving home to live among strangers but was pleasantly surprised once he arrived.
“I had mixed feelings about going to the Christendom summer program,” John M., a 2012 participant, said. “At first I was really excited about it, but as the days got closer, I became more and more aware that I would know absolutely no one there.
“The day I arrived, I could tell immediately it was going to be a great week. To anyone considering this program, go for it—and stay open, even if this isn’t your thing. I know that advice worked for me.”
Participants can expect to attend classes in theology, philosophy, history, and English literature. Other activities include swing dancing, canoeing, hiking, bowling, debate, an Irish barn dance, and a talent show.
A trio of programs at UD
The University of Dallas has a trio of programs for high-school students; Arete I and II, Shakespeare in Italy, and Latin in Rome. All three allow students to earn college credit.
The Arete program, held on the Irving, Texas, campus, is a college preparatory program that allows high-school students to study great works of literature. Shakespeare in Italy exposes students not just to Shakespearean works, but also to the culture of Italy. The Latin in Rome program brings students to the origins of the language with visits to archeological and historical sites in Rome and Naples combined with relevant Latin studies.
“We have had students from a vast variety of schools and places—from far northwestern Ontario to south Texas, from New York all the way to American Samoa,” said Greg Roper, chair and associate professor of English at UD. “We love to have a mix of students in the program, and it’s wonderful to see the friendships that form over the span of this intense, exhilarating, and, frankly, fun two-and-a-half weeks on our beautiful campus just outside of Rome.”
While students can study Shakespeare in many places, studying in Italy is very appropriate, Roper said. “Shakespeare set more than a quarter—almost a third—of his plays in Italy, so clearly he was fascinated by the place,” Roper said. “We’re fascinated by his fascination. We lead students into this fascination by showing them the very places that inspired Shakespeare’s greatest works.”
Andrew Moran, assistant director of Shakespeare in Italy and associate professor of English, added that the goal of the program goes beyond academic and intellectual development. “We seek to create an environment in which friendships are made and in which our students grow as a person,” Moran said. “Time spent in Rome and time spent dwelling on the perennial questions about our humanity that are at the heart of Shakespeare’s plays almost invariably lead students to take more seriously religious questions, and specifically the Catholic faith.”
Catholic culture, music, and faith
Benedictine College summer programs for high-school students address a variety of interests while offering a glimpse into college life and the Benedictine spirituality at its campus located on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River.
Cassie Goodman, director of youth outreach at the college, enjoys working with the students who attend the program. “Our goal is to provide students with an opportunity to grow in faith, develop leadership skills, and form real relationships with other students who share similar passions,” Goodman said. “Regardless of their future college choices, our goal is to empower the students to return to their home parishes and schools as leaders for Christ, recognizing their gifts and talents as a means to greater evangelization.”
One of the programs BC provides for high-school students is CathEdRal (Catholic Education Rally), a weeklong experience focused on what it means to build a Catholic culture.
Edward Mulholland, assistant professor of classical and modern languages, helped put together the college’s CathEdRal program. “We were aiming for a summer camp experience that gave high-schoolers an experience of BC as a community of faith and scholarship, which is central to who we are at Benedictine College,” Mulholland said. “There were already programs that focused on the faith aspect, but not on academics. So CathEdRal has as its goal to build a community around an experience of faith lived in the pursuit of truth.”
Students are introduced to some of the disciplines taught at the college: literature, philosophy, theology, and engineering. The value of the program, said Mulholland, is that at a time in their lives when both faith and schoolwork often seem purposeless to them, this program helps cement both with a lifelong project of glorifying God by living to the full who we are: men and women called to holiness through building a better world for all around us.
One of the high points for Mulholland was watching the students tackle an engineering project. “The kids had to build certain things—a Romanesque arch and a gothic arch,” Mulholland said. “It was a timed competition, but it was also hands-on learning at its best. One can learn concepts in a book—keystone, flying buttresses, etc.—but these students were able to live firsthand that, if they wanted to support a high ceiling (to symbolize the majestic glory of God) and follow the laws of nature, things like buttresses were discoveries, even necessities. Our teenage Gothic architects had to problem-solve and even steal glances at what was working for the other team, just like the historical cathedral builders.”
Jasmin Robles, a 2012 participant, fondly remembers her week at BC CathEdRal. “I learned so much,” Robles said. “How Catholicism is universal—how it reaches into all aspects of our lives. Our identity as Catholics should remain, even in the fields of science, math, literature, architecture, media, and more.”
The college also offers a music program for high-school students. VOICE draws rising high-school freshmen to graduating seniors from all over the country; it is geared to the student with a desire to grow in fellowship and technical skill while combining musical talent with love for the Lord, according to the college’s website.
Rounding out the college’s high-school summer programs is its Catholic Youth Conference. Father Stan Fortuna, CFR, is one of the featured speakers at this year’s conference. Father Fortuna is a musician and author. His most recent book is U Got 2 Love, which discusses love in modern culture.
Banishing summer boredom for the younger set
Intellectual stimulation and just plain fun are available at many university campuses, creating an environment attractive to younger children and their parents.
Ethan Sweet’s parents preempted summer stagnation with a summer program at their local Catholic college, Holy Cross, in Lisle, Indiana. Ethan, 14, has enjoyed a variety of activities at the camp. “Cooking was my favorite,” Ethan said. “We made good food, some good snacks, and learned how to measure and cook. Some of my friends took classes about photography, computers, and babysitting.”
Ethan has attended the camp for five summers; he has enjoyed learning new things, as well as developing many different skills. “You can play sports, learn about animals and bugs and reptiles in the nature class, and make cool things in the art class,” Ethan said.
“I met lots of other kids and saw some kids every summer when we’d all go back to camp,” Ethan said.
Joe Raymond, a professional photographer and a digital photography instructor at the summer camp, enjoys the time he spends with budding photographers. “One of the things that’s useful for kids is to get them actually involved,” Raymond said. “That’s how they learn.”
Raymond teaches his students that the tools of digital photography can include anything from cell phones, point-and-shoot cameras, and sophisticated camera equipment. Even he is amazed by what his students produce.
“One of the exercises was to take a picture of a flower and bring a print to class,” Raymond said. “One of the kids came in with an absolutely gorgeous photo. I thought it had been taken with a camera, but she waved her phone at me. I asked her how she got it printed and she said she had emailed it to herself. I was surprised.”
“Pat Adams, director of community engagement, has set a nice tone for this camp,” Raymond said. “This is not just an hour of babysitting. This is a chance to help broaden their horizons, and it’s a gift to come in each day and see them so enthusiastic.”
Holy Cross College’s program reflects the mission shared by other colleges offering summer programs: providing a service to the community, helping children form friendships, and preventing summer slide.
In that spirit, Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, offers a wide variety of activities, sports camps, and summer camps. University-sponsored sports camps include volleyball, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Lacrosse, football, and other sports camps are also offered by outside organizations on the campus.
The university also offers several sessions of Summer Fun Day Camp from June 3 to August 9. We do everything from fishing to computers to sports,” said Marita Hyde, director of the camp for ages 5 to 13. “We also have certified teachers that come on as counselors to help the children with academics.”
Another program offered at the university is Summer Sleuths for children entering grades five to nine. Offered free of charge, the program gives children a different perspective on science and problem solving than they receive in school, Hyde said.
Sports camps also have a place on the Holy Cross campus in Notre Dame, Indiana. The college hosts a basketball camp that operates in the mornings and offers an enrichment program in the afternoons. The enrichment program is in its 10th year and is designed for children from ages 8 to 14.
Opportunities for fun, friendship, and learning await students at any number of Catholic college campuses—environments that nurture and challenge children and teens to see the world and faith with new eyes.
Summer learning across the country
Ave Maria University
5050 Ave Maria Blvd.
Ave Maria, FL 34142
(877) 283-8648
Ave.riverstonegrowth.com/visit/hs-programs
admissions@avemaria.edu
Ave Maria University offers three summer sessions for high-school students entering their junior or senior year and high-school graduates. Each weeklong session offers a different focus. The first session begins July 10th.
Cost: $500 (covers room and board, tuition, and all activities)
Benedictine College
1020 N. 2nd Street
Atchison, KS 66002
(913) 360-7655
Benedictine.edu/youthoutreach
youthoutreach@benedictine.edu
Benedictine College Youth Conference
June 21–23, 2013
Speaker: Father Stan Fortuna, CFR
Cost: $175
Benedictine College Cathedral
CATHolic Education RALly examines the question of what it means to build a Catholic culture by exploring Catholic intellectual tradition in theology, philosophy, the sciences, and literature.
June 16–21, 2013
Cost: $500
Benedictine College Voice
Explores tradition in praise in Catholic history while improving leadership skills through small group ensembles
June 16–21, 2013
Cost $500
Programs for rising freshmen to high-school graduates, offered by the Benedictine College campus ministry office. Fees include event, lodging, and meals.
Benedictine College also hosts a number of sports camps through its athletic department. Call the college at (913) 360-5340.
Benedictine University
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Ben.edu/community/camps
(630) 829-6019
Sports camps
Summer Sleuth for students entering 5th-9th grades; no fee.
Summer Fun Day Camp for ages 5–13
Registration for day camp begins April 1, 2013.
$185 per session; 10 summer sessions to choose from. First session begins June 3rd.
OPUS music camp for ages 8–18 (not sponsored by the university but held on campus) For information about the camp, call (630) 983-3902, email opus@napopu.org, or visit Opus.org.Christendom College
134 Christendom Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630
Christendom.edu/admissions/ecsp.php
(800) 877–5456
Experience Christendom College Summer Program introduces high-school students to Christendom College life and is open to rising seniors. If space allows, students entering their junior year of high school will be admitted.
Five weeklong sessions beginning June 16, 2013.
Cost: $400 per session (includes tuition, lodging, meals, activity fees, and books)
Holy Cross College
54515 State Road 933 North
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Youth Enrichment Summer Camp
(574) 239-8364
Youth Enrichment Summer Camp for ages 8-14; June 17-21, 2013
One-hour classes in nature, digital photography, sign language, and other topics
One class fee $45, or full afternoon for $100
Basketball Camp June 17-21; $100 per camper
Register on the website beginning in April
For more information, contact Aimee Niespodziany at (574) 239-8331.
Mount St. Mary’s University
16300 Old Emmitsburg Rd.
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Mount St. Mary's summer camps
(301) 447-6122
The university offers numerous sports camps for basketball, soccer, lacrosse and more.
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825
pitchera@sacredheart.edu
(203) 271-7942
With Sacred Heart University’s summer pre-college program, high-school students can explore college majors while earning college credit. For more information, contact Angela Pitcher, director of Summer/Winter Sessions and special programs.
Thomas Aquinas College
10,000 Ojai Road
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Thomas Aquinas High School Summer Program
summerprogram@thomasaquinas.edu
(800) 634-9797
The college’s Great Books High-School Program gives students a taste of what they can expect if they choose to attend Thomas Aquinas College. The two-week program includes small class discussions and excursions off-campus as well as other planned activities.
Cost: $975 (includes tuition, housing, meals, books, and organized activities off campus).
University of Dallas
1845 East Northgate Drive
Irving, TX 75062
University of Dallas High School Programs
(972) 721-5000
The university offers three separate programs, two of which are held in Italy. The programs require that students be rising juniors or seniors or have just graduated from high school.
Arete I or II
July 14–27
Cost $1500 (includes tuition, room, and board)
Latin in Rome
July 10–31
Cost $6000 (all-inclusive, including travel to Italy)
Shakespeare in Rome
July 10–27
Cost $6500 (all-inclusive including travel to Italy)
Wyoming Catholic College
1400 City Park Drive
Lander, WY
Wyoming Catholic College High School Summer Program
(877) 332-2930
Wyoming Catholic College offers a two-week camp (July 6–20) for college-bound Catholic youth. P.E.A.K. (Powerful Experience of Adventure and Knowledge) gives students entering their junior or senior of high school an opportunity to experience the college’s unique approach to liberal arts education: seeking wisdom in study, nature, and prayer.
Cost $895 (covers lodging, food, equipment, recreational fees, and excursions)
By Matt Archbold
I’m used to being the only dad in a crowd of moms wherever I go. As a father who works from home and raises five kids, I’ve gotten used to it.
Recently, I was at my daughter’s basketball game with my other four children. We were in the bleachers near a few other moms. I was near the moms, but not with them. There’s a difference.
After all these years of attending sporting events, parent/teacher meetings, and parish fund-raisers, I’m still seen as separate from the moms. And make no mistake, I’m OK with that. I don’t chit or chat easily, and when asked to do both together, it usually ends badly. After years of study, I’ve accepted the fact that moms and dads are just different.
I know it’s not popular nowadays to even notice that men and women are different. Or that moms and dads have different roles. And even if some people gasp when you say it, it doesn’t make it less true. In fact, I’ve found that the truer something is, the more gasps you’ll get when you say it.
I will never understand the ability of women to spelunk so quickly into the depths of each other’s lives, telling each other things I wouldn’t speak of if I were alone in a room. But that’s what they do. Me? I keep score of the game, which is pretty easy considering most of the kids can’t reach the rim with the ball. The score usually stays in very manageable single digits. I don’t have to carry the one or anything.
But that day, something happened that stopped the game dead.
A little girl heaved the ball up, and it didn’t just miss the net, the rim, and the backboard—it missed the court. The ball bounced off the wall, careened off the bleachers, and rolled away from the pack of girls who chased it until … it rolled right into the boy’s bathroom. And there they stopped. Nothing puts the stop on little girls like a boy’s bathroom. In a little girl’s world, there’s only one thing ickier than a boy, and that’s a boy’s bathroom. And I’m not saying they’re wrong about that.
But they were most assuredly at an impasse. They stared at each other, dumbfounded. What to do? Here was a situation there’d been no practice for. No playbook. The girls looked at their mom-coaches, and the mom-coaches looked back at the kids. The ball might as well have rolled off the end of the earth.
This was a job for a man. I stood up. Not too proudly, I took my son by the hand and we walked across the court like heroes. I walked slowly, I’ll admit, and right across the court. There aren’t enough moments like this in life, so when you come across one, you walk through it slowly.
We went to the edge of the bathroom doorway, and I dispatched my son in. This was a gift I could bestow upon him. I could allow him to be the conquering hero, and I would stand proudly by his side as his father.
He walked right into the boy’s bathroom. And we all waited. And waited. And waited some more. All eyes were on me.
Just as I was about to go fetch him, my boy emerged, holding the basketball overhead like a trophy. The moms cheered and my son bowed. Then the women went back to talking about doctor’s diagnoses, intimate heartbreaks, and uncertain financial futures.
I asked my son what took so long and he whispered back a little uncomfortably that the ball had “a little gunk on it.” He said he didn’t think that sharing that with the girls was a good idea. I was impressed by his wisdom.
As this story illustrates, there are some things that only dads can do. Here are some more I’ve noted:
Bravery. Someone needs to teach boys that getting hit ain’t the worst thing in the
world, but an unwillingness to get hit might be.
Potty tricks. Someone has to teach boys how to go to the bathroom. There are things moms just don’t know about. There’s a lot more to it than you think. Trust me here.
Integrity. Someone needs to explain to children why the number 714 means something. And explain why Barry Bonds doesn’t.
Honor code. Someone needs to explain to boys that you never, ever hit a girl. And someone has to explain to the girls that they can’t hit boys because … well, because they can’t hit you back.
Living example. A mom can explain to a son how they want to be treated, but watching a dad treat a mom with respect and love, every single day, day in and day out, is still the best way to learn that lesson.
Teaching love. Little girls learn how they should be treated by the way their father treats them. That’s a heavy load when you think about it. And I often do. A girl won’t be desperate to run away to the first guy who tells her he loves her, if there’s a man who has told her (and shown her!) he loves her throughout her childhood.
Consistency. Teenage girls can get all sorts of moody. They want hugs one second and storm up the stairs the next, but dads must stay the same. Girls need a dad that makes them come down the stairs and walk up them again, this time without stomping. That kind of consistency tells them you love them, whether they’re hugging or stomping.
Compliments. There doesn’t seem to be a much better moment in a little girl’s week than when she hears from her dad on Sunday morning that she looks pretty. Not cute. Pretty. There’s a difference, and they know it.
Threats. Let’s face it—a family needs a threat. You don’t even have to make good on it all that often. Most of the time, the threat is all you need.
Pest control. Someone’s got to kill the bugs. I’m not talking about the little, flitting ones. I’m talking about the ones that look big enough to ride the big roller coaster at the church fair. I’m talking about the ones that could shave but don’t because they think it makes ’em look tough. I’m not saying moms can’t squish these kinds of bugs, but I think most moms like knowing they don’t have to.
Roughhousing. Most children want to be lifted up and tossed around a little bit. They want to be held above their dad’s head or dangled from an ankle. Sometimes they want to be tickled until they beg for mercy, and then they want you to do it again just when they catch their breath. I’ve found that homes filled with giggling and squealing are happy ones.
Safety. Most kids feel love, comfort, and sympathy for their moms, but they feel safe next to their dads. There’s just something about leaning on someone that you couldn’t move even if you had a running start and all day to try that makes you feel safe.
Commitment. I think it’s important for little girls to know that their dad said, “I do,” and actually did. And still does.
Faith. And then there’s praying. There’s just something about kids seeing the strongest person they know on this earth go to his knees that tells them just about everything they need to know about our place in this world.
I’m amazed at the way my wife handles the children. Her surprise hugs and little whispers in their ears at just the right moment make me thankful to even know her. She says and does things I wouldn’t even think to do. But that’s just it. It’s not that I couldn’t, it’s just that I wouldn’t think to do it, so I can’t. Similarly, I think there are just some things moms can’t do.
And that’s why God made dads.
Matt ArchboldMatt Archbold graduated from Saint Joseph's University in 1995. He is a former journalist who left the newspaper business to raise his five children. He writes for CreativeMinorityReport.com. By Angelique Ruhi-Lopez
For those who long to be parents, perhaps nothing is more heartbreaking than experiencing the pain of infertility instead. I know this pain firsthand—my husband and I experienced infertility while trying to conceive our first child.
The Centers for Disease Control defines infertility as trying to conceive for at least one year with regular intercourse and no contraception. About one in six couples in the United States experiences infertility issues according to this definition.
When faced with the overwhelming choices associated with infertility, my husband and I began a search for what the Catholic Church teaches about fertility methods. Initially, what I read in Church documents such as Dignitas Personae and Donum Vitae overwhelmed me because of how profound they were; later, as I continued to read and pray, these documents made me realize God’s profound love for me, my husband, and the child we desired to conceive. This love and dignity is what forms the foundation of all the Church teaching on this subject.
Catholic solutions
Before facing infertility herself, Kate Moss Romero said she was privileged to come to know these teachings, since they were related to her in-depth study of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
“I was just so certain beforehand that the Church teaching was right and what we were going to follow. It eliminated any doubts,” said Romero. “Sure, we had doubts about whether or not we would ever have a child, but we didn’t deal with the doubt of whether what we were doing was right. It is so difficult for couples that aren’t informed about Church teaching. We need to be talking about this before couples experience infertility.”
So how does a couple dealing with infertility know if a fertility treatment is morally right and accepted by the Church? The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, following the Vatican documents on infertility, offers a helpful rule of thumb to help determine this:
—Any procedure that assists marital intercourse in reaching its procreative potential is moral.
—Procedures that add a “third party” into the act of conception or substitute a laboratory procedure for intercourse are not acceptable.
In light of this rule of thumb, procedures such as in-vitro fertilization and other related “treatments” would not be considered moral. In fact, they are not treatments at all because they do not help heal the underlying medical issues that are causing infertility. And a host of other ethical issues arise through the creation of human embryos in a lab.
“It’s easy to gravitate toward something that appears to be a quick fix when it’s not,” explained Romero. “I wasn’t interested in just masking the problem; I wanted to fix things instead of ignoring them.”
Romero found a Catholic solution in NaProTECHNOLOGY, a method of fertility evaluation and treatments that honors marital integrity and upholds the dignity of human life. The “FertilityCare” system begins with the premise that infertility may be a result of disorders that disrupt normal ovarian and uterine function. Because these disorders can interfere with conceiving and sustaining a pregnancy, treatments are administered that help alleviate the underlying causes of infertility.
FertilityCare physicians—trained by the Omaha-based Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction—are now found all over the nation and in other countries. Additionally, other Catholic physicians in the US have begun treating infertility patients in accordance with Church teaching in a similar fashion. Catholic physicians who have committed themselves to treating infertility in a comprehensive, moral way are answering the Church’s call to research alternate means of healing infertility that honor human dignity.
Romero was able to work long distance with a FertilityCare physician a few states away, and thanks to the treatment she received, she and her husband were able to conceive their first son, who was born in December 2010. They are now expecting their second child.
“Infertility feels so isolating, but there are so many people who are in a similar boat and want to be faithful to Church teaching,” said Romero. “It’s hard to reach out and get support, but you need it. It’s hard to handle it quietly by yourself.” For Romero, help came in the way of an online community of Catholic bloggers, faithful to the Magisterium, who share their experiences and treatments and offer one another prayer and support.
“For me, the support came through the blogs. No one else I knew in real life was dealing with infertility,” she said. “The blogs were a huge blessing in that regard.”
The adoption option
For some couples, the journey of infertility leads them to discern alternate ways of becoming parents, and many are led to pursue adoption.
According to the Catechism, spouses who suffer from infertility after exhausting legitimate (and acceptable) medical procedures should unite themselves with the Lord’s cross and “give expression to their generosity by adopting abandoned children or performing demanding services for others” (CCC,2379). Some people discern that they do not want to remain childless and try to adopt, while others may discern that they are called to ministry or service in the Church. A life without children can still lead to a good, fruitful life of service. However, adoption is an incredible, loving option that should be, at the very least, considered, discerned, and prayed about.
“When in doubt, all you have to do is look at the Holy Family,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rex, mother of three— two through adoption—and an adjunct professor of bioethics at Holy Apostles College in Connecticut. “Jesus was both the biological son of Mary and adoptive son of Joseph by Divine Providence. Jesus fulfills the prophecy through his legal father, Joseph, who is not biologically related. I just hope that Catholics and Christians can have a more comprehensive understanding that adoption is what God has always wanted as a way of forming a family. He did it with his only begotten son in the Holy Family of Nazareth. We can learn from this example that adoption is a good choice that God has foreseen for all eternity.”
Adoption should never be viewed as a replacement or a quick fix to fulfill the desire of biological children. It is simply a different way to build a family that can happen with or without the presence of fertility. Through adoption, parenthood may not be experienced as one imagined it, but certainly fully.
“We need to as a nation and as a world think of children not as possessions or property, but as souls entrusted to our care,” said Dr. Rex. “Especially as Catholics, we are all adopted children of God. We are entrusted to our parents, but we’re all God’s children.”
Dr. Rex and her husband started The Children First Foundation, which promotes Choose Life license plates, Choose-Life.org. The additional cost of these license plates goes directly toward helping fund efforts for prenatal care for women considering adoption services and pro-life pregnancy centers that encourage adoption.
There are more than five million people today in the US who were adopted, and a total of about 100,000 are adopted domestically and internationally each year by US parents through foster care, domestic adoption, and international adoption.
It is normal to have fears, concerns, and questions prior to adopting. Many worry about the cost of adoption, but there are foundations that help defray adoption costs, and some adoption agencies offer a sliding scale for fees. We may also be inclined to ask ourselves whether we can love an adopted child as much as a biological one, but of course we can—just as we love our spouses despite not sharing the same genes.
“Adoption has reaffirmed for me that love is a gift and a choice. Parenting is not about biology; it’s about love and loving as God did. I think adoption is a beautiful, concrete example of how we choose to love. It’s a love that calls us to go outside of ourselves, and one that is misunderstood by many,” said Carmen Santamaría, who adopted twins domestically after experiencing secondary infertility following the birth of her two biological children.
As a result of our combined experiences with infertility and adoption, Carmen and I felt called to co-author a book entitled The Infertility Companion for Catholics: Spiritual and Practical Support for Couples, which combines Church teachings on infertility with firsthand experiences and resources for couples struggling with infertility and miscarriage. Our desire in writing this book is to offer hope both to couples in the midst of this struggle as well as the families, friends, and Church ministers who support them.
“Infertility teaches us to trust in God’s plans and reminds us that we don’t have all the answers. The Lord tells us, ‘My ways are not your ways,’” added Santamaría. “We need to trust that whatever situation we are in, God is working in us to perfect us, and he knows what is best for us, however painful that may be.”
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Infertility & Adoption resources
Church documents:
Instruction Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation
Instruction Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions
Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology
Catholic Healthcare Options
FertilityCare Centers of America (Find NaPro TECHNOLOGY medical consultants)
One More Soul (NFP only physicians)
Books
Facing Infertility: A Catholic Approach by Jean Dimech-Juchniewicz (Pauline Books and Media)Infertility Journey: Making Faith-Informed Decisions Under the Guiding Hands of God (booklet) by Jeannie and Bruce Hannemann (Elizabeth Ministry International)The Infertility Companion for Catholics: Spiritual and Practical Support for Couples by Angelique Ruhi-Lopez and Carmen Santamaria (Ave Maria Press)Adoption: Choosing It, Living It, Loving It by Ray Guarendi (Servant Books)The Call to Adoption: Becoming Your Child’s Family by Jaymie Wolfe (Pauline Books and Media)Blogs:
There are more than 40 Catholic blogs dedicated to the subject of infertility. Here is just a sampling:
A Martha Trying to Be Mary
Frustrated Musings of a Seemingly Calm Gal
NaPro Husband
This Cross I Embrace
Angelique Ruhi-LopezAngelique Ruhi-Lopez is the co-author of The Infertility Companion for Catholics: Spiritual and Practical Support for Couples, published by Ave Maria Press.
The Beaverton City Library recently celebrated National Poetry Month with an annual writing contest for teens. The contest is generously supported by the Beaverton Library Foundation, which awards cash prizes in each age division: middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Each year, teen librarians choose a different poetic format; this year’s was the Haiku.
This was the tenth anniversary of the contest and one of the biggest competitions yet, with over 900 entries from students throughout the Beaverton area. The panel of distinguished judges included members of the Teen Library Council, who weighed in on their favorite work, and youth services librarians who made final decisions based on originality, voice, overall impression and adherence to the poetic format.
This year, judging was a difficult task because there were so many wonderful entries. We hope you will enjoy reading the winning entries as much as we did! The Beaverton City Library offers a variety of contests and programs for teens throughout the year. For more information, please visit the website: www.BeavertonLibrary.org/teens.
First Place
by Carly S., Grade 11
Tears welling in clouds
Reach the mouths of the Squirmers
Who marry the earth.
Second Place
by Belen P., Grade 10
Heavy like thick rain,
But destructive like strong swell.
I just described guilt.
Third Place
by Jack R., Grade 10
I had a girlfriend
I had a superpower
And then I woke up
Honorable Mention
by Katie C., Grade 9
Sunlight gleaming off
Calm water in the garden
Two radiant suns
First Place
by Marcell S., Grade 7
Shiny red apple
Delicious crunchy oval
Yanks my white tooth out
Second Place
by Andrew P., Grade 8
Age: Measured in rings.
But by the scars on our trunks
We learn who we are
Third Place
by Robbie M., Grade 6
Muddy bonds trap me
I break free with great green stem
Color explosion
Honorable Mention
by Sara R., Grade 6
Category: 2013_July, Arts and Culture, Community EventSEVEN continents,
A BILLION people plus,
And only ONE me.
Fantastic script writing, endearing characters, a beautiful small town setting … all of these factors got me hooked on the hit TV series, “Northern Exposure,” when it originally came out in the 1990s. I adored the simple yet profound story lines of this show.
At the Beaverton City Library several months ago I came across the season one DVD of “Northern Exposure.” I thought it would be a great show to revisit with my kids. That night we snuggled up in bed, and together over a couple of months, we went through that first season, and then the five sequential seasons that followed. My kids were hooked and fell in love with Cicely, Alaska (aka Roslyn, Washington) and its cast of characters, Joel, Maggie, Chris, Holling, Ruth Ann, Ed, Marilyn and the rest. Since the show was filled with such depth and meaning, we would often have discussions about what occurred within each episode and the lessons to be taken away.
After we watched the entire series, there was one Monday my kids didn’t have school, so on that Sunday morning I surprised them and told them we were going to Roslyn (about a 4.5 hour drive), for the night, and visit where Northern Exposure took place. They were so excited! Without any real plans of what we’d do or where we’d stay, we began our sojourn.
From the moment we arrived on Roslyn’s Pennsylvania Avenue, we felt like we’d stepped back in time and into the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska. All the sights felt so familiar and I admit, my daughter, son and I were totally fan struck. We first went into Dr. Joel Fleishman’s office (which is now Cicely’s Gift Shop). We spoke to the shop owner, a local man who had been in Roslyn during all the glory years of series filming and had many stories about what it was like to interact with all the actors. He talked about Janine Turner(Maggie), Rob Morrow (Joel), Cynthia Geary (Shellie) and Darren Burrows (Ed). He talked about all the behind-the-scenes personalities and the anecdotal conversations he had with them over the years. What a great bonus for us!
We then went to The Brick, where we had lunch. My kids were very excited—it was as if Holling and Shellie were going to come around the corner and serve us. The bar side is 21 and over and there is a family dining area on the other side of the building.
After lunch we sauntered over to the KBHR studio, which is part of a larger commercial space. Looking through the windows, the set still looks the same as it did when “Chris in the Morning” took over the airwaves of Cicely. It’s a bit dusty, though, and has a sad sort of feeling of being left behind.
We walked around the rest of the town (it’s small), and saw Ruth Ann’s store and lots of other notable “Northern Exposure” features, like the town totem pole. Roslyn, a once-flourishing coal mining town, has a unique charm and it’s easy to see why producers chose this location to film the series. There are many old houses, most built in the early 1900s, ma and pa shops, a small movie theater, and the town has a population of under 1,000.
A local told us to make sure we drove up to see one of Roslyn’s more historical attributes, a cemetery comprised of 26 separate but adjacent 5,000 cemetery plots spread out over 15 acres. Since the mining boom brought immigrants from all over the world — including Poland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Serbia and Croatia — from 1886 to 1929, Roslyn once held a true melting pot of people and cultures. The cemetery is organized by lodges of fraternal, ethnic and civic organizations for burial of their deceased family members. We drove up and around the many portions of the cemetery, marveling at the tranquil beauty of iron gates and elaborate gravestones. This landmark was definitely worth the time to visit.
After a full day of exploring the town and seeing the sights, we ended up finding a local bed and breakfast, Huckleberry House, where we could stay the night. Run by a husband and wife, Don and Sybil, Huckleberry House is right on the edge of town and delivered a relaxing, peaceful stay. Rooms have their own bathrooms, which is always a plus. We watched “Northern Exposure” reruns on old VHS tapes in the library. The beds were comfortable and my kids thought having breakfast made for us the next morning was pretty cool.
The town of Roslyn garnered a real slice of fame through “Northern Exposure” and as such, has had thousands of people over the past 20 years make the trek to Roslyn, just as we did, to gather in a small slice of Cicely heaven. For lots of reasons, this show truly resonates and stands the test of time as being lovable, familiar and somehow able to rise above the caliber of most television. I was glad I was able to bring my kids to this somewhat frozen-in-time place, and give them a little close-up “northern exposure” to all the cool, interesting highlights that over 20 years later, they too came to know and love.
Category: 2013_July, Family Fieldtrip, Summer Fun
If you’re looking for a perfect family getaway that promises extraordinary thrills, then Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is just your ticket. The largest theme park in the Northwest, Silverwood attracts over 600,000 visitors a year. You and your kiddos can enjoy over 216 acres of 65 rides, slides and attractions, including world-renowned roller coasters such as Aftershock, the 191-foot steel roller coaster acquired from Six Flags Great America, which travels forward and backward through a cobra loop at speeds up to 65 mph. Opening in 1988, Silverwood has grown from a local attraction into a fixture in the Northwest tourism industry as the most attended attraction in the state of Idaho.
Silverwood Theme Park is excited to open two new rides; the first, SpinCycle, a 104’ tall monster thrill ride that has a cylindrical-shaped vehicle which seats 24 people facing outward, with legs dangling and wearing only a harness. The vehicle rotates 360 degrees at 13 revolutions per minute while at the same time swings like a giant pendulum all the way upside down 104 feet above the ground bringing riders all the way around over and over again at three and a half times the normal gravitational pull. The second ride, named Barnstormer, is a family-fun ride that gives you the feeling you’re flying freely among the clouds, yet mild enough for all ages. Located in Garfield’s Summer Camp, Barnstormer seats 20 passengers and can easily accommodate adults as well as children.
With an expense of over $2.2 million for the two new rides, Silverwood continues to invest in its infrastructure to maintain its position as the northwest’s premiere destination for family fun and thrills. Silverwood Theme Park is the largest Theme and Water Park in the Northwest with 216 acres of fun and over 65 rides, slides, shows and attractions. The park boasts 4 massive roller coasters, 1 drop tower and a myriad of other family friendly rides and attractions as well as the Boulder Beach Water Park with 2 expansive wave pools, numerous water slides, play areas for the kids and VIP cabanas. For more information log onto www.silverwoodthemepark.com or call 208.683.3400
Ride Specs:
SpinCycle
Ride Height: 104’
Ride Width: 58’
Ride Depth: 42’
# Seats: 24
Speed:
Rotation speed of main vehicle 15 rpm
Overhead rotation speed: 14 rpm
3 ½ Gs
Height/Weight requirements and restrictions haven’t been decided yet.
Manufacturer: SBF VISA Group, specifically VISA (SBF manufactures the kiddie rides, VISA does larger thrill type rides)
Total Cost with install and transport: $2 million
Cost of ride with transport and customs: Approximately $2 million (package deal, no breakdown without transport)
Arrival date at the park: 4-15-13 (area of installation will be prepped and ready; ride can be put up in 5 days). It is shipping via land and sea in 5 containers from Italy.
Barnstormer
Height: 25’-7”
Width: 30’-5”
Depth: 26’-2”
Seats: 20 passengers (can be 20 adults)
Speed: Variable up to 10 RPM
Hourly Capacity: 500
Total Ride cost: $200,000.00
Tags: amusement parks, Silverwood Theme Park, water parksCategory: Blog
The Oregon House of Representatives secured the largest investment ever made in Oregon’s public schools. The new education budget will provide Oregon’s 197 school districts with $6.75 billion for the upcoming budget cycle – that’s one billion more than current funding levels.
“I had no doubt in my mind that we would find a way to prioritize Oregon’s children and turn the tide for school funding in our state,” said House Majority Leader Val Hoyle (D – Eugene). “It will take time to undo all of the damage caused by years of disinvestment in public education, but today marks a substantial step in the right direction.”
School districts throughout the state have been forced to make deep budget cuts in recent years, including over 7,000 teacher layoffs. The bleak results have been widely reported: Oregon’s kids and teachers are coping with shortened school days, layoffs, fewer elective programs, school closures, and swelling class sizes. The school budget passed by the House today will take Oregon’s schools in the opposite direction with a significant funding boost.
“One billion more dollars for our kids should be celebrated by every Oregonian,” said Representative Brian Clem (D – Salem).
“We had a clear obligation to prioritize education funding, so that’s what we did,” said Representative Lew Frederick (D – Portland), member of the Ways and Means Committee and long-time public education advocate. “Today is a historic moment in the effort to strengthen our schools and build a brighter future for Oregon.”
The $6.75 billion in school funding comes from a direct appropriation of $6.55 billion and $200 million in savings from the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) enacted in Senate Bill 822.
“It was devastating to watch Salem-Keizer cut over 200 teachers last year, and similar stories have been far too common for too many years. We all knew something had to change,” said Representative Betty Komp (D – Woodburn), co-chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education and former middle school principal. “We’ve made major strides to rebuild our education system this session, and today’s budget makes me feel hopeful for our students and our teachers.”
Senate Bill 5519A, Oregon’s education budget, passed the House 53 – 5 and now heads to Governor Kitzhaber for his signature.
Tags: oregon education, school fundingCategory: Blog
Disney always seems to be able find both heart and soul in their Pixar animated movies. Monsters University is no exception. A lovely colorful film, Monsters University picks up where Monsters Inc. left off with Mike Wazowski (played by Billy Crystal) set to attend Monsters University to embark on a quest to become a student within the “scarer program.” There, he meets up with the blue loveable natural scare monster, James Sullivan (John Goodman), otherwise known as Sulley.
In order to stay qualified for the scarer program, Mike and his newly found friends and team mates have to go through a series of tests in order to be accepted. This tests and challenges transpire under the watchful scornful eye of Dean Handscrabble (Helen Mirren).
What I loved about the film: the cinematic graphics and artistry are beautiful. Lots of vibrant colors, nicely designed characters, interesting lighting and vantage points. I also enjoyed the story’s message about perseverance and the ability to dream and set goals even if the odds are stacked against you. Disney films always maintain some sense of innocence, even after the hard lessons have been learned. The characters are likeable, and Monsters University could probably be seen by kids of all ages. It’s very family-friendly.
We didn’t see it in 3-D and I think that the extra few bucks would be worth it since the visuals are such a great part of the Monsters University experience. The 3D showings we found were all early afternoon, there were no evening times when we went to see it.
We highly recommend Monsters University and think it will put a smile on everyone in your family’s faces.
Tags: Animated Movies, Disney, Family-friendly films, Monsters University, PixarCategory: Blog
Parenting may be the greatest balancing act on earth. We want children to become independent, but it’s hard to move past the image we have of them in infancy. With the best intentions, parents may stifle kids’ self-esteem, inner confidence, and self-reliance by continuing to do things for them that they should be doing for themselves.
Children can’t flourish if parents hold on too tight. But they grow by leaps and bounds when they’re allowed to make their own choices and mistakes. The key is to let kids test their skills in developmentally appropriate ways. Here’s how.
Kids who choose their own clothes and dress themselves learn to take responsibility for self-care and take pride in their appearance. Allow your toddler to choose what she’ll wear from two or three outfits you’ve identified. Constrained choices prevent children from becoming overwhelmed and ensure they will be dressed appropriately.
Preschoolers may need extra time to put on their own clothes. Tweak your morning routine to make time for it. Keep clothing in low drawers kids can reach and designate a shoe bin in the closet or entry area. Let kids practice buttoning shirts and putting on socks. These tasks build fine motor control and spatial skills. Don’t worry if your child’s shoes are on the wrong feet or her shirt is backward. Praise her efforts and encourage another attempt.
Teach school-aged kids how to consult the weather forecast on TV or online and to make situational judgments about what to wear. Choosing weather- and activity-appropriate clothing reinforces decision-making skills and autonomy. Let unconventional style choices slide. No one ever died from dying their hair purple or from wearing polka dots with plaid.
Independent eating builds kids’ eating confidence and helps them tune in to internal cues about hunger, says registered dietician Maryann Jacobsen, M.S., co-author of “Fearless Feeding.” “When parents require kids to take extra bites, force veggies or have children eat past fullness, it decreases confidence and makes eating less fun,” she says.
You don’t have to let kids eat cake to foster independence. “Parents have lots of control in terms of how they stock their kitchens, what food is offered, and when and where it is eaten,” Jacobsen says. At meal time, serve three to five healthy foods in a family-style display, including lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and fats. Let kids choose how much to take of each item. And don’t fret if your child won’t eat a certain food. “Research shows it can take up to 15 exposures for young children to learn to like a food,” Jacobsen says, “and my experience tells me it often takes more than that.”
Encourage kids to help out in the kitchen as well. Preschoolers can toss a green salad, school-age kids can make sandwiches and burritos, and teens can cook dinner once in a while. Kids who have learned basic cooking skills at home are less likely to turn into junk-food junkies when they go away to college.
Educator Deb Moberly, Ph.D., founder of St. Louis, Missouri-based early childhood development consultancy Children 1st, says parents should respect kids’ desires to do things by themselves. That means letting them hold their own bubble soap, even if they are likely to spill it all over the back patio. Learning can be a messy process.
“Quality preschool programs support independence by letting the children select their own activities,” Moberly says, and parents can do the same at home. Establish simple ground rules — such as the play dough stays on the play table — then step away. Allow kids to decide when to switch activities, as long as they clean up one activity before moving on to the next. Facilitate kids’ cleanup efforts by designating which toys belong in which places.
Playing with peers builds both self-reliance and social skills. Humanist educator Jen Hancock, author of “The Bully Vaccine,” worries kids don’t get enough unstructured play time in mixed-age groups because parents don’t trust kids’ peers anymore. This wariness is something we must move past.
Hancock’s 7-year-old son spends most weekends playing with other kids in the neighborhood. “This is possible because all the parents have been introduced to each other and have each other’s phone numbers,” she says. “It is really nice having the trust in the neighborhood and knowing that the kids are doing what they are supposed to be doing: getting into a little bit of ‘safe’ trouble.”
Mom Tracie Shroyer, co-author of “Investing in Your 401k Kid,” says today’s kids need the skills to be financially independent, too. “Kids don’t learn much besides coin-counting in school and they look to parents for everything they get. Very few are taught to save their money for larger purchases. In the current economy, this is a scary thought,” Shroyer says. If kids don’t get smart about spending, they’ll be the first generation of kids less affluent than their parents.
Begin giving your child small amounts of money and letting him choose how to spend (or save) it. This means your child won’t be begging you for items from the dollar bin — he’ll be deciding what he can afford and whether items are worth what they cost. Increase his spending power and responsibilities over time.
Giving tweens and teens discretion over buying back-to-school clothes and school lunches teaches them to budget and prioritize. It may feel strange to hand over the cash, but remember: The money you are giving your kids is the money you would spend on them anyway. Don’t add to the budget if your kid blows it. “The only road to financial responsibility is learning from mistakes,” Shroyer says. It’s better to learn from cheap mistakes in childhood than expensive mistakes later on.
Category: 2013_July, ParentingHeidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist and mom whose 3-year-old daughter wears her flip-flops on the wrong feet. She is the author of Detachment Parenting.
