Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Archdiocese should fund youth camp

Camp Encounter would not be"going broke" if the current diocesan administration believed in the necessity of youth ministry. Believing in something also means standing behind and supporting it.

Our youth are a crucial part of the Catholic community here in the Edmonton Archdiocese. With the many parishes and the countless number of youth that have and will continue to enjoy Camp Encounter, why is the diocese not supporting this necessary ministry? Father Michael Mireau wrote, "Camp Encounter receives no ongoing financial support, either at the parish level or the archdiocesan level."

I can assure you this is not the case for many other Christian churches that strongly support their youth. Two of my daughters and many of their friends and acquaintances have come and gone through Camp Encounter. We even have youth from outside the country (Spain) come to Camp Encounter (including this summer).

My children have drawn closer to Jesus, met lasting friends and truly have a spirit of joy in their lives because of the wonderful happenings at Camp Encounter. This is not about money. It is about obligation. We are obliged to support our youth. We need to support our youth.

Camp Encounter should be a cost share between all the parishes in the diocese. Don't raise fees. This will only lower the potential youth involvement. Raise awareness among all the parishes and request that each parish council allocate the necessary funds per year to support this incredibly important ministry.

Spread the cost between all the parishes. Camp Encounter is not a charity - it is ministry to the very people that make up our faith communities. Why would we even question the financial support?

Children will continue to experience Jesus at Camp Encounter and will make faith-filled choices about marriage, priesthood, religious life and single life.

There is an incredible team at Camp Encounter. They should not have to worry about a safe setting or inadequate buildings to work in their ministry. In my opinion, for the sake of our youth the Archdiocese of Edmonton must financially support Camp Encounter.

Dan Friedt
Principal
St. Gerard Elementary School
Edmonton

Turn camp into all-purpose retreat centre

Re:The possible closure of Camp Encounter.

Approximately 20 years ago, I was part of a think tank on what to do with Diocesan land in regards to a retreat centre. People were there representing every group imaginable: CWL, K of C, Christian Family Movement, Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, youth ministry, charismatic movement, Catholic schools, etc.

The exciting idea arose of an all-purpose retreat centre that could accommodate all these retreat/workshop type of events. However, without quite knowing how it came about, the decision was made that Camp Encounter would be for youth only.

I do not know what happened to the original idea and think that if it had gone forth, there might be no question that the retreat/camp facility would have been viable financially.

Perhaps the original idea should be visited again. There are always groups looking for places to hold their activities that would benefit the people of God.

Bertha McLaughlin
Sherwood Park

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