ARTICLES

Let's Challenge Each Other to Sanctity

MILITIA IMMACULATA SUMMER DAY CAMP

By Dan Trimly

In the first week of June, organizers of the second annual Militia Immaculata summer camp for children faced a dilemma: more kids than they could handle. "By the last registration day [May 31] we had 185 or so -- close to our goal of 200," said Janet McCarthy, one of the camp organizers. "We knew we'd get more phone calls, but we ended up having to start a waiting list, because we needed more group leaders." The trouble was, many of the children on the waiting list for the camp for 4- through 13-year-olds were at the high end of the age limit. "We're always thinking about vocations," McCarthy admitted. "And since we had a priest who had volunteered [to be there] the whole week..."

End result? "The teachers agreed to suck up another 30 kids," said Sue O'Donnell, who with her husband Joe serves as coordinator of the Militia Immaculata (MI) group based at St. Mary's parish in Escondido, and of the camp itself. "And we got one more teacher for the older kids."

The purpose of the June 22­26 camp was the same as that of the Militia Immaculata movement, founded in 1917 by St. Maximilian Kolbe: consecration of one's life to the Blessed Virgin Mary. For four hours each day, 213 children and dozens more teachers, organizers, clergy, and parents gathered in the dappled shade of oak trees in Escondido's Felicita Park for activities, lectures, and confession. There was a leader plus one or two assistants for all 13 groups of children.

The organizers put up fliers in approximately a dozen churches in the Escondido, Poway, and San Diego areas, but the volume of word-of-mouth inquiries took them by surprise. "We even had someone in North Park [whose child didn't make it this year] ask about getting on a list for pre-notification next year," McCarthy said.

The cost of the five-day camp was $15 for each child plus $5 for the camp T-shirt. The crafts included making rosaries and rosary pouches, icons of Mary, cardboard crosses festooned with paper flowers, and parable booklets. "We didn't lose money," said Joe O'Donnell two days after the camp ended. "I haven't done the final math yet, but we'll still have money to put back into apostolic work. Last year [when there were 92 participants] we did it for $10 and didn't lose any money."

"We also [got] donations from the [St. Mary's] Knights of Columbus and St. Mary's bible study group," added his wife, "which we used to buy confession booklets."

St. Mary's parish deacon, Ken Finn, attended each day to help out. Father Peter Auer, a parish priest from Ojai, California, and a friend of the O'Donnell's, volunteered his vacation week to lead the 10-13-year-old boys group and serve as priest-in-residence. Father Auer is also a member of the Militia Immaculata.

Sue O'Donnell talked about the practical effects of Marian consecration: "We have no clue how awesome this person [Mary] really is. As long as you make the consecration, she silently weeds out your life, changes you, as long as you're willing to cooperate. She's so clever, you can see her moving in your life quietly, silently. You see the effect in your life. Kolbe's whole thing was, 'Let's challenge each other to sanctity -- you try to be better than me and vice versa.'"

Belief seemed unanimous throughout the Militia Immaculata group that this year they had a special patron saint praying for them: Monica Breda, who died last July at age three of a brain tumor. Massimo and Mary Breda, now pregnant again with their fourth child, are Militia Immaculata members; in addition, Mary served this year as group leader for the five-year-olds.

"As a result of Monica's death last year, the people involved in MI were deeply moved," McCarthy said. "So many of us were praying for her. As a consequence of her death we noticed a tremendous increase in commitment [this year]."

"Monica was supposed to die in early June [last year]," Sue O'Donnell said. "But she hung on. The first day of camp, July 7, was her [third] birthday. Three days after camp she died. I remember Mary [Breda] said, 'Oh, how Our Lady works!'" While acknowledging the human tragedy of Monica's death, O'Donnell marveled at having a personal patronness sitting at the foot of Jesus: "It's an awesome gift God has given the Bredas, and Monica."

A total of six priests helped at the camp, including two Missionaries of Charity, one Norbertine, one Benedictine, St. Mary's associate pastor Father Victor Maristela, and its pastor, Father Peter Navarra, who concelebrated the closing Mass with Father Auer. Well over 300 people were present for the open-air celebration, which included a consecration to the Blessed Mother.

"I was able to see out over the rest of the park's activities," said McCarthy, who was onstage during Mass in the outdoor amphitheater as one of the music ministers. "Many people were standing and looking, wondering what was going on. When Father was speaking [at the homily] I was thinking of the other people who were hearing this. It was a beautiful witness to see all the families together....

"I know a lot of people involved with the camp who are struggling with their faith. And the one thing you hear about the Catholic Church is that there's no 'fellowship,' no sense of belonging. This [camp] went way beyond anything they'd heard."