July 16, 2012 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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Page 10 The Catholic Register, July 16, 2012 Photo And Text By Tony DeGol Bishop, Teens Interact At Camp Timothy AltoonA AreA office 3495 Route 764, Suite 100 Duncansville, PA 16635 For all your Printing, Mailing, Binding, Design & Fulfillment needs Contact Michael Colledge Phone | 814-515-1627 mcolledge@gazetteprinters.com www.gazetteprinters.com Your local connection to great printing. Some high school students in our Diocese had the unique opportunity to take their faith to new heights – literally and figuratively. For the second year in a row, Camp Timothy was held for incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors June 24-28. Sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, the camp offers students a mix of faith and adventure. A good example of the adventure is the zip-line, which requires an individual to be attached to a pulley suspended on a cable over a high altitude. It was a hit with the campers. One person, however, chose to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground. “You’re not getting me on that zip-line!,” Bishop Mark L. Bartchak said with a wide grin amid some subtle coaxing from the teens. Other fun activities included fishing, canoeing, and hiking. The five-day camp also featured a field trip to Ohiopyle State Park for whitewater rafting. Held at Camp Sequanota in Somerset County, Camp Timothy offers older teens a more mature camp experience than they had at Camp Zacchaeus – the Diocesan-sponsored camp for students entering grades 4-9. The Diocese launched Camp Timothy last summer to reach out to students who are too old for Camp Z, but still want a camping experience. Although there is no shortage of recreational activities, the main highlight of the week is always faith enrichment. Reverend Allen P. Zeth, Diocesan Director of Vocations, celebrated daily Mass for the campers. There were also group evangelization activities. Bishop Mark’s visit on June 27 provided a great opportunity for the teens to learn more about their faith and about the Bishop. The gospel reading of the day (Matthew 7:15-20) warned that we should beware of false prophets and pointed out that a good tree bears good fruit while a rotten tree bears rotten fruit. In his homily at Mass with the campers, Bishop Mark reminded the group that Jesus is the truth, and if they do not have truth, they do not have life. Eating rotten fruit, he added, will make you sick. “You can never get sick and your life will not be taken from you if you come close to Jesus in the Eucharist,” he said. After Mass, the Bishop had two separate discussion sessions with the campers. The first one gave the teens an opportunity to ask him general questions about his life or the Catholic faith (Please see sidebar story on this page). Bishop Mark devoted the second session to religious freedom and the Fortnight for Freedom that was observed in our Diocese during the camp. The Bishop answered questions about how the government is stifling religious freedom by mandating that virtually all employers provide health insurance that includes abortion-inducing drugs and contraception. He noted that supporters of the mandate are trying to shift the focus of the debate by making it a discussion about contraception. He tied that argument back to the gospel reading warning about false prophets. Pointing out a role model for us in the fight for religious freedom, the Bishop told the group the story of someone who is a personal inspiration to him – Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who suffered religious persecution in Vietnam. Bishop Mark shared the late Cardinal’s remarkable story in his homily at the Holy Hour for Religious Freedom held at four locations in the Diocese during the Fortnight. That homily is posted on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. Camp Timothy director Francine Swope called this year’s gathering a huge hit, and said it even topped last year’s successful launch. She hopes parents will encourage their teens to be part of the Camp Timothy experience. “It’s less than a week of their time, but it will make a lifetime impression on their faith,” Swope said. The campers gave it rave reviews. “Aside from being a vacation, it’s a good chance to get closer to God and learn more about our faith,” said Drew Yauneridge, a member of Saint Patrick Parish in Newry. “If you want to grow stronger in your faith while having a good time, this is the place to be.” Added Carley Ingold of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Cresson, “I love it. It’s like Camp Z but more mature in a spiritual way.” Our Mother of Sorrows parishioner Cody Bach credits Camps Zacchaeus and Timothy with helping him become the young man he is. “As I started coming back year after year, I started to grow, not just socially, but spiritually,” Bach said. “You come here and chill out and talk about God for five days. It’s awesome!” FIELDING QUESTIONS: Bishop Mark fields questions from campers during one of two discussion sessions during the Bishop’s visit to Camp Timothy on June 27. When Bishop Mark L. Bartchak and young people are together, there is never a lack of engaging discussion. Students have the chance to ask the Bishop questions on almost any topic; the Bishop has the opportunity to connect with them, educate them about the Catholic faith, and even share a few laughs. And more often than not, the adults who witness the exchanges come away learning a thing or two as well. Such was the case when Bishop Mark visited Camp Timothy, the Diocesan summer camp for students entering their sophomore, junior, and senior year. The camp was held the last week of June in Somerset County. After celebrating Mass for the campers, the Bishop fielded questions during an open forum session. Seated on carpet squares arranged in a circle, the campers and counselors fired off queries left and right, including how the Bishop makes hard decisions as the leader of the Diocese. It is critical to listen to both sides of an issue and to all parties involved, the Bishop responded, noting that everybody is made in the image and likeness of God and, therefore, worthy of respect. “If we’re going to love God, we better be prepared to love other people,” Bishop Mark added. When asked what his best and worst days as Bishop are like, Bishop Mark’s answer was no surprise. He said he loves to celebrate Mass and talk with people – just as he did at Camp Timothy. Also not surprisingly, he said bad days are really not that bad – unless he is under the weather. “There is a sense of fulfillment in my life that doesn’t depend on the quality of my day,” he said. Most teens are seeking ways to strengthen their faith life, and Bishop Mark had good advice for the crowd – pray regularly. “If you do that consistently over time you will know you have the strength and courage to deal with the difficult things in your life,” he said, giving them insight into his own spiritual routine. In order to guarantee quiet time with the Lord every day, the Bishop rises at 5:30 a.m. and spends an hour in prayer in the chapel at his residence. “I don’t expect you to do that,” he joked. “When you get to be Bishop, then you can do that.” When the conversation turned to saints, Bishop Mark pointed out the example of Saint Peter. Despite Peter’s denials of Christ and other mistakes, the Lord forgave him. “That tells us something about how wonderful God is,” he said. When reading Bible stories, Bishop Mark encouraged each person in the group to put his or her name in place of the person to whom Jesus is speaking in the story. “You try reading the Bible that way,” he said. “I tell you it will change your life. It brings it alive.”
The Catholic Register, July 16, 2012 Page 11 Bishop, Faithful Gather For Faith Day 2012 FRIENDS: Since his ordination as Bishop of Altoona - Johnstown in April 2011, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak has been noted for making friends with the young people and children of the Diocese. He has visited all of the Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Dioceses, and has met many more youngsters in a series of parish visits. His rapport with youth was in evidence on Faith Day when he took time to pose for a photo with a young friend on the ballpark’s Main Concourse (photo at left) and then was surrounded by a flock of children as he led the Parade of Parishes around the field prior to the start For the July 16 edition of the Catholic Register of the ball game (photo at right), Deadline: Friday, July 6 encouraging one of his young friends to wave to the crowd filling the stands. Triduum in Honor of Saint Anne Tuesday, July 24, 7pm Wednesday, July 25, 7pm & Thursday, July 26, 7pm. Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Parish 117 Clinton Street, Johnstown, PA Bishop Mark presiding at opening Mass. Veneration of Saint Anne Relic after each Mass. Confession in Saint Anne Shrine Tuesday & Wednesday after Triduum Mass. Mark appropriate box/boxes, bring to Novena, or mail. Petition will be placed at the altar during the Triduum. □ Thanksgiving □ Employment □ Holy Father □ Recovery from Illness □ Happy Death □ Financial Help □ Priests/Religious □ Recovery from Addiction □ Poor Souls □ Happy Marriage □ Parish Family □ Return to Sacraments □ Peace of Mind □ Safe Pregnancy □ Vocations □ World Peace □ Good Health □ Happy Family □ Respect for Life □ Special Intention A ‘BANNER’ DAY: Faith Day 2012 was a “banner” for the Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown, and in particular for Guido and Debbie Santella, who carried the banner of the Mary Queen of Angels Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, in the Parade of Parishes. NAME____________________________________________________________ Donation Enclosed ☐ Yes ☐ No $ ______________ Mail to: Saint Anne Society Saint John Gualbert Cathedral PO Box 807 Johnstown PA 15907-0807
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