July 16, 2012 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

Page 10 The Catholic Register, July 16, 2012
Photo And Text
By Tony DeGol
Bishop, Teens Interact At
Camp Timothy
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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.”