Catholic youth find community at Pennsylvania vocation summer camps
Students spent three days in prayer and fellowship as they explored the many ways Catholics are called to serve the Church.
A Pennsylvania diocese’s annual vocation camps brought Catholic youth together to discern God’s call, with participants saying the experience reminded them they are not alone in living their faith.
The Diocese of Scranton gathered 53 high school students at Marywood University from June 29 to July 1 for prayer, vocational discernment, and fellowship, according to the diocese. The girls' camp is called Fiat Days, and the boys' camp is called Quo Vadis, which is Latin for, "Where are you going?"
Jake Sanchez, who attended Quo Vadis for the second consecutive year, said the camp reminded him that other young people share his commitment to the Catholic faith.
“It feels great because, number one, I’m not alone out there,” he said. “I have other people to share my thoughts and ideas with. It’s nice to know that there are other people with a strong faith in God.”
In addition to attending daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration, participants spent time with priests, seminarians, and religious sisters and reflected on the Church’s many vocations.
Camp attendee Eddie Scavone said the discussions helped him better understand the discernment process.
“They’re definitely giving me good tips and ideas for how to correctly discern what God is calling me to do,” he said.
Emily Lopez, who returned for her third Fiat Days, said being surrounded by other Catholic teenagers also strengthened her faith.
“When you feel like you’re alone,” she said, “it’s hard because you think you’re the only teenager who believes in God. But when you surround yourself with people who are just like you and are also sinners but at the same time trying to get closer to God, it feels more relieving. You realize, ‘I’m not the only one.’”
