It was a wonderful six-day stay on “Vacation with God,” June 29–July 6, 2024, with Polish youth from various parts of the U.S. The retreat combined with rest took place at Black Rock, a retreat center in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The youth and children gathered in a family spirit in five different groups acquired knowledge and deepened their faith in the living presence of Christ in the Eucharist as God and man who gives himself completely to those who accept him with faith. This attitude of Christ in the Eucharist should influence and be an example for us of giving ourselves to others.
Help and an example during the retreat with the Lord God was the patron of the retreat, Carlo Acutis, who not only spread knowledge about the Eucharist through the Internet, but also helped the poor, the homeless and, by his example, just like Christ, encouraged others to do good, especially those most in need.
The organizers of the Holidays with God, Fr. Waldemar Łątkowski CSsR and Ms. Katarzyna Pawka, a long-time teacher and catechist, made sure to provide the best possible conditions for their stay. Thanks to the generosity and generosity of the guardians, all participants could feel at home. The excellently prepared workshop leaders, in many didactic ways, tried to convey as much and as best as possible to the participants of the holidays with God the knowledge of the presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
The stay on “Vacation with God” gave the participants of the vacation a wonderful opportunity and joy to share themselves in endless meetings. Not having their phones with them during the vacation, the participants could spend a lot of time together. Each day was intended to bring closer some aspect of the Holy Mass.
A deeply moving moment that gripped the heart was the Thursday evening Eucharistic service, during which anyone who wanted could voluntarily entrust themselves to Jesus. In almost an hour of silence, all the participants individually, others in a group, and still others in the family entrusted themselves to the care of the Eucharistic Jesus, reading the text of the dedication and receiving the Eucharistic blessing from the hands of Fr. Waldemar.
Friday is the day dedicated to the Eucharistic worshipper, Blessed Carlo Acutis, who was an apostle among the young and the poor. He said to his peers: “Bring to the encounter with Jesus hidden in the Eucharist all the enthusiasm of your youth, your hope, your capacity to love.”
All the activities during the meetings were interwoven with singing, which was led by Mrs. Małgosia, as every year. The presence of the Sisters Servants of Starowiejska from Wodbridge, NJ: Bogusia and Anna, brought a lot to the lives of the youth. However, the most beautiful thing during the stay on “Vacation with the Lord God” was being together for almost a week away from everyday activities, with the opportunity to participate in the daily Eucharist in the company of friends, without any worries.
An additional attraction was the presence at the “Sight and Sound” theater for the performance of “Daniel.” For many, it was a unique visit. The attractiveness of the program was enhanced each day by swimming in the pool, the lake, the prepared performance of “The Most Wonderful Miracle,” integration dances and others. All this is evidence of the specific nature of these camps.
We believe that this wonderful and eventful meeting will be remembered well and will bear good fruit in our daily lives. In that case, there is nothing else to do but wait for the next meeting next year. We thank all those who organized the “Holidays with the Lord God” and the team of committed educators and meeting animators, as well as sponsors. We invite everyone interested to this unique adventure today.
* * *
Summer camps “Vacations with God” for Polish children and youth from the USA have been organized since 2007. So far, 23 such meetings have been held in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin, in some years twice, and a total of over 2,300 people have participated. The main organizers are Fr. Waldemar Łątkowski CSsR (currently parish priest in Cicero, IL, and Ms. Katarzyna Pawka from New Jersey), and parents, nuns, monks, and volunteers help in organizing and running them.
(Source: redemptor.pl)
