Successful summer camps for children and youth in Galilee
GALILEE - Every year, parishes, schools and organizations organize camps during the summer months for children and young people. We recognize that this activity is very useful, yet also very demanding.
Public authorities have imposed more stringent safety conditions which caused a significant reduction in the number of camps this year. This highlights the merit of parishes and associations who face these problems with courage as they continue to organize summer camps for our young people despite many challenges. The parish of Shefaamer and Scouts of Nazareth have distinguished themselves this summer.
In July, the Latin Parish in Shefaamer organized a successful summer camp attended by 250 children with various programs, according to the testimony of the parents. “We want to stay all day! ” the children repeatedly told their parents as they went home at 13:30. The camp was advantageously economical with the help of many volunteers and parents.
The initiative was carefully organized by Father Bassam Al-Deir and seminarian Salim Haddad. The camp concluded on August 3rd in the presence of Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo and many families were amazed at the numbers of the program presented by their children. Bishop Marcuzzo warmly congratulated and thanked the organizers, leaders and staff of this successful initiative for “saving our children and our youth from a destructive moral, cultural, spiritual and educational gap that is often experienced in a vacation time badly spent.”
The day also included an exhibition which was visited with enthusiasm by families, where the artistic work of the children were displayed. All the youth leaders, a doctor, psychologist and other staff each received a certificate of merit and participation and an icon which Father Bassam joyfully and enthusiastically distributed. It was a beautiful and relaxing day in the mountains of Golan.
The Scouts of the Annunciation in Nazareth held their camp in Tabgha on July 20-28 around the Franciscan House by the Lake of Tiberias. The place was beautiful but a bit small for around 100 children and young people. They were divided according to different scout categories in various tents under the guidance of Mr. Joseph Farran.
The closing ceremony was held by the lake with the beautiful view of the sunset and in the presence of families and Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar in Israel who conveyed the greetings and blessings of His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The camp ended with the salute to the flag, the official anthem of the Scouts, and other traditional Boy Scouts rituals with a prayer and a brief speech by the Bishop inspired by the request of Jesus to Peter, “ Simon, son of John, do you love me?, “ and the Scouting motto – “Be prepared! ‘
From our Nazareth correspondent
Photo by M.T.
