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Adventures Galore at CMRI’s Omaha Boys’ Camp

Are you considering sending a boy to camp this summer but want to know more about what the campers do and why they should go?  Well, you’re in luck.  This post about last summer’s camp is for you.  *UPDATE*  A link to the registration form has been added to the bottom of this post.

“The whole point of boys’ camp is to show them that they can have fun and still be good Catholics,” explained Fr. Timothy Geckle, CMRI.  “We want them to see that being Catholic is not only about ‘No, you can’t do this or that!’”

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Every day was packed with activities dear to most boys’ hearts, but the scavenger hunt stood out as one of the most challenging and thrilling of all.  It was comprised of numerous trials to earn the next “clue” which involved answering a catechism question.  Whether it was shooting a balloon out of the air with an Airsoft gun to drop the question down to earth, or squirming through a dark pipe to retrieve it, or diving into a pool to snatch it from the bottom, each challenge kindled the Catholic imagination as well as involved the whole body.  Bravo!

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Fr. Geckle and Fr. Philip took a small group of boys to set up an ambush on the airsoft course while the other boys were swimming.

“We had a great group this year—not a bad apple in the bunch,” Fr. Geckle said of the 2018 campers.  “We got compliments on them everywhere we went.  This was the first time we rented a swimming pool, and afterward the manager said that our boys were so well-behaved, they were welcome to come back anytime.”

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War broke out, and the boys were issued Airsoft guns and rigorous rules of engagement.

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Singing around the campfire was followed by a talk from one of the dads, then night prayers.
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Setting up forts

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Campers attended daily Mass and had lots of opportunities for Confession.

 

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Fathers Borja, Philip Marie, and Geckle planned and oversaw the camp that was hosted by the Mater Dei seminarians.

Registration is open for the 2019 camp which runs Monday, July 22, through Friday, July 26th.  To register, please fill out this registration form and mail it, along with the $100 registration fee, to the seminary by June 30 . Please make checks payable to: Mater Dei Seminary. 

Mater Dei Seminary

7745 Military Ave.
Omaha, NE 68134

 

Posted on by olfatimachapel

We Celebrate Our One-Year Anniversary

Last Sunday two Congregation Mater Dei Sisters traveled to us from Omaha to teach catechism before mass.  They brought two lovely young ladies from Mater Dei Academy with them who joined the sisters in choir.  Such sweet pure voices!  We were blessed once again also with the presence of seminarian Carlos Zepeda, who served at the altar.

Afterward we had cake and socializing to celebrate our one-year anniversary as Our Lady of Fatima Mission Chapel, under the pastoral care of the CMRI.  Our chapel blossomed from the former St. John Fisher chapel in Tulsa when it was abandoned without warning by the SSPX last year.

There is much to celebrate!  Not only have we procured our own property, Fr. Geckle told us that the Sisters are planning to come to us every third Sunday to teach catechism!  Deo gratias!  And Bishop Pivarunas has twice generously sent us seminarians to help remodel our church.  In those two visits, they helped put down the flooring, modify the pews, and put up new sheetrock.  We feel so loved and cared for.  Thank you, Bishop Pivarunas!

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A Chubby Lil Mass Book for Their Chubby Lil Hands

St. Jerome Homeschool Library and Bookstore, a traditional Catholic publisher, announced this morning that their board book has arrived from the printers and will be officially released August 16.  Written by Fr. Vili Lehtoranta, a master at children’s storytelling, and illustrated with full-color photos of Fr. Bede Nkamuke saying Mass, this is going to be a fantastic resource for children.

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