At our Chilean mission, summer–which here falls between January and February–is the most intense time of the year. One of the most beautiful things has been our summer camp, which here we call Colonia urbana and which had as its theme this year: You were born to be happy. Around 250 children participated and there were more than 80 young people helping, many of whom were having an experience of Christian life for the first time.
During the two weeks of camp, every day begins with Mass and a half-hour of silence and adoration that we propose freely to whomever wants it. After Morning Prayer, which is attended by all of the helpers, the cooks, some parents and the most curious and impatient kids, we begin the day which is made up of songs, games, workshops and a brief daily moment of catechism, which is presented using a work of theater. This year, we went along the journey of the Three Magi, three friends who, following their passion for the Heavens, encountered the One who made them.
I was struck that, on the last day, many asked to be baptized. Not only the kids but also the young people who were helping: they understood that Baptism is the possibility to be claimed forever by the Beauty that they had seen. During the final assembly, we told them that this Beauty–many of them told us that they wished it would never end–does not depend on the good things that we do, on how good, friendly or intelligent we are. It is the presence of Jesus. In fact, something doesn’t check out: we were tired, we had fought and some things had even gone wrong. One of the most beautiful things was seeing some of them reconciling and having the experience of the power and of the beauty of forgiveness. Afterwards, they loved each other even more! Many of them also went to confession.
Since he has started to stay with us, he no longer takes drugs. He feels like he is part of a family
Among the helpers, there were also three “delinquents” from Duraznal, the poor neighborhood of our parish in which for years we have been announcing the Gospel to “street” children and adolescents. Speaking with the adults who collaborate with us, we imagined that it could be an occasion for them to grow and to discover that they are more beautiful, by giving of themselves. One of them, Nacho, said that he was surprised at his experience of taking care of a few children: “I’ve never even taken care of myself,” he added. In the final assembly, he was almost unable to speak because he was so moved: he told us that since he has started to stay with us, he no longer takes drugs because he feels like he is part of a family.
Mike, a difficult kid, only wanted to come for a few days to see what the camp was all about. On the second day, he told me that he had already paid for the two weeks as a helper (we ask them for a small contribution). Then, on the Monday of the second week of the camp, he approached me and said: “I would never have thought that Monday would be the day of the week I was waiting for most.”
And how amazing it was to see them washing dishes and cleaning floors for the first time and discovering together with us that this life, the more it is given, the more is fulfilled.
Once the summer camp ended, many faces and stories remain in the heart. And at times, they break it. I think of Emiliano, who had to leave every morning pretending to not see the drug-dealers in action at his house; I think of Jeison, a kid who lives in an orphanage and who, on the last day, while he was leaving, took off a bracelet that he had on his wrist and while he was giving it to me said: “Father, so you don’t forget me.” He doesn’t know, but that phrase was his prayer to the One Father who mysteriously, through our poor lives, reached him to tell him how much he is loved.
I too, during this time, have understood a bit how much and in what way I am loved. One evening, during a dinner at our house, my brother priests were telling me about the various shenanigans of these characters from the camp. An impassioned discussion began, in which I was surprised to find myself justifying them even to the point of defending the indefensible. Then, like a flash, I realized something: Christ has done and will do this same thing with me as well! An impassioned defense of the indefensible. This, in the end, is Easter!
