Brittany Lazo was happy to take a much-needed break from her cell phone during the day for most of a week this summer.
Besides, at one point, this rising seventh-grader was having fun making a batch of delicious brownies for a “bake-off” competition. It was one of many hands-on activities she and 85 children from Paterson, N.J., enjoyed performing — often for the first time — during the first-ever Compostela Summer Camp from July 13 to 17 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the city.
That week, the grounds of St. John’s, which sponsored the Summer Camp, were a buzzing beehive of laughing and smiling children at various activity areas. They made crafts, such as friendship bracelets, tended to growing fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers in the cathedral’s children’s garden outside, and played sports such as soccer. They also chose and read children’s books ranging from the subject of St. John the Baptist to “James and the Giant Peach.”
The children also learned about Jesus’ love by attending interactive catechism classes and participating in daily Mass inside the cathedral, the “mother church” of the Paterson Diocese, N.J. They sang, presented the Offertory Gifts, and served as altar servers and lectors. The children worshipped alongside Mass attenders from the cathedral parish.
Lazo enjoyed participating in the Masses celebrated by Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects.
“I love the Mass —and the Eucharist — and singing and being an altar server. I love one of the statues of Jesus in the cathedral — he’s big, and we’re little. He’s our father,” said Lazo, who praised the Summer Camp. “My friends are here — and I’ve made new friends. Camp is like another home, where I feel safe and loved. Everyone makes my life better —even if I’ve had a hard day,” she said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The children live in the impoverished neighborhood surrounding the cathedral, which ministers to these residents in need on what it calls its “Block of Mercy.” Most of the campers don’t get to spend much time outside or leave the City of Paterson.
So it was a treat for them to spend a day among the natural wonders of Garret Mountain Reservation, a park also located in the city. There, officers of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office brought horses from their Mounted Unit and dogs from their K-9 Unit. The children hiked and joined a nature scavenger hunt. One of them said, “I love this. I’ve never spent this much time outside,” said Msgr. Sylva, who celebrated a Mass outdoors.
The children also enjoyed a presentation at St. John’s by an “animal entertainer” who brought creatures such as a skunk and a wallaby.
The Compostela Summer Camp is an expansion of a camp held the two previous summers for members of St. John’s Children’s Choir. This year’s camp was open to students of Compostela Cathedral Prep after-school program, K to 8th grade, offered at St. John’s during the academic year. It was also open to children from the neighborhood, said Kristen Hoyt, the cathedral’s music minister who ran all three camps.
It took a village for Compostela Summer Camp, which was planned and run by St. John’s staff, parents, young counselors-in-training, the Knights of Columbus, and the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, who minister at the cathedral.
“We wanted to make sure the kids felt loved and supported by their friends, family, and the Church,” said Hoyt, who brought her two sons, ages 5 and 7. “It’s wonderful seeing kids have fun, while also learning more about Jesus. These kids are smart, capable, and have huge hearts,” she said.
A camp counselor in training, Johadi Salazam, said he enjoyed playing soccer and Frisbee with the children.
“I’ve learned new ways to connect with the kids. It’s also fun to see them connect. They are happy, said Salazam, a rising ninth-grader. “When I listened to the catechism lesson, I learned new things, like the names of objects used at Mass, that deepened my faith,” he said.
