The 350 campers at the Mary Help of Christians Camp in North Haledon, N.J., wore broad smiles on July 30 as the camp made history. That morning, a Paterson Diocesan bishop visited the camp and celebrated a Mass there for the first time in the 101 years the Salesian Sisters have been running it.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited the camp and celebrated Mass to the delight of more than 600 campers, their families, camp staff, and the Salesian community who gathered for their annual Family Day. Salesian Father Jim Mulloy, camp chaplain for almost 20 years, concelebrated the Mass. He is currently in the community of Our Lady of the Valley parish in Orange, N.J.
The Mass in St. Joseph Chapel occurred toward the end of the camp’s 2025 season, which ran from June 30 to Aug. 1. The season’s theme was “Anchored in Hope,” inspired by the Universal Church’s Jubilee of Hope 2025. The Salesian Sisters of St. Don Bosco, also known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, run the camp with the help of lay volunteers.
Using the Salesians’ sprawling 16.33-acre campus, the camp offers exciting enrichment opportunities to boys and girls entering 1st grade through 8th grade.
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The camp offers a wide range of activities to keep campers engaged and having fun at all times of the day. Activities include archery, arts and crafts, boating and fishing, Christian formation, dance, gardening, indoor and outdoor sports, low-rope course, music, playground, STEM, and swimming.
“MHC Camp provides meaningful leisure time activities as part of an enriching and enjoyable summer program for both boys and girls ages 4 to 13,” according to the Salesians. “We believe in the whole education of young people as a means for developing their potential as ‘good Christians and honest citizens.'”
Activities also include a “Fun Fact” game as a part of the traditional Salesian “Good Morning,” featuring prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, a “good spiritual thought” for the day, and announcements.
At the Mass, Bishop Sweeney blessed and honored Sister Ramona Beltre, camp director for the past 16 years, and Sister Dominica Di Peri, who is 99 years old and hopes to reach 100 on Oct. 4.
Sister Beltre also took Bishop Sweeney by golf cart on a tour of the Salesians’ grounds, including camp activity areas and the community’s cemetery.
Sister Amy Nguyen and Sister Myriam Meus served as assistant directors, helping Sister Beltre run the camp.
“The camp has been growing in attendance and programs. The children are growing spiritually, morally, and in relationships,” said Sister Beltre, adding that many campers have expressed interest at home in praying, attending Mass, and making friends — sometimes for the first time.
