As temperatures soared toward 100 degrees July 15, not even the stifling heat and humidity could dull the enthusiasm of 103 teen boys as they prayed, meditated, then took to the sports field with energy fit for a World Cup match.
The campers spent a week at the annual Quo Vadis vocations camp for boys July 12-16, organized by the diocesan vocations office at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Attendees listened to talks, prayed at daily adoration and Mass, enjoyed meditation time outdoors and played in sports tournaments.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge kicked off the week with Sunday Mass July 12 for the campers and their families. “It is inspiring to see that, with all the choices you have, you decided to be with the Lord these next few days on this holy mountain,” he told the teens. He encouraged the campers to be open to silence, and to strive for faithfulness, confidence and humility in their attitudes and actions during the week.
Phones were off-limits to help campers be present. “Pope Leo recently reminded us that constant connectivity and endless social media engagement make it impossible to practice the deep silence required to hear the Word of God,” Bishop Burbidge said. “Dear men, you have decided to leave such distractions behind this week, and you can be assured there will be no void. Our Lord will enter that space and speak directly to your heart the message he wants you to hear.”
The morning of July 15, the campers began their day with breakfast and morning prayer, followed by a talk on “God’s plan for your life” by Father John Paul Heisler, parochial vicar of Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling.
Ultimately, what God desires is to be in relationship with each of you, Father Heisler told the young men. “He desires for you to know his love for you, and it can’t just be from someone who talks about that every now and then.” While spiritual talks like those at Quo Vadis are helpful for jumpstarting the spiritual life, you can’t solely rely on them to grow your relationship with God, he added. He encouraged the campers to instead use their newly learned methods of prayer and consistently practice them at home.
A former Quo Vadis camper himself, Father Heisler told the campers how nearly every single day of the camp, he experienced what he called “five-star” prayer. The final day, his prayer life declined to “two stars,” he said. But after attending the camp again, he stuck with a routine. That dedication paid off in the long run, he said. “That was when it started to become really crystal clear,” he said. “What was happening in my heart was a desire to become a priest.” While not all are called to the priesthood, “this method of thinking about prayer and discernment and what God is calling you to do — it’s not to be thought of just like a fork in the road … but it’s actually a call into a friendship” with Christ, he said.
The campers then spent time praying in adoration and meditating outside, where they sprawled under trees with rosary in hand or walked the seminary grounds chatting with a seminarian. They regrouped for daily Mass, before running off to lunch to fuel up for an afternoon of sports and games.
At lunch, seminarian Daniel Usewick announced that they would turn on the first half of the World Cup semifinals game of England versus Argentina. “But, if you want to watch the most incredible sports games played on American soil, you should stay on the field and watch our tournaments,” he announced to thunderous applause and cheers.
The final match of the campers’ soccer tournament proved to be World Cup caliber. Both teams lined up in front of the seminary — where an American flag waved alongside a Vatican flag — removed their hats, and placed their hands over their hearts. As seminarian Joshua Muñoz played the National Anthem into a megaphone, the boys proudly sang their nation’s anthem before breaking for an intense match.
On adjoining fields, other campers played rigorous matches of volleyball, football, basketball and bocce. Those trying to beat the heat enjoyed the broadcast game indoors and played pool, chess and cards.
Some 24 diocesan seminarians accompanied the campers throughout the week and served as mentors. Andrew D’Andrea, in his final year of seminary, said he came to the camp three times in high school, and has volunteered as a seminarian for four years. He said the camp was essential to his vocational journey. “That was kind of the foundation to bring me into thinking about the priesthood,” he said.
Over the years, he said he’s noticed young men struggling with making a commitment either to the religious life or to marriage. But he said the point of Quo Vadis is to put that conflict aside and focus instead on developing a relationship with God. “It’s hard to make that decision, and that’s true for anybody to make a life commitment,” he said. “Something that this camp is so helpful (with) is helping these young men grow in understanding that the prayer life that they have with the Lord is really at the center,” he added. “God comes first, and then everything is going to follow.”
Amid a current cultural loneliness epidemic among men, campers said Quo Vadis provides them with an opportunity for connection. “This camp helps combat loneliness because … you’re just surrounded by a bunch of other men who you make friends with. You maybe even get their numbers after,” said Julian Aguilar, a parishioner of St. James Church in Falls Church. “Just being able to spend time going to adoration every single day in holy hour, going to Mass every day, and prayer — I definitely feel like it’s helped me grow closer to God.”
For Aedan Farrar, a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal, the week was transformational. He said that prior to the camp, some of his friendships were not a good influence on his spiritual life. “My schedule at home is either me walking around in circles or playing sports,” he said. But being surrounded by other Catholic young men made a positive impact, he said. “When you’re constantly praying and you’re constantly around other men who want you to become better and (are) also striving to better themselves, it really helps you to want to become closer to God.”
Farrar said that armed with his new resources — a large notebook of meditations and an easy-to-navigate copy of the Liturgy of the Hours — he’s mapped out a basic prayer routine: “Just start with a decade of the rosary every day, morning and nighttime prayer: super simple,” he said. “When you first wake up, talk to God. Before you go to bed, the last person you talk to is God.”
Donofrio can be reached at [email protected].
