By ABBY MOSES

Camp Summit is a four-day Catholic adventure camp where 6-8 graders encounter Christ and have adventures. Campers are put in a group with their church and other parishes. During their days at camp, they will listen to talks about the theme at camp. This year’s theme was “Do this in memory of me” from Matthew (22:14-20), and in our morning prayer sessions we learned about Eucharistic Miracles. We do activities like high ropes courses, archery, and many more exciting challenges. There are diocesan activities, like rosary making, listening to guest speakers talk about Vocations and Theology of the Body, and hiking. In the evenings, we have Mass, Adoration and time with Jesus, following a camp activity like "Find the Fiat."

The campers are with the high school Fiat leaders and chaperones during the day. There is a Fiat team and a Dream team; the latter is made of ninth+ -graders who work and serve in the background. The Fiat team is made up of 10-12th graders who lead the groups in faith, and bunk with the campers at night.

I was a Fiat member this year, and it was beautiful. Everyone there was there to love and serve Jesus! I came to camp excited to get to know the campers and watch them grow in their faith and man, I was blown away. Anyone there to serve was radiating with the Holy Spirt, and you knew they wanted to be there. Then the campers came and everyone was so loving and excited for camp. During the day everyone was so busy with activities but then evening would come and we would just sit in Jesus’ presence in Eucharistic Adoration, and it was astonishing seeing all the campers connecting with Jesus, meeting him for the first time or the hundredth. You could see their life changing before your eyes.

On the last night of camp, we have Eucharistic Adoration before the dance party. All the Fiat Leaders are at a station that anyone is welcome to come up to and be prayed for, whether you have prayer intentions or not. I as a Fiat was blessed to pray over anyone who desired it, and that is just one of the many beauties of Camp Summit.

Camp Summit is a time to grow closer to Christ and see his love for you. It is called Camp Summit because it is a high point in your faith. You are face to face with Jesus and surrounded with community. It is important to know that your faith journey won’t always be easy, but there are always people that want to help you, and Jesus is always right there waiting for you.

Abby Moses is a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Mankato.