Camp Summit 2021 More than Conquerors (Romans 8:31-39)
Youth Catholic Schools
Dana Petricka
Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation dpetricka@dowr.org
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Summit is a middle-school adventure camp that takes place every summer at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro. During “normal” years, Camp Summit is a weeklong camp that empowers high school and adult leaders to witness the love of Christ to middle schoolers through powerful testimonies, talks, small group discussion, outdoor activities, Mass, eucharstic adoration, confession and much more. This year we were grateful to be able to have Camp Summit again after not holding the camp during 2020. However, Camp Summit looked much different this year as a day camp. Our theme of "More Than Conquerors" (Romans 8:31-39) was very appropriate as the campers worked on conquering different challenges throughout the day, such as high ropes, rock climbing, and group challenges. Our day camp ended with time in prayer with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist to break open the Scripture theme in adoration, confession, and praise and worship. The young Church is alive and well in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester! Some beautiful memories from camp this year include a young middle school girl who went to confession for the
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first time in many years and a young man whose favorite part of camp was eucharistic adoration. I always think middle and high schoolers who attend Camp Summit are there because of the perks: high ropes, rock climbing, hanging out with friends, etc. However, time and time again they never cease to amaze me by saying that prayer and being with Jesus in the sacraments is their favorite part of Camp Summit.
This is also refreshing to know, considering every parish in our diocese has that to offer the young Church: prayer and the sacraments. We don’t have to wait for Camp Summit, a retreat, or a conference to encounter the Lord. Please pray that all of our parishes become schools of prayer for all members and find ways to engage the young and old in the channels of grace, which are the sacraments, so readily available to us.
RCS Welcomes Principal Andrew Poterucha Marsha Stenzel
Superintendent of Catholic Schools mstenzel@dowr.org
By MATT LANGSDALE
�ochester Catholic Schools is extremely pleased to
announce that Mr. Andrew Poterucha has accepted the position of Principal at St. Francis of Assisi School. “It is an incredible blessing for our students and families that Mr. Poterucha is assuming this leadership position at St. Francis of Assisi School,” said Dr. John Wald, Co-Chair of the RCS Board of Trustees. “He is deeply committed to the advancement of Catholic education and the mission of Rochester Catholic Schools.” His experience in education includes several years at Holy Spirit Catholic School where he taught science and physical education in addition to embracing leadership responsibilities. Mr. Poterucha served on the school’s Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association team, was a member of the
science curriculum writing committee through a partnership of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), and held the position of athletic director. Mr. Poterucha is a graduate of RCS and has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He later continued his education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he earned a Graduate Certificate in secondary education and a Master of Arts degree in instruction with concentration on instructional strategies for English language learners. Mr. Poterucha then obtained a Graduate Certificate in education administration for K-12 principal after completion of an extensive administrative internship at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. “I have had the privilege of not only teaching at Rochester Catholic Schools, but also attending RCS from kindergarten through high school graduation,” said Mr. Poterucha. “I believe Catholic education develops the whole child in the image of God through teaching Christian values and cultivating spiritual growth. We as educators are preparing students to serve God’s world and those in it.” Matt Langsdale is the principal of St. Pius X School and St. John the Evangelist Middle School in Rochester.
September 2021 w The Courier w dowr.org
