Marian Camp

CEBU, Philippines - Totus Tuus Maria! Those were among the last words Pope John Paul II reportedly directed to Mary on his deathbed, showing how he loved Mary so much. These Latin words mean, “I am all yours, Mary!”

These sweet words of surrender to Mary, Jesus Christ’s mother, helped inspire this year’s Marian Camp. Now running on its 4th year, the Marian Camp is a stay-in gathering of college students and young professionals who would like to go deeper in their spiritual growth.

Themed “Totally Yours, Mary: Star of the New Evangelization”, this camp’s aim for spiritual growth is founded on the mystery of Mary who is present in the scriptures, in the heart of the Church and in our daily lives.

The camp aims for the participants’ discovery of the monastic and Marian way of life through prayer (Holy Mass, adoration, confession, etc.) and downright simple camp chores, creative workshops (i.e. arts and music), team building activities, formation, pilgrimage, missionary exposure and several conferences that this generation can relate to. Facilitators are youth from different schools such as UP, UC, USC and some working professionals, as facilitators.

This camp is based on the belief that when you’re totally given to Mary, Mary leads you to Jesus. In being totally hers, one is totally free.

That said, this camp is open to all vocations. “Whatever vocation you have, you can help glorify God through this camp.” Thea Therese Graham, one of the camp’s head servants says.

And the good news is this camp is not exclusively just for women. It is also open to men. Allan Niñal, one of the head servants in the camp says that “Real men should treat Mary as their mother. You can only know how to love a woman through a mother.”

Graham and Niñal share that the Marian Camp hopes to inspire people to love Mary and the Eucharist. It hopes to break stereotypes that Mary and the rosary are just for old ladies wearing veils. It has the ambition of helping produce strong Christian men in our community.

This camp also aims to help evangelize as many people as possible, at the same time, helping give a sense of direction to those who feel lost. It tries to push for the active participation of members in the church – to be active adults in the faith and to give their lives to Jesus. Finally, it endeavors to help answer doubts and questions about one’s faith.

The camp will be from May 22 to 26 at the Priory of St. John, Good Shepherd Road, Banawa. The registration fee (including all the meals, room, electricity, and water expenses) is only 500 pesos. The deadline for the confirmation of participation is on May 8, 2010. The camp is open to students and young professionals, both men and women, from ages 16 – 25.

Participants are asked to bring a flashlight, raincoat or umbrella, cap, trekking shoes, slippers, bible, rosary, toiletries, blanket, bed sheets, medicines, and clothes (pants or shorts below the knee; no sleeveless, spaghettis, backless tops).

For more information, you may contact Thea Therese Graham at 09177980054 or you may email her at [email protected]. You may also contact Allan Aparence Niñal at 09204177439 / 09227360542 or you may email him at [email protected].

Graham ends up by saying that, “Mary is a mother to everybody regardless of race and class. She transcends culture, role and class. She is a mother given to everyone. Have we discovered her or welcomed her? If not, this camp is the chance to do that.”