In the footsteps of St. Theodora of Sihla and the joy of education in the light
The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada organized, from July 29 to August 5, in Mono, Ontario, the 7th edition of the Summer camp that has St. Theodora of Sihla as its patron. Children and young people from the Diocese of Canada enjoyed the presence, prayer and protective care of His Grace Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, of Rev. Viorel Țencaliuc archpriest, of Protosyngellos Maxim Morariu and Corneliu Adranșco, of Hierom. Polycarp Athenagoras and Fr. Ionuț Tencaliuc.
The camp was hosted by The Valley of The Mother of God Center of the Coptic Church in Mono, Ontario, and this year had 55 participants, students, and young people from the parishes of the Diocese guided by priests and volunteering monitors.
The young people enjoyed the sunny days, the sports, and trips in the forest, as well as the many projects aimed at different age groups and most of all the time spent together and the moments when they could count stories. It was a week of beauty, youth, and endless smiles.
Following the model of previous years, the participants were divided into age groups. Each day was dedicated to a theme. It was the Day of Music and Church Singing, the Day of Friendship, the Day of Grandparents, the Day of Art and Traditions, the Day of Joy and Jokes. The themes chosen by the organizers were related to the themes of the year 2023 within the Romanian Patriarchate, a year dedicated to psaltic music and church singers as well as to the pastoral care of the elderly.
Every day the participating youth and children competed on the sports fields in the basketball or football and volleyball championships. They discovered the color, the design, and the relationship with the saint they were painting on the glass icon painting workshops.
They learned the ancient and authentic technique of decorating eggs with wax, discovered grandmothers' recipes, weaving and sewing and also discovered the joy of stories. And even more, they were bright and good children, enjoying their childhood and youth listening to the advice of priests at catechesis. They confessed and partook at the Divine Liturgy, discovered that the saints are our friends and learned about the saint who protects our camp, St. Theodora of Sihla.
The work for the formation of souls, of an authentic Christian, able to understand the dynamics of those like him, born and living outside of Romania, the work of education requires a sustained effort, a deep investment in the human being, the precious capital that if not leavens tomorrow for the communities far from home is no more. All the youth camp projects held in the Diocese of Canada have grown in recent years in number of events and participants.
Through the projects we initiate at the diocese level, we invest time, effort and love for the formation of generations that, we hope, will produce capable and persevering Christians and priests, endowed with knowledge and grace to carry Romanian Orthodoxy further here in the diaspora.
Education means light. Give the light of Christ to everyone!
And because one of the rhythm-carrying elements, daily protagonist and symbol of the camp was the whistle, at the final moment it was given to a young participant willing to hide it until the next camp.
Thank God for everything!
(notes by Carmen Ognean)
