Column: Family Matters!

One of the great joys of priesthood is seeing faithfully married men and women raising their children in the Catholic Church. At St. Michael, we’re blessed with an abundance of children in the pews, a full Catholic school, burgeoning faith formation and sacrament classes, and a constant stream of weddings and baptisms year after year. That’s not the case in every parish. It’s challenging to be a Catholic family today: Our culture does not value the same things we do, and the Enemy tempts parents and children with an entire world of reasons to stray.

It takes a parish to raise a family—a community of like-minded parents who believe in Jesus Christ and want the same for their children, centered around a Catholic Church that regularly celebrates Mass and the sacraments, encourages prayer and service, and provides opportunities for holy friendship and community.

To that end, this August 15-18 we are inviting all parishioners to Catholic Family Camp at Trinity Woods, the new, permanent location of Extreme Faith Camp, in Trego, Wisconsin. You and your crew will enjoy resort-style accommodations including air conditioning and private bathrooms and access to 700 acres woods and water with miles of hiking trails; swimming, fishing, kayaking, and other water sports; gaga-ball, nine-square-in-the-air, frisbee golf, table games, and more! All meals are also included—plus daily Mass, Adoration, and fellowship. Laser tag, archery tag, river canoeing, and ziplining are available for an extra fee.

We have two pricing options for camp this year: 

• Option One (Thursday-Sunday, August 15-18; includes three nights/seven meals): Adult and teens $280 per person; children age 5-12 $200 per person; age 3-4: $70 per person; age 2 and under free. Family maximum $1,500.
• Option Two (Friday-Sunday, August 16-18; includes two nights/five meals): Adult and teens $200 per person; children age 5-12 $160 per person; ag 3-4 $50 per person; age two and under free. Family maximum $1,100. 

Complete details including a day-by-day schedule are on our Catholic Family Camp webpage at stmcatholicchurch.org/catholic-family-camp. For more specific questions about Trinity Woods, call (715) 319-3066 or email [email protected].

We need at least 50 people registered by Friday, July 12, to go, so please register now if you are interested. If we don’t get enough people, you won’t be out any money. We do plan to schedule again in August next summer—we’ll be able to announce dates sooner! Don’t miss this great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and His Church with other Catholic families at Catholic Family Camp next month!

God bless you!
Father Brian Park
Pastor