Canadian Martyrs Camp 2001
Father Carl Sulzen

Two one-week camps, dedicated to the Canadian Martyrs, Sts. Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Gabriel Lalemant, René Goupil, Jean de la Lande, Antoine Daniel, Charles Garnier, and René Chabanel were held from July 8^th to the 21^st in Western Ontario (northwest of London, ON). Thirty-one boys and twenty-five girls, ages 8-13, attended the camps. The campers were from Canada and the United States. Fr. Sulzen was the Camp Chaplain. There was daily Mass, Rosary, and Confessions. Seminarians Steven Brown, Douglas Matulka, and Matthew Zepf assisted him on the boys camp. Sister Mary Raphael and Sister John Marie Vianney, Oblate sisters from Toronto, assisted at the girls camp. These assistants taught the campers about the practice of the virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Counsel, Fortitude and Temperance.

Activities included various hands-on crafts, instructions in first-aid, competitive games, hiking, canoeing, and swimming. Prizes were awarded to the campers who excelled. During the boys camp, newly ordained Fr. Emmanuel Herkel, presently stationed in Vernon, BC, came for an afternoon of canoeing, and kindly bestowed his first priestly blessing on each of the campers before departing. Each evening ended with a campfire, at which skits were performed, and then Fr. Sulzen concluded the day with a talk about the life and death of one of the Canadian Martyrs. Fr. Sulzen thanks his assistants, as well as the many other volunteers, including nurses, counselors, junior counselors, and various kitchen staff, as well as anyone else who contributed in any way to help make these camps a success. May the Holy Canadian Martyrs intercede for us!