By Eric Connolly

About 70 teenagers sit in a large circle on a concrete floor, eyes closed, minds and hearts listening and praying for direction. When they are moved to do so, the youths call out the name of one of their peers, nominations that are declarations of faith in that person’s ability to lead.

Two hours later, after prayer and several rounds of nominations and the silent raising of hands, the four Catholic Youth Coalition Board officers have been chosen. One participant in the Legendary Lodge CYC Leadership Camp says it was “a whisper from the Holy Spirit” that brought these officers forward.

Not the typical high school elections? This isn’t a typical week of summer camp.

The CYC Leadership Camp at Legendary Lodge, the diocesan camp on Salmon Lake, took place June 13-18. The theme, “Leaders are Disciples,” provided a foundation for the week’s sessions and for the discernment surrounding the selection of officers.

The word “disciple” comes from the Greek for “student” or “learner,” and that spirit of learning and discovery was a focus of the sessions. They explored themes of discipleship that the Lord may teach, and the appropriate responses.

Among the session themes were death unto self, mission, fear, finding happiness, prayer, sadness and depression, and witness. Learning about discipleship is a way to “learn about your faith and learn how to carry it across to your parishes,” said Jane Diepstraten, the CYC Board’s newly chosen vice president of communications.

The necessity of learning how to be a disciple was a theme that remained with many of the participants.

“Discipleship is an especially good thing because it’s something that everybody needs to learn,” Helena participant Brendan Casey said. “That’s just one of the many major substances that you take from Leadership Camp.”

Even with a busy schedule of teaching and learning related to the theme, the camp offered plenty of time for traditional Legendary Lodge activities such as canoeing, early morning jumps into the icy lake (known as “polar-bearing”), throwing Frisbee discs, basketball, beach volleyball and a camp favorite, Capture the Flag. Participants said the mix of classic camp fun and teaching gave the week a feeling of focus and enjoyment that made the teaching that much more effective.

“It’s been really, really awesome and prayerful and really spiritual with lots of fun thrown in,” said camper Anna Metropoulos of Helena. “All of the different spiritual disciplines translate into our lives a lot better than we think.”

Leadership Camp is the kickoff for the upcoming year of CYC youth events.

In addition to Diepstraten, new officers are Cory Krings of Helena, president of the CYC Board; Derek Sinrud of Helena, vice president of operations; and Spencer Jenko of Bigfork, vice president of marketing. “I was a little overwhelmed at first,” Sinrud said. “I don’t know really what to expect, but with God’s help, it will work.” Krings reflected on the discernment involved in his being chosen president.

“I have just been praying nonstop to have the Spirit in that room, not really for me to be the president, but for the Holy Spirit to be in the room guiding people to what God wants,” he said. “I’m just really happy and blessed that what God wants is me.”

As camp ended with a few “goodbyes” but many more expectations to “see you later” and the participants left Legendary Lodge, some of their statements reflected intent to serve the Church as young disciples.

“I just think that I can use those leadership skills to help my parish community grow in faith,” said Cody Tredik, a camper from Hamilton.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 7, July 16, 2010.


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