The Spirit of New Orleans Alive and Well in Illinois
The Network Dioceses of Quincy and Springfield in Illinois have joined together to sponsor 60 kids from the New Orleans area to attend East Bay Camp on Lake Bloomington in Hudson, IL, July 1–7. The two dioceses co-host a week-long summer camp for their young people, but this year the diocesan leadership is inviting children in first through eleventh grades from the Diocese of Louisiana to occupy up to 60 of the 200 available spaces.
The idea stemmed from an on-going mission partnership between the Diocese of Quincy and the Free Church of the Annunciation, a New Orleans parish led by Network priest Father Jerry Kramer. Quincy has sent many mission teams down to do clean-up and rebuilding projects, and Fr. Kramer has spoken at several events for the Diocese of Quincy. “Bringing the inner-city kids up here for camp is just another part of our mission partnership with our brothers and sisters in the New Orleans area,” said the Rev. Phil Fleming, a deacon and Quincy’s Disaster Response Coordinator.
The offer from the two Network dioceses was extended to the Bishop of Louisiana, the Rt. Rev. Charles Jenkins as well. The offer was favorably received by Bishop Jenkins. Counselors for the camp are being recruited from the Dioceses of Springfield and Quincy.
Campers, who will be divided into three age groups, will enjoy many of the traditional activities of summer camp. Children from urban, suburban and rural areas from Illinois and Louisiana will come together to make new friends, learn new skills and do what children do best – PLAY!
A few weeks after camp, another group of youth and adults from the Diocese of Quincy will be taking the Spirit of New Orleans train down to New Orleans’ 9th ward for yet another week-long mission trip with Annunciation parish. To raise funds for the mission trip, mission team members have been hosting “N’Awlins Night Out~Quincy-style” dinners. Quincy’s Missioner for Youth, Fr. Shawn Doubet of Church of the Transfiguration in Princeton, IL, offered his culinary skills in preparing red beans and rice and jambalaya. Bishop Keith Ackerman of the Diocese of Quincy was among those who provided live entertainment. The last of the three fund raising dinners will be held May 4.
Fr. Jim Marshall, a retired priest in Quincy has participated in one of the mission trips to New Orleans and hopes to be able to go on the trip this July. He served the Diocese of Quincy for 22 years and before that he served the Diocese of Louisiana for ten years. “I was born and raised in New Orleans, so even though some people thought the food at the fundraiser was too hot, for me it was just right!” said Marshall. “I’m in my 70s now, but I still enjoy going on these mission trips to New Orleans, especially with our young people. The work they are doing is so helpful and I’m just thankful they let me go along.”
Anyone wishing to help sponsor children from New Orleans to attend summer camp or to contribute to the ongoing hurricane relief efforts coordinated through the Diocese of Quincy may send checks to the Diocese of Quincy, 601 W. Florence Avenue, Peoria, IL 61604–1517 with “Summer Camp Scholarship” or “Hurricane Relief” marked in the memo line.
Posted 4/24/07