“At Covecrest, I thought I would only be growing in friendship with others. Instead, God rekindled my love for Him and lit my heart on fire, urging me to go on and share His love with others.

A little over one year ago, I saw a page in the Church bulletin for Covecrest, a week-long summer camp meant to help high schoolers grow in faith and fellowship while spending the week doing fun activities. I instantly knew that’s where I wanted to be during the summer. A week full of climbing, white water rafting and s’mores around the bonfire all while with friends sounded great. Every day that week we’d wake up early, go to Mass, spend each day doing different activities, go to evening sessions at the end of the day, then gather as a parish and talk about what we had learned. Each day would feel completely different, and you’d never know exactly what you’d be doing until you started the day. Some days it was messy obstacle courses, and other days it was climbing while your friends kept the rope taut. For all the evening Bible sessions, I felt like I was relearning each word from every verse that was taught, but there was one thing during the week that really stuck out to me. I had decided one morning to go to the church with one of my friends early before Mass had started, so we could pray in the house of God. But as I was praying, I understood something I don’t think I ever fully did before. Later that day, there was going to be Eucharistic Adoration. As I was praying that God would allow me to stay focused on Him during that time, something clicked. That Eucharist that was going to be right there during adoration, the same one at every mass I’ve ever been to- that was Jesus on the cross. Not a symbol, but really him right there in front of me. I had understood that with my head up till then, but I had never really let that realization reach my heart. The entire rest of summer camp was changed for me. I looked at things in a different way from then on, continued going to church early, and spent time praying in the morning when I woke up. I think that was the first time I really understood what Jesus had done on the cross.

It was a wonderful week, being able to spend time with friends and getting closer to them. But I think the thing that changed the most is my heart got closer to God. Because of this, I can’t wait to go again to Covecrest this summer.”

-James Egan