Growing in Faith

The expanding mission of Our Lady of the Fields

By Grace Alkatiba

Introducing new ideas, Our Lady of the Fields (OLF) has continued to flourish and build connections within the greater Catholic community. The property has established and introduced many new experiences that are contributing to sharing missions rooted in faith and service.

Partnering with a multitude of Catholic colleges and universities, OLF has announced an internship program that will soon go into effect. The purpose of this internship program is for the camp to expand its outreach and give experience to various students. The program specifically targets students looking to further their education in their fields of marketing, media and communications, as well as catechetics.

Students looking to participate in this internship will receive three credit hours from their academic university, provided they participate in 150 hours of service at OLF. The internship will provide the students with a professional Catholic setting where they can witness the process of promoting a nonprofit organization and spreading the Gospel in a special environment.

While many new ventures have emerged, familiar children and volunteers continue to strengthen their faith through OLF year after year. Chaldean Seminarian Alex Kas-Shamoun, active volunteer at the camp, states that, “The mission of camp represents our Chaldean future. As the world pushes an anti-Christian mindset toward the children of the next generation, it is our job to allow them to know Christ through fun and exciting things like OLF Camp.”

The principal mission of OLF is to commune with God and make a personal connection, to learn and accept ourselves as an individual child of God, and to learn to love others. Since 2022, the following grounds and buildings have been renovated: the dining hall and kitchen; a large viewing deck was built off the dining hall, facing the lakefront; all sleeping cabins were upgraded with new floors, bunks, and refreshed windows; new bathrooms and showers were added; new programming features were introduced, including a giant swing, a continuous high ropes course, a zipline, and a climbing tower; and lastly, a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother was added.

Michael Hickey, Executive Director of the camp, states that, “OLF is very thankful for the commitment from the Chaldean Diocese and our donors to drastically improve our beautiful grounds. At OLF it is part of our mission to continue to maintain and improve what has been bestowed upon us.”

The Difference

Why are OLF retreats different? At OLF, the philosophy is that God designed us as body-soul composites. Thus, the retreats are an integrated experience of fun and spiritual growth. All the programs involve moving the body God gave us, learning practical lessons in teamwork and virtuous leadership, and connecting the lessons learned and incorporating them into our daily walk with Christ.

Whether it’s climbing the rock wall, flying down the zip line, or navigating the low ropes course, OLF staff are there to connect the physical to the spiritual, providing an integrated experience of fun, fellowship, and faith.

Melissa Marter, Director of Youth Formation and Events, states that, “The youth are starving for substance, not the fluff of a fun time or being ‘talked at.’ The Mission at OLF is to connect the common experience of fun activities - that develop teamwork, strategic thinking, and navigate the social emotional scene - to daily practical applications within their spiritual lives.

“By extension,” she goes on to say, “this is also done in the context of immersing the youth in beauty. Much of the world today is filled with cheap, disposable things that are instant and fleeting. True beauty requires patience, slowing down to appreciate the good in what is around us - in nature, music, worship, architecture, and each other - all which act as aids to lift the soul up to God.”

Growing in Reach

Through the embracement of improvements and opportunities, OLF has also strengthened their existing foundations. From August until November, OLF hosted just over 55 different retreats. The diverse groups that took part and trusted the staff at OLF were: Chaldean Youth Camp; Cardinal Mooney football team; Chaldean Clergy; Fr. Gabriel Richard High School staff; St. Catherine of Siena freshman; Mercy High School staff; St. Peter and St. Paul Parish; Our Lady of Refuge staff; St. Fabian staff; and many more schools, parishes, and organizations from across the state.

Our Lady of the Fields is also tackling an innovative frontier in content creation and digital media. The new podcast, The Fruits from the Fields hosts a variety of guests and can be enjoyed on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcast. This podcast, started during the summer of 2024, is hosted by Josh Burcroff and Mike Hickey.

Thus far, the podcast has highlighted individuals connected to OLF in varying degrees along with the Catholic Church as a whole. Some featured guests on the podcast have been Fr. John Jaddou, Sister Kateri and Laura Ilov (from Holy Redeemer), Kim Kerwin, John Brahier, Fr. Andy Dawson, and Melissa Marter. If you are looking for a deeper insight into OLF, listen to the podcast and enjoy the fruits. Josh Burcroff, Director of Development, states, “We’re trying to promote authentic, genuine conversation with the amazing people that we come in contact with through our ministry.”

In addition to the new podcast, OLF has also begun Catholic music and ministry through Instagram. The music ministry may be seen on Instagram as @songofmary. Praise and worship music will enhance future retreats and community engagement. In the future, Song of Mary hopes to collaborate with Encounter Ministries and NET at St. Patrick’s Parish, both located in Brighton. The group is in the process of recording and releasing Christmas music focusing on what the holiday represents in our lives as we approach Christmas. Check out Song of Mary on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram.

Abby Preiwisch, Director of Service and Internship Coordinator, states that Song of Mary is about “finding ways to turn our attention to God. Sometimes that is in the context of an event like Adoration, where music can help elevate our minds and aid our prayer. Sometimes that occurs when we are scrolling through social media and see something that takes us out of the day-to-day moment and into a moment of prayer and of bringing our attention and focus to God.”

Our Lady of the Fields has established an annual fund to raise money for their upcoming projects. Consider donating at givesendgo.com/ourladyofthefieldscamp to help contribute to this very important ministry.