About 20 years ago, at the initiative of Sinikka Meurman, a member of the parish in Tampere, camps began to be organized for young people preparing for the sacrament of confirmation. This year too, a camp was held in the Turku area, in Taivassalo, at the so-called Tippsund youth camp center, which the city of Turku rents out.
The camp took place 1–7 June 2025. Father Stanislaw Zawilowicz S.C.I., chaplain of the Parish of Saint Bridget and Blessed Hemming, was assisted by Marie de Baudus and Eini Phan from the Holy Cross Parish in Tampere. Sinikka Meurman could not participate this year, as she fell ill just at the beginning of the camp. In addition, Ursuline Sister Barbara from Helsinki also came to help. I myself was in the kitchen preparing the food. Forty-four young people took part in the camp: from Tampere, from Turku, and two from Jyväskylä. To our great surprise, six young people arrived from Vaasa, and they spoke nothing but Swedish and Burmese. If we had known this in advance, we could have prepared better – for example by inviting Father Amando from Helsinki for a few days or a Swedish-speaking teacher. In addition, there were six so-called group leaders. Altogether we were nearly 60 people.
The camp had in fact begun already several weeks earlier, when lessons and program were being planned and prayed over. I drew up the menu and the shopping list. The first of June was a Sunday, and immediately after the principal Mass in Turku we set out by car toward Taivassalo. Father Stan’s car was full of liturgical items, outdoor games, and teaching materials. Heidi Leminen and Pauli Snäll came with their own cars to help transport the supplies. Joanna Snäll, a parishioner of Turku, had delivered to the Taivassalo K-market merchant the list I had drawn up of all the items needed to feed 60 people five times a day for a week. The shopkeeper had gathered everything in advance, and with three cars we transported the goods to the camp site. The cars had to make two round trips – of course, when 50 liters of milk, 15 kilos of potatoes, 8 kilos of ketchup, 120 eggs, and much more are needed. Heidi stayed the whole Sunday afternoon to help with the preparation of the first meal.
The young people arrived, and lodging in the small cottages went quickly. The first Mass, the first meal, an evening of introductions… the first day passed quickly.
The days began with prayer and flag raising. Then came breakfast, small helping tasks, catechesis, and at 11:00 Mass. After that was lunch and free time. In the afternoons we studied the Bible: the young people listened to the Gospel of Mark read aloud and answered questions. Each day there was also playing and games as well as the Olympics. In the evenings there was always a different devotion: the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. On Wednesday the pastor of the parish in Turku, Father Peter Gebara SCJ, came to help, as there had to be an opportunity for confession.
On Thursday evening the traditional barbecue evening was held. Although the weather was cold, it did not rain, and the young people enjoyed being outdoors. On Friday a trial session was held in the form of group discussions.
The place was beautiful, but the space was far too small. In the same hall we had to eat, teach, and celebrate Mass. A small chapel of our own, where Jesus would have been present, would have made a great difference. When so many people were crowded into one space, the noise was sometimes considerable. A great deal of food was consumed, and the traditional macaroni casseroles, ground meat sauces, spaghetti, and rice were well liked. As a cook I always wonder at how much ketchup is used – and how much the young people love rice porridge with cinnamon sugar.
Planning and carrying out such a camp requires a lot of energy, and without the numerous volunteers, the selfless parishioners, it simply could not be organized. Still, there remains each time a longing for Stella Maris. Our own camp center, where everything would not have to be carried along, where there would be a chapel for silence, where the kitchen would already have spices – and where there would be no fear that the food would run out.
Florence Schmitt
Parish of Saint Bridget and Blessed Hemming, Turku