50 participants join the camp organised by the Royal Ambassadors Youth (RAY) , Jul 30
By Lenice Lim
August 12 2022
ON 30 July 2022, the Royal Ambassadors Youth (RAY) held their very first day camp. This event was long awaited after a three-year hiatus from their annual Holy Spirit Camp, which was last held in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trialling the day camp format for the first time, the organising committee limited registrations to 50 participants aged between 13 to 19 years old. The camp was held from 8am to 4pm at Room F6 of the Sacred Heart Parish Centre.
The camp centred around James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
The teens focusing on the session
After some ice breakers and opening songs, speaker Aline Lim addressed the teens on the four basic truths in the first session. She explained how as Catholics, we believe that firstly, God loves us and wants us to live full, happy lives.
Secondly, we are sinful and separated from God and therefore cannot know God’s love and share in God’s life with others.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ is the only one who can reconcile us to the Father again.
Fourthly, when we accept Jesus Christ into our life as Lord and Saviour, we can experience the full life that God wants to offer us through the Holy Spirit.
The following sessions throughout the day expounded on these truths, with the second session addressing the magnitude of God’s love for us.
In the third session, Esther Chin spoke of what stops us from drawing near to God. She touched on our fallen nature as human beings and how sins and hurts keep us away from God.
The teens during the series of prayer station
After this session, the teens were led through a series of prayer stations, where they were given the opportunity to reflect and respond on various areas including sins they are struggling with and things they are grateful for.
There were also devotion stations to Mother Mary and the Sleeping St Joseph, where the teens were able to write prayer intentions and offer them up for intercession.
The teens writing their prayer intentions
The final session gave the teens practical tips for drawing nearer to God in their everyday lives, through prayer, the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and reconciliation, the Word of God and community.
The camp ended with songs and a group photo session. It was a fulfilling day for all present and a true breath of fresh air to connect in person with our parish teens again.
