Summer 2024 dates, Staff Update, Fr. Jim Bjorum

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Welcome to

Camp Sancta Maria's

October 2023 Newsletter

"For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light."

Ephesians 5:8

Fabulous Lake 27 with Fall colors, photo by Linda Darnton.

Dear Friends and Family of Camp Sancta Maria,

Welcome to our October 2023 newsletter!

The glorious Fall colors are here as we celebrate Mary, the Mother of God in this month of October. This is a time to reflect on all that we are grateful for and the many blessings that God has bestowed on us with His infinite love and mercy. We are most grateful to God and all who have helped make possible 90 years of Camp Sancta Maria. What a gift for so many boys and girls over the years to have fun while growing in faith and friendship. Thank you to all who have been a part of the last 90 years!.

Here are highlights to share with you today:

Summer 2024 dates: Check out our session dates for the upcoming summer
Staff Changes at CSM: We are excited to announce Joseph Terbrack working with us full time
Remembering a dear friend of CSM: We are sorry to share the passing of Fr. Jim Bjorum earlier this week

Thank you to all who help to make CSM possible! We are grateful to you for your prayers, your dedicated service, and your generous financial support. God bless you.

Warm regards,

John David Kuhar

Dad, Donor, and Executive Director

Summer 2024 Dates

Raise your hand if you want to come back to camp in 2024! Put these dates in your calendar for next summer and look for registration to open up in December.

Start planning your Summer vacation now! Here are the dates and sessions for 2024:

Girls' Camp: June 16 - 22

Girls' Horse Camp: June 16 - 22

Boys' Two-Week Camps

I: June 23 - July 7

II: July 7 - July 21

III: July 21 - August 4

Boys' Mini Camps

A: June 23 - June 30

B: June 30 - July 7

C: July 7 - 14

D: July 14 - 21

E: July 21 - 28

F: July 28 - August 4

G: August 4 - 10

Boys' Horse Camp: August 4-10

Boys' Ropes Adventure Camp: August 4 - 10

Girls' Camp: August 11 - 17

Camp Sancta Maria is awesome, pass it on!

Staff Changes

We are excited to announce Joseph Terbrack moving into a full time role as our new Marketing, Program, and Development Associate, Joe is pictured here with his wife Kimberly and newborn son Elijah.

Before taking on this position in the fall of 2023, Joseph served CSM as Junior Counselor, Senior counselor, Head of High Ropes, Assistant Head Counselor, and most recently Program Director. He earned his Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and spent the last three years as the Catholic Campus Minister at Mississippi State University. Joseph has a deep love for CSM and its mission stemming from his time as a camper and many years on staff. He believes that CSM provides a truly unique experience where young boys are able to learn the importance of masculinity and are sculpted into the men of God that our world so desperately needs. He and his wife Kimberly feel truly blessed to be a part of the CSM community and love seeing the campers grow in their faith and truly thrive while they are at Camp Sancta Maria.

Remembering a dear Friend

Fr. Bjorum (far left) enjoying CSM's Benefit Dinner earlier this year.

We are sorry to share the news of the passing of Fr. Jim Bjorum. He was a counselor at CSM from 1970 - 1974.

During his time at CSM, in addition to being the head of the store, he served as corral staff, beach staff (where he was proud of being able to teach intermediate swimming without having to get in the water), and led music at Mass and Night Prayer. After being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit he would come back and say Mass at camp. He was one of the founding members of the CSM Alumni Association and was a great supporter of Camp. We will miss him and miss seeing his face light up when he spoke about his time at Camp. Please join us in praying for the repose of his soul and for his family and friends who grieve his loss including the CSM family.

Eternal rest grant unto him. O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

For visitation and funeral information please see his obituary here:

Fr. James Bjorum Obituary

Camp Sancta Maria's mission is to let God meet the deepest needs of today's youth by forming and transforming young lives in a beautiful northern Michigan setting. To provide young people a technology-free, safe, and faith-filled natural atmosphere packed with fun, where new outdoor experiences and activities enable campers to create healthy relationships and grow spiritually, personally, and communally.

We Are Grateful for Your Prayers

and Your Financial Support

CSM is held in a trust governed by an independent Board of Trustees. While the Archdiocese of Detroit had generously donated the services of one of its priests for decades, they are not responsible for CSM financially. This means that we are responsible to secure our own funding to advance the mission that has been passed down to us since our founding in 1933. To continue this essential work, we need your help. Are you feeling called to donate? Thank you for your prayerful consideration!

Camp Sancta Maria is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. Our tax id number is 38-6086752. Donors may deduct contributions as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers and gifts under Sections 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.

Donations may be sent to:

Camp Sancta Maria

P. O. Box 613

Washington, MI 48094

Or donate via credit card by contacting us at:

Phone: 248-822-8199

Fax: 866-875-1933

Email: office@campsanctamaria.org

Or donate online by clicking below: