From Our Pastor
One of Saint Helen Outreach Ministries that I’d like to profile this week is Sr. Pat’s Kid’s Camp which is a weeklong camping program for children afflicted with cancer and other related blood disorders. The camp is open to children between the ages of six and fourteen, of all races and religious affiliations, and is completely free to all campers.
For one week each summer, about 60 campers gather in Esopus, New York. These children are recommended by the Division of Pediatric Oncology and the Division of Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center. Some of their camp activities during the day include: Arts & Crafts, Biking, Cooking, Dance, Fishing & Boating, Guitar Lessons, Gym, Swimming.
About 100 staff are on site throughout the week of camp. Teenagers and adults volunteer to make Sister Pat’s Camp a success. Staff come to us through different avenues, including the parish of Saint Helen’s, Columbia University Medical Center, friends or family of volunteers as well as former patients who may return as camp counselors.
Originally known as the Marist Brothers Camp for Special Ed. Children, the Camp operated in Esopus, New York. Sr. Patricia Daly, while serving as the Director of Religious Education at Saint Helen, Sr. Pat also ministered at the Camp with deep conviction and devotion. After a long struggle with cancer herself, Sr. Pat died on August 18, 1988. In her honor and memory, that special summer week in Esopus continued and was re-named “Sister Pat’s Kid’s Camp”. It is funded by Saint Helen with adult and youth volunteers as staff.
Each year, Sister Pat’s Kids Camp holds a 50/50 Raffle to raise funds for the camp. Raffle tickets can be purchased by anyone willing to help support Camp.
Tickets are priced at $40 each with 3 tickets for $100. If all tickets are sold, FIRST PRIZE could be as much as $19,800 (or 33% of ticket sales) and there will be five prizes of $2,040 (or 3.4% of receipts from ticket sales). The winning ticket will be pulled on March 12, 2023 after the 12:00 mass.
If you would like to purchase a ticket, they are available at the Reception Desk in the Parish Center or by calling the parish at 908-232-1214. The funds raised by the raffle are vital for the continuation of the camp. Please consider supporting this very special outreach ministry of Saint Helen.
God Bless You,
Msgr. Tom
