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ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

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April 19, 2009

The Good News...

                  . . .OLOG (Memorials)

What is OLOG?  This is the name of the Catholic youth camp in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.  Actually, it is an acronym which the kids adopted in the year 2000 when the camp opened under the official name of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Youth Camp. This summer will mark the 10th year of camping at OLOG!

The camp program at OLOG has been most successful and rewarding.  During the summer months, our Archdiocesan Youth Office offers eight weeks of camping. Approximately 1,000 children from all over the Arch-diocese participate in the summer camp program every year. Almost 800 are already registered for this coming summer.

The weekly summer camp provides children with a fun place to be. The atmosphere is rustic as the camp is located on 480 acres of wooded land in Lincoln County.  In the past, the kids have boasted about the food, the program and the environment. They have actively and joyfully taken part in the religious dimension of the camp. Thus, they return home, especially kids from rural areas, realizing that our Catholic Church is so much larger than their own little parish. Their interest in the Church and what they experienced at OLOG are often related to me as I travel from parish to parish through our Arch- diocese. OLOG is truly a successful Catholic youth camp!

Until now, I have been speaking solely about the summer camp  program. However, that is only one part of a much longer and diversified use of the camp property.  Throughout the rest of the year, even more kids and young adults and older people come and go. Some are there just for the day. Others stay overnight. Some come for a few days while others come for a weekend or a whole week. The programs vary greatly. There are youth retreats, high school Kairos  programs, study sessions, Confirma-tion retreats, scouting activities and young adult programs. There is seldom a week that passes without an exciting, fulfilling program touching on faith, education and socialization.  OLOG is one of the “jewels” of our Archdiocese!

Due to the economic downturn and trying to keep camp fees at a reasonable cost, we have had to curtail some of the additions that would have been very, very beneficial to campers and staff persons and programs. For example, we have a need for several outdoor pavilions. These are not luxury items but gathering places for various activities.  They would be most helpful and a great addition to our camp.  Therefore, I am looking for four generous people to help make these possible.  Would you like to memorialize a friend or loved one? If so, the plaque could read that a generous donation was made in memory of (the person you name), May 2009. Or it could read: “This pavilion (or gazebo) is provided through the generous donation from (name inserted), May 2009.

There will be three smaller  gazebos. One will be at the archery range and the other two at the Donut Pond, which is a one-mile walk from the main entrance of OLOG.  A   memorial gift of $5,000 for each gazebo and a memorial gift of $20,000 for the larger pavilion from generous benefactors will make these facilities available for summer camp.

The pavilion and the three gazebos provide an opportunity for anyone wishing to memorialize a loved one. At the same time, it will benefit thousands of young people who will use them for years to come.