Summer Strikes Joyful Note
Music Camp Allows Youths to Give Voice to Their Faith

By William Turner
For The Sooner Catholic

EDMOND — The intense summer heat filled the Oklahoma air as scores of children were dropped off by their parents at St. Monica Church for its annual summer music camp last month. The children, who were supervised by two dozen adults, ranged in age from 5 to 18.

The camp began in 1996 after Melani Roewe, the parish youth choir director at the time, wanted to allow youth the opportunity to have a church activity during the summer. “We have things for the younger children and summer religious  education as well as mission trips for the older ones. But for those in the middle, I wanted to provide them with something to do,” Roewe said. In   addition, it allows youth to practice singing during the summer when choir practice was not held.

Roewe said the camp would not have been possible without the  support of Father Timothy Luchen and St. Monica parishioners. A major portion of the camp was subsidized by the parish. Private benefactors also contributed. This enabled Roewe to only charge St. Monica parishioners for the camp T-shirt. Others were charged a small fee, which included the cost of the shirt.

Although hosted at St. Monica, youth from other parishes were involved. In fact, some camp participants were not even Catholic. The play’s star, 10-year-old Austin Leonard,  who attends Life Church, is a wonderful example of the camp being an activity for all Christians to enjoy.

Leonard, who loves singing, was excited to hear about the music camp when relatives told him about it. “I didn’t know that I could try out for the part … my cousins got me involved,” Leonard said.

On the first day of the camp, Roewe and her staff explained the story to participants. They then began working by choosing which character they would like to play and designing costumes for their character. Through-out the week, campers practiced the play’s music, worked on choreography and set design.

While they were not working, participants had opportunities for recreation. In addition, a snack time was included in the camp’s schedule.

This allowed metro-area Christian youth a time for fellowship and to form bonds. “I made a lot of friends,” said camper Paige Deeds, 11, of St. Monica Church.

On Friday, a dress rehearsal was held as the residents of Epworth Villa, a  local  retirement  community, watched. The following night, friends, family and parish staff filled the audience.

The performance began with the opening song, “A Whale of A Tale,” and followed the story of Jonah’s life as described in the Old Testament prophetic book. The half-hour musical included 11 other songs. Cast members were accompanied by the  band, the Soul Sailors, who used instruments including the bass guitar, drums, flute and violin.

“I was a little nervous,” said cast member and St. Eugene parishioner Pat Mlekush, 11.

Not only did the play serve as entertainment, but a form of catechization and evangelization as well. It shows that “God loves us all,” Mlekush said. “It also teaches us to take responsibility.”

“[I hope that] if they don’t know God, they will come to know him,” Leonard said.

This year’s summer music camp was especially memorable for Roewe, who will turn directorship over to St. Monica parishioner Trish Kuper next year.

Above right, Jonah, played by Austin Leonard, sings a prayer of repentance to the Lord from inside the belly of the whale as campers hold up the whale. Above left, the Soul Sailors provided music for the performances. In front is Nick Callaway; back row left to right, Tyler Gruntmeir, Markus Doyal, Emily Ifill and James Harlan. Not shown, Mike Dudzinski.Left, Ben Krist, as the King of Nineveh, looks on as his Ninevites dance to “City of Sin.” (Photos by Melani Roewe, camp director, and William Turner)