The third edition of Acamp’s Summer Festival took place in Molise, Italy, from August 3 to 7. The camp was held in Italy for the first time, and young people from Croatia, Lithuania, United States, Germany, Hungary, France, Poland, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Ireland attended.
The program of the event was entirely designed by young people for other young people, and the successful formula of the previous editions was proven: mornings of prayer and spirituality, together with afternoons of recreation and sports, followed by evenings dedicated to artistic performances and shows.
The bands Reale and Missionário Shalom performed on the stage of the Acamps Summer Festival. The concert by the Italian band Reale was marked by the plea for peace in the world, especially in Europe, where the war between Ukraine and Russia has been going on for over a hundred days. The international choir formed by young people accompanied the songs that speak of hope, peace, and recount their experience with God.
The Missionário Shalom band performed in the “Neon Party” theme night, having moments of dancing interaction with the young, and awn special moment of prayer. The group, formed by missionaries from the Shalom Community, has a career of more than 15 years, and in its presentation at the Camp sang its main hits in several languages.
The scenic art also had a space in the Summer Festival, the play “He calls you” staged the story of a young man and his struggle in the search for truth and his encounter with Christ.
The afternoons of recreation and sports were also remarkable moments of joy; the tournaments among the countries helped to create new bonds of fraternity among the young people gathered there. They played soccer, volleyball, and there were various tournaments in a very international way.
The most remarkable moments for most of the young people were the mornings of spirituality, when the catechesis that presented the main contents of the Catholic faith in a young language preceded the Eucharistic adoration. The personal encounter with Christ was favored by the access to the sacraments – the Holy Mass was celebrated every day in the late afternoon and at least six priests took turns ministering the sacrament of reconciliation.
The Acamps Summer Festival came to an end with the Mass presided by the auxiliary bishop of Rome, don Paolo Ricciardi. Bishop Ricciardi spoke to the young people about how the experience of God’s love must overflow into daily life through the service of others.
