The ideal summer - Shalom Catholic Community

In my ideal summer there are three elements that cannot not be missed: friendship, relaxation and partying. I lived these dimensions last summer when I attended the Acamps Summer Festival, an event organized by the Shalom Catholic Community, on the shores of Lake Balaton, near Budapest.

One of the strongest feelings in this event is one of friendship. Almost immediately after arriving from different parts of the world, we had the sense of feeling at home and being able to be yourself. At Acamps, we were all one family and differences and disagreements were of little consequence. The testimony of the participants, the cultural differences as well as the moments of formation and praise that took place each morning were a source of personal enrichment, renewal of faith and inner growth.

After lunch we relaxed on the lakefront, swam and organized many activities: soccer tournaments and beach volleyball and, most fun of all, was playing soap and bubble football. The evenings were always a special moment. After dinner, everyone got ready for that night’s entertainment. There were several parties- the neon and color parties. But the highlight came when everyone gathered around the stage which had bands and DJs from around the world. At a specific time, the stage exploded with music and colorful lights and all of us enthusiastically sang and danced.

The days never seemed to end. After the concerts and parties when everything calmed down, many of us would talk outside our tents getting to know each other, sharing life experiences and stories from our countries. Some would continue to sing and dance while others went night swimming, although there were a few people who had already went to sleep, happy and peaceful. In various ways, we were all different but in common we all had more love in our hearts and we felt loved.

Even sleeping in a tent was an adventure. They were full of insects and every night before going to bed we had to remove them. One night there was a violent storm and those with small tents had to take them down and find other shelter. The storm was so bad that one person escaped to a nearby hotel for fear from lightning and flooding. In the morning, it was nice to wake up to the sound of the musical instruments that were being played.

On the way home in the plane I thought back to the past week. I realized that something in my life had changed, I had changed. Acamps is something that is next to impossible to describe in words, it is an experience that you definitely can only feel.

Alessandro Moscatelli, Switzerland

Translation: Jhoanna Climacosa

Information: 2019 International Acamps