Holiday fun and faith for Syro-Malabar youth

by MICHAEL OTTO
Ellerslie parish was a hive of activity during the first four weekdays of the school holidays, as 145 students attended a special camp.

The camp, for year 1-12 students from Auckland’s Syro-Malabar community, had a theme of “Holy Spirit Renews”.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome.
The students at Ellerslie were kept busy between 9am and 4pm each day with a wide range of activities, including role plays, skits, videos, classes, action songs, praise and worship and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
There was even a small magic show. From dozens of smiling faces, the camp seemed to be an agreeable experience for students, parents and priests.
Among those involved were Auckland’s Syro-Malabar chaplain and national coordinator Fr Joy Thottamkara, CSsR, assistant Fr Jobin Vanniamparambil, CSsR, and Fr Manoj Kunnath, CSsR, who led the camp.

The children benefit from the experience by being able to meet and make friends during the holidays.
They also learn about God in a concentrated fashion, which supplements regular Sunday school classes.
Sunday school head master Raji Chacko said it is important that the children learn the Syro Malabar traditions and culture. The camp reflects how the community caters for children back in Kerala, in India.
About half the children at the camp go to Catholic schools in Auckland. The rest attend local state schools.
Fr Thottamkara said another important benefit for the children is team work, as many of the activities involve students being formed into groups to do something creative.
Students can also feel free to have discussions with teachers and priests.
The first school holiday camp for Syro-Malabar students in Auckland took place in 2008, involving
40 children.
The first camp was for two days, but demand from students saw that increase to three days and now four.