Christian sports camp August 9-11

by Staff Pioneer Times
14 years ago

Athletes can start registering July 17
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — St. Mary of the Visitation is launching a Christian sports camp in August that Father Dave Raymond, the pastor, said is open to all who are interested, not just Catholics.
ImageTracy Guerrette
UMPI women’s basketball
    “A healthy body, mind and soul work together, not separately. You need all three to meet the challenges of everyday life,” Raymond explained. He said the idea came about from conversations with one of his former students, Tracy Guerrette, who is the women’s basketball coach at UMPI. Raymond referred to her as “an athlete, a scholar and a good Christian person.”
    Guerrette said she likes “incorporating faith in sports which can motivate young athletes and develop character using biblical principals.”
    Having attended Christian sports camps herself, Guerrette said “there’s a lot of character development that occurs through sports.” Guerrette maintains that sports can demonstrate the importance of perseverance, courage and work ethics using biblical principles to motivate young athletes.
    The recurring headlines about fallen sports stars has prompted Guerrette to speak out about the scarcity of good role models and the need to reveal more uplifting behavior.
    “Nowadays, look at the world of sports and who youth are looking up to. I just feel kids need role models who are looking up to God. Honestly, my heart is sports ministry and I believe that God made me an athlete for a reason,” said Guerrette.
    She added that she sees many correlations between sports and faith. “When I play on the basketball court, when I coach, I want people to see Christ through me. If people could look at me and see something different in me on the soccer field, on the basketball court — that’s evangelization. I’m sharing my faith without saying anything.”
    The St. Mary’s Athletic Camp runs August 9-11 at the Houlton Rec Center. Students in grades 4-8 will attend from 2-4:45 p.m.; students in grades 9-12 will attend from 5-7 p.m. Families can pre-register for the camp starting July 17. Cost is $5 per child.
    For more information, call 532-2871.