Best of Bootcamp 2025

Bootcamp Highlights

Mary's Prolife Bootcamp was a great Success! We hope you enjoy this photo essay, highlighting a few events from our week together.

After Mass and a family picnic, our retreat kicked off with a praise and worship session, a "living rosary" and a holy hour.

Prayer is, of course, the heart of Bootcamp. Each day includes Mass, Morning and Evening prayer, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Adoration. In additional, there were three opportunities for Confession during bootcamp.

Our campers got to hear from some awesome speakers. Pictured above from left to right: Fr Bob Rottgers, who spoke on spiritual warfare, John Depenet from Cinci Right to Life, who spoke on how youth can get involved in the pro-life movement, DJ Huenamen, sharing with us some pro-life apologetic skills, Fr Joshua Heskamp, who gave a beautiful reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and an attentive camper taking notes.

A favorite activity each year is taking "Pace counter rosaries." These rosaries are designed in such a way that one can pull certain beads down the cord in order to keep track of where you are in the rosary in case you are interrupted. This way, you can pray all throughout the day! There are also many reminders of the Fatima message incorporated into the design.

Campers participated in several service projects during the camp. The girls designed baby onesies, and the boys assembled baby equipment. These items were donated to the Rose Garden Home Mission to help new moms in need. The last day of camp was a service day, spent helping the sisters at the Rose Garden serve our neighbors in need.

Campers enjoyed meals and free time together; a favorite free time activity every year is basketball "knock out"

Twice during camp, our students went to pray in front of the local abortion clinic, located just a few blocks from Holy Name church in Cincinnati.

Campers prayed at a cemetery for the unborn, and placed flowers on the graves of miscarried children.

Our time together came to a close with skit presentations from the campers and a family picnic.

Finally, we would like to thank all of our volunteers, "Special Forces" (young adults), "Platoon Commanders" (adult chaperones), "Reserves" (part-time helpers), "Mess crew" (kitchen coordinators), meal sponsors, and other background helpers. Thanks for making such a difference in the lives of our young people!!