pictures from Fiesta Maria

Here's a picture of the kids throwing water balloons at each other. All the water games were a big hit!!

Check out all of us doing the "Shark Song"!


Flowers for Mary!


Our Fiesta Maria sign at the end of the driveway welcoming everyone.

How did Fiesta Maria go??

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to update you all on the recent high school camp where we ran the Fiesta Maria for the Hispanic kids of Sleepy Eye. Here's a copy of the article that I wrote for the St. Mary's Parish Bulletin, and it should answer all your questions :-) Check out the pictures as well!

Fiesta Maria!

June 22-24, 2009

Hannah Andrews from Ham Lake, MN

During the Schoenstatt high school girls' camp 2009, we planned and led a camp for the Hispanic children of Sleepy Eye. Participants ranged from 16 children on the first day to 25 children on the last day. The Fiesta Maria took place each afternoon for about 2 hours from 3:30-5:30 pm, Monday through Wednesday at Schoenstatt on the Lake. Each day had a specific theme: the Trinity, Mary, Mother of God, and Called to Be Saints. All the day's songs, dances, skits, and crafts were based on that theme. The ages of the children ranged from 5 to 13 years old. The kids enjoyed the camp immensely, and the smiles grew throughout each day. All of the high school girls had specific jobs to do and led the camp with help from the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary: Sr. M. Deanne and Sr. M. Sophy Ann. Some girls led the crafts, while some led the games. The best part of Fiesta Maria for the kids was the water games. We threw water balloons, squirted everyone, and cooled everyone off in the hot weather.

Some of the older boys first thought that the camp was boring, but they quickly changed their minds when the water balloons came out. All of us playing with them got pretty wet as they squirted bottles of water on us! One boy brought his own bottle full of water on the second day so he would be ready to squirt everyone. The shrine was also an important part of Fiesta Maria. Led by Maria Lucia, the children talked about the day's theme and the parts of the shrine. On the first day, about the Trinity, we played an “I Spy” game trying to find the persons of the Trinity in the shrine. On the last day, the kids made paper flowers and gave them to the Blessed Mother in the shrine. They realized the importance and reverence of the shrine, and some even wanted to stay and pray more!

The weather for Fiesta Maria was clear and hot. We were thankful that all storms and rain were during the morning and early afternoon, so we could play our games outside. The children who came had a great time, and they enjoyed it tremendously. An older boy told me, “This is a lot better than school!” They were sad to leave us each day, and wanted to come back.

All of us were grateful to be able to come and help with Fiesta Maria. We would like to thank the following for their support of our project: Bishop LeVoir, Sr. Anne Marie Reha from the Hispanic Ministry office of the New Ulm Diocese, Msgr. Lozinski and St. Mary’s Parish, & Alma Saenz and those who coordinate the Migrant program. We would also like to thank the Schoenstatt high school girls who came the weekend before to help prepare for the camp. Sixteen young women helped to organize the camp, go door to door inviting Hispanic families to send their children to the Fiesta Maria, and to attend the Hispanic Holy Mass on Sunday, June 21. The girls had fun learning the songs for Holy Mass and meeting families belonging to the parish.

The mission experience reminded us to give to others, for giving makes us truly happy! As part of the high school camp, we attended Holy Mass each day, prepared the camp afternoon, and had fun activities in the evenings. We agreed that this mission project was a smashing success, and we should repeat it again next year to minister to the Hispanic community of Sleepy Eye. The wet smiling faces of the kids were priceless!