Back in Action in Pennsylvania

The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property held its annual Pennsylvania Call to Chivalry Camp for boys ages 12-18 at the TFP-staffed St. Louis de Montfort Academy on August 11-20. This year’s Pennsylvania camp was modeled largely on an earlier TFP Camp held in Louisiana.

Every day began with the recitation of the rosary. Here, Mr. Cesar Franco tries to keep the boys in step.

Outdoor games were an essential and everyday part of the camp.

After dinner stories around the campfire were particularly popular.

Checkmate! In their freetime, the boys brushed up on their chess skills to prepare for the chess tournament.

Mr. Roark Mitzel gave a demonstration on the history of medieval weaponry and sword fighting.

A major highlight of the camp was Penn's Cave, an underground river with beautiful rock formations.

Our prayer must have the proper spirit of combativity if we hope to defeat the enemies of the Church.

Intellectual formation is paramount at the summer camps. Here, Mr. Thomas Drake gives a talk on the Siege of Vienna of 1683.

Fr. Andrew McCormick said Mass and gave a talk on how to make a proper examination of conscience.

Protesting in front of an abortion clinic helped to test their resolve to oppose evil and stand up for the weak.

The ten-day camp culminated with the Medieval Games, where physical, mental, and spiritual strength are tested.

The games finished with an obstacle course. Don't fall!!

After the games was the traditional Medieval Banquet, complete with a 90 lb. roasted pig.

Attended by 30 young men, the event taught manly virtues and offered historic role models, to form the boys into courageous Catholic men.

Consequently, this year’s camp was dedicated to the great Tyrolean freedom fighter Andreas Hofer who waged an effective campaign against Napoleon. Other topics discussed were the marvels of medieval society, the Revolutionary process, the siege of Vienna, an audio-visual presentation on the evils of Rock music, the crusading spirit, how to effectively confront the modern world and the meaning of life.

Activities included swimming, paintball, a protest at a local abortion clinic in Harrisburg, indoor and outdoor games and campfire conversations.

The event culminated with a medieval tournament and banquet on August 19. The culinary highlight of this year’s feast was a 100-pound pig, roasted to perfection over an open fire and richly decorated.

On the next day, the boys went home, better prepared to maintain their Catholic principles in a hedonistic and anti-Christian world.