Girls from St. Dominic’s College in New Zealand learn about St. Maximilian and Poland while at summer camp.

If all the tales of valiant Poland were put into a story book, it would probably outsell the current bestsellers in a matter of hours. The girls of St. Dominic’s College, Wanganui, spent their school camp this past summer learning more about St Maximilian Kolbe’s country, Poland, and his primary devotion — the Immaculata.

The camp was held in Pahiatua, an out-of-the-way New Zealand town which was once a refuge site for 734 children from the Soviet-occupied areas of Poland. Thus, the camp activities were planned to introduce the girls to Polish history and culture, as well as deepen their spiritual life and devotion to the Immaculata. Students and staff were privileged to meet with one of the original orphans — a lovely and deeply Catholic lady, who spoke to the girls about her experiences in the Siberian labour camps and eventual release and transport to New Zealand.

Besides, the girls learned and competed against one another in Polish dances, Christmas carols and crafts. They also learned about and dramatized the lives of the great Polish heroes after whom their camp teams were named — Kings and Queens such as Jan III Sobieski, Jadwiga and Bł. Kinga; Abbot Kordecki, the valiant defender of Częstochowa; and Sts Hyacinth and Maximilian Kolbe.

The children depicted the successful defence of Vienna by Polish Hussars against the Muslim army.

The campers also visited a replica of the famous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, and ate Polish-style food. Each day began with morning prayers and the singing of Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s hymn ‘We bear her standard’, and each day the girls were encouraged to practise in particular one of the virtues suited to a Knight of the Immaculata. It was heart-warming to see so many girls entering into the theme of the camp by their fortitude, kindness and spirit of service, a spirit which, we hope, will make Camp Immaculata 2018 worthy of inclusion at least as a footnote in the Tales of Poland — the Tales of the Triumphs of Our Lady.

Here is link for photos’ presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBP2oSGfacU