Working title: The Śro Story

You have stumbled upon, or have been invited to, an open work to capture in wiki-form the experience of "Środowisko" lived by a network of friends united though Quiet Waters Media at the Cabrini Center, friends hailing from Children of Mary Homeschooling, San Damiano Youth Group, WLOF Station of the Cross, Morning Star Family Holy Hour, St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, Franciscan University of Steubenville, some Roman Pontifical Universities and a Parish in Baltimore. The notes found here focus on an event that could otherwise be known as a Catholic Culture Experience (one debated alternative name for the event). While these pages (Środowiki?) are a way for those of us in different places to share our notes about what works for events, it is also thought towards a more formal and better understanding of how Pope John Paul II's approach to community is prophetic.

Thanks to Śro-père Fr. Martin Moleski for hosting this dialog on his own space, teaching us the ways of the wiki, and being an enthusiastic protagonist.

If you would like to become an editor on this wiki, send your name and e-mail address to Fr. Moleski.

The story of Środowisko

What it is and isn't

In 1942 a German youth group calling themselves "the White Rose" came together around a professor to combat Nazism on an ideological level. In 1995 a group in Milwaukee Wisconsin, inspired by their story, took up the name and the task on the similar right-to-life front.

A milieu is not a militia... in a milieu you "receive" your people, in a militia you "recruit" them.

The Środowisko of JPII

Not a conference, camp, vbs, or program

School of Prayer

• Mass
• Liturgy of the hours
• Lectio Divina
• Rosary
• Adoration and Confession
• Silence

School of Communication

• Video

School of Community

• Dishes

School of Ars Ecclesia

• Icons
• Mosaics
• Stained glass windows
• Illuminated manuscripts

General Daily Schedule

• 7:30 Rise
  • In the beginning, we woke them up with a CD of bagpipe music and a strategically-placed stereo. It has since evolved as technology has evolved, and the girls are woken up by a Pandora playlist on an iPad. Some would wake up earlier than 7:30 to shower and get ready for the day, even as early as 6 AM, leading to the enforcement of a "no showering before 7" policy that sleepier kids are happy to oblige to.
• 8:15 Lauds
  • The mornings always begin with Morning Prayer, usually chanted. Whichever group is scheduled for the Liturgy of the Hours rotation will handle the reading and the presiding. A short presentation is given by leaders regarding how to pray the LOH or how the LOH is used in the Church before each period of Liturgy.
• 8:30 Breakfast
  • Usually breads and bagels and cold cereal, though sometimes pancakes and sausage on a morning or two, breakfast is our way of getting the girls excited for the day - it's the only meal we eat indoors besides snack and the occasional dessert, and we try to show cool or inspirational videos to get their creativity going before we jump into work (the videos range from funny, touching, dramatic, musical, or cats).
• 9:00 Tasks
  • Our version of "ora et labora" has everyone doing light clean-up in the morning after breakfast. After arrival, people sign up for a task, which may be dumping trash, vacuuming the church, watering plants, or straightening up bathrooms. Every person has a job, one which never takes more than 15 minutes, to keep the space clean and efficient for the week.
• 9:15 Rotations
  • Each group rotates through a set of activities during this time slot. The rotations used to include campfire entertainment and working in the kitchen to set up for meals, but it now only includes Mass preparation, Lectio Divina, Liturgy of the Hours preparation, and whatever job may need to be done for the day (such as prep work for the Thursday night talent show, etc)
• 10:00 Great Room Meeting
  • At this point of the day, we meet back in the main space for a light snack (which ends early enough to meet the hour fast before Mass), and an introduction to the projects and theme for the week. A presentation is usually given by leaders, which comprises videos, Scripture, images, Prezis and Powerpoints, books, and so forth. Here, the main theme for the week is presented as well as the beginning stages of whatever personal project has been chosen to represent the week.
• 10:15 Group Projects
  • Group video projects are also introduced. Each group has their own table, and each of those group leaders has a folder of papers and resources so the group can begin working on projects together.
• 11:45 Break
  • At this point, snack has been put away so the girls can still fast before Mass. Break is a good way to stretch and begin channeling energy towards preparing for Mass. Most kids will change into something a little nicer for Mass.
• 12:00 Mass
  • Nothing much to be said here other than the obvious - Mass is celebrated for the day. Back in the beginning, the Angelus was also said at noon, though this has since become lax. Whichever group has the Mass rotation for the day prepares the readings and the Prayer of the Faithful, though a music ministry team almost always handles the music for every day.
• 12:45 Lunch
  • First of the meals to be outside unless the weather is severe. Some group singing typically commences (we leaders enjoy making the girls sing for their meals in order to rally them and wake them up) and occasionally there are "O-grams" or messages from "Mystery Messengers."
• 13:15 Dishes
  • This rotates between groups - two groups at each meal will hand wash the dishes and take them into the house while the other groups begin their free time.
• 13:45 Swim or Recreation
  • At this point, all groups including the two who completed dishes will have free time. Free time may have a scheduled game of volleyball, soccer, or the like, or the girls have the opportunity to go swimming at a nearby farm. The house becomes quieter for those who want to take naps and people with energy are sent outside or continue work on personal projects.
• 15:30 Projects
  • More work on personal and group projects is scheduled for this point. It's a good way to draw girls back into a quieter and more creative mindset after running around or being outside.
• 18:00 Vespers
  • The second of the daily liturgy cycle. Again, whichever group is scheduled for this rotation handles everything. Vespers is usually chanted.
• 18:30 Dinner
  • This meal works the way lunch works - it may begin with singing or messages, eating is outside, two groups handle dishes. At each meal outside, especially at dinner, there is an activity such as games, opportunities to witness and share, or quick entertainment to establish a sense of community and to spark conversation.
• 19:30 Free to Be
  • The second set of free time, a little more lax than Recreation time. Many girls will opt for working on projects at this point.
• 20:30 Campfire and Rosary
  • Campfire is outside (around the fire, obviously) unless the weather prevents it. Campfire is scheduled with games or entertainment, perhaps singing or skits or the annual "Initiation Ceremony" which has girls new to the camp being "initiated" by dancing around the fire. When the sun sets, everyone settles and the Rosary is prayed. For each campfire or time the rosary is said, a different group or set of people will lead it. Following the Rosary is dessert or snack (though this is occasionally pushed until after Compline).
• 21:30 Compline
  • The third time we pray the Liturgy of the Hours in the day. Like Lauds and Vespers, a group handles the presiding and so forth. Compline is not chanted as often as Lauds and Vespers, though it is preferred.
• 22:30 Lights Out
  • After Compline, a period of silence is assumed. Girls are asked to remain quiet in the house and sleeping areas as they get ready for bed, and to go downstairs to the main meeting space if they want to work on projects or talk quietly. In the past, strict silence was enforced everywhere as soon as Compline was complete, but it has since become a little looser. Leaders will have a quick meeting to discuss the day and the upcoming days while the kids get ready for bed. After the Leader Meeting finishes, lights will be turned off, doors will be locked, and leaders will do a sweep to make sure that everyone is where they should be - in bed. Girls are allowed to be in the Chapel to pray, or bathrooms, or with a leader, though leaders must use prudence in determining who may be up, for what, and at which time they must be sent to bed. A leader may go around at Lights Out to bless the girls with Holy Water and say goodnight.

General Weekly Events

Because of the flexible nature of the daily and weekly schedules, certain activities may be rearranged or cut or added to the week depending on the energy and mood of the girls, the weather, or unavoidable complications. A loose approximation is as follows.

• Sunday
  • Girls typically begin arriving between 15:30 and 16:30, to settle in, greet people, and for an introduction to the week. This is the time for leaders to meet the people who will be in their group. Upon arrival, girls will receive a t-shirt with the theme of the week on it, any project materials they will need, a booklet of information, and a box to hold all of their things and projects which is left at the group table. Girls must also sign up for a task, which begins the following morning.
  • Dinner is typically picnic fare, something quick and easy. Paper and plastic goods may be used to avoid having to schedule anyone for dishes.
  • Projects are introduced, ice breakers or games are played, and the rest of the evening follows the daily schedule.
  • Sunday night campfire is perhaps one of the most important ones - leaders provide the entertainment here, and it is important to make new girls feel welcome and to set the mood and energy for the rest of the week. Leaders usually do skits, songs, or games are played among the groups. The "Initiation Ceremony" is always scheduled for Sunday night campfire.
• Monday
  • The schedule for Monday closely follows the general daily schedule, though Campfire may be led by a group or again by leaders. One year, a scavenger hunt was organized, other years have had girls playing "Śrolympics" or another organized type of game for the group.
• Tuesday
  • Tuesday is typically beach day. At the Recreation period of the day, girls are asked to make their own sandwiches for dinner. Carpooled trips to the beach begins at 16:00 or a bit later, after Vespers, where the girls will eat dinner and the Rosary will be prayed. Sometimes activities are scheduled if the girls seem to be losing energy, such as a scavenger hunt or sand-building contest. We usually stay at the beach until sundown and return home around 21:00 for snack or dessert, Compline, and lights out.
• Wednesday
  • This day is typically close to the general schedule, like Monday. At this point, project times may be expanded so the groups have more time to work together, cutting time out of meetings, free time, or so forth.
• Thursday
  • Thursday is typically Talent Show night. The schedule follows the general daily schedule until Campfire, which is replaced by the show. A group is selected to lead - an emcee is needed (typically a leader or two), as well as set-up work in rearranging tables and chairs to form a stage, and so forth. A sign-up sheet for the talent show is usually posted on the Activity Board by Monday or so, though most girls tend to sign up last minute. The talent show typically lasts about an hour, and begins a little after dinner, by 20:00. It may end in a dance party (affectionately known as a Śro-down), and dessert is typically served during this part of the night.
  • After the Talent Show/Dance Party, the schedule resumes the general format and goes into Compline and Lights Out
• Friday
  • Friday is the most lax of all the days, and tends to be the most harried and busy. It's crucial at this point that leaders pay attention to the energy and mood of the girls. If they need naps, they nap. If they need to get outside for air and get energy out, games are scheduled for free time. Typically, most groups will be right in the middle of group projects and many girls will be finishing up their personal projects. **Friday night is jokingly called the "Friday Night Scramble," or FNS, amongst leaders who are working to edit and cut projects so they are ready to be presented to the parents Saturday morning. Because the leaders tend to be busier with editing work and helping out with all the girls, Friday night entertainment tends to be an easy campfire - it may be a quick skit competition or just a loose game of soccer. Several years have seen a movie night on Friday, as a way to get girls settled down. Dessert and Compline still follow the scheduled times, though Lights Out may be adjusted to fit the entertainment or the group work.
  • Lights Out is not as strictly enforced, though the silence in the sleeping areas still is. Girls are allowed to stay up if they're working on a personal or group project, or if they're with a leader. Leaders should exercise prudence in how many girls stay up and how late they stay up. Typically, every girl goes to bed by 24:00, though leaders may stay up to finish projects and straighten up the meeting space for the Saturday Presentation.
• Saturday
  • The schedule is very much different on Saturday. Breakfast is usually a buffet style from 8:00 to 9:00, depending on what time Mass is so the girls can still make the fast. Girls wash their own dishes,and then there is a free period where girls should pack up all their belongings and bedding and bring everything outside to be loaded into their parents' cars when the families arrive. Lauds may either follow breakfast or precede Mass. Mass is usually about 10:00 or 10:30, though may be different depending on the availability of the priest. Families are welcome for Lauds and Mass, and are expected to arrive before presentations begin.
  • After Mass, presentations begin. Personal projects are blessed by the priest and displayed, and video projects are introduced and presented by each group. Following the presentations, a picnic style lunch is served, which usually lasts several hours. Many families bring side dishes to share, though grilled food is provided. The week officially ends when the last of the girls and their families leave.

Roles

Group leaders

"Camp" Cook/Mom and Dad

Chaplain

Tracy

Rebecca and Sara

Śro Things

Encounters A presentation by a person or group that has something to do with the theme. (Past encounters: Prof. Kazimierz Braun, Fr. Peter Kauralus, Sr. Emily Marsh, Sr. Ann Kelly, Fr. Vincent Nagle (via Skype from Jerusalem), Helene Paharik (Skype), Catholic Voices Washington (Skype), Micheal John Porier, Mary Porier )

Mystery Messengers -

Śro Lingo

A certain lexicon has developed over the years as girls look for ways to describe their experiences from the week. The colloquialisms and idioms are usually formed by replacing the beginning of a word with the morpheme "Śro" or "Śr" to form a portmanteau. Or, in this case, a portmanŚro.

• Śropening (opening)
• Środown or Środeo (hoedown or rodeo)
• Śroappro (appropriate)
• Śreunion (reunion)