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Dear Father Ryan,

Thank you so much for helping to make the St. James Choir Camp possible.  I really enjoyed it, especially when you're here!  I always look forward to coming, every year. Thank you for leading us in morning prayer, and always encouraging us.  We are always happy to sing for you. You are the best!  I hope you always are our priest.  Don't leave, because we will always need you here to show us good ways to be in Mass. God sent the right priest to St. James.  He knew what he was doing for sure! You are so nice.  I love morning praise and when you lead us in the chorister's prayer. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all you do to make Choir Camp happen. Thank you for being so friendly and showing us what God wants us to know about being Catholic. Thank you for taking your time this morning to be with us (you are one of the nicest priests I've ever met).  We appreciate what you do for us very much.  Thanks for your support. Thank you for helping make Choir Camp stay alive every year.  You have done so much for us and you are also very nice and caring. Thank you for letting us have Choir Camp.  It is the best camp ever.  And if it weren't for your approval, there wouldn't be a best camp ever.

Dear Dr. Savage,

Thank you for the opportunity to attend camp to help my vocal training.  It has been great so far and thanks for everything.  Also, thank you for allowing me to sing in the Cathedral because I'm not even Catholic, but I'm still having fun learning the songs, meeting new people, and going through this unique experience. Thank you for making this Choir Camp happen.  I'm having tons of fun so far and I can't wait to see the costumes.  Ms Sunde says some of the costumes have real gold on them. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come to this camp.  I've thoroughly enjoyed it so far. Thanks for helping out with Choir Camp, especially the Play of Daniel.  I had so much fun last year, that I decided I had to come back.  God bless you! You have a cool job!  I bet without you there would be no camp. You make this really fun.  I love the hula hoops on the wall, the ones that are representing the Olympics. I'm really excited to do the Daniel performance thing.  Last year I was not at camp, but when I saw the performance, it was really interesting and I liked the story.

Pictures of today! The theme for this year's Choir Camp is "Run so as to win!" These are words of St. Paul, who was born 2,000 years ago this year. Our morning surprise was this cool camp t-shirt! Arriving for Morning Prayer on our very first day of camp.  We were all a little nervous, but excited, too. Father Ryan presided at Morning Prayer today.  He told us a story about the Olympics.  He asked how many watched the opening ceremonies... Lots of us!  Father Ryan reminded us that we may not be old enough to compete in the Olympics, but we're old enough to be heroes. Father Ryan told us about Lin Hao, a 9-year-old Chinese boy who rescued two of his classmates after their school collapsed in an earthquake. On our way to gym after lunch. In the gym, we had our own "Olympics," complete with shotput, footraces, discus, and more! Clapping exercises help us to learn rhythm. Singing is what Choir Camp is all about! Why is it good to stop and stretch and wiggle our fingers? Singing an old Shaker song, "The Gift to be Simple." Do you remember who the Shakers were? These veteran Schola Cantorum singers model good posture and great participation! Our Choir Camp Champs for today: the purple team! They set a great example of cooperation and teamwork. Congratulations, gold medalists! Lots more adventures tomorrow... see you here!