About Our Lady of the Fields (youth camp) [Chaldean] · Brighton, Michigan
Our Lady of the Fields (OLF) is a 218-acre Catholic summer camp and year-round retreat center in Brighton, Michigan, under the spiritual guidance and administration of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Founded on the site of the former Detroit Recreation Camp purchased by the Chaldean Diocese in 2007, OLF is home to the iconic St. George Shrine on the south shore of Euler Lake and welcomes Catholic youth groups, school groups, and sports teams from across the Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond. It runs both the Chaldean Youth Camp (CYC), a Chaldean-rite summer camp for the local community, and, in partnership with Damascus of the Diocese of Columbus, the high-adventure Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC).
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Fields (Blessed Virgin Mary); St. George (shrine on the property)
- Diocese
- Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle (Detroit)
Why belong here
OLF exists to bring youth and adults closer to Christ through a Catholic camping experience. The 218-acre grounds around Euler Lake host day-long and overnight retreats for Catholic school groups, youth groups, confirmation classes, Kairos programs, varsity sports teams, parish staff, and young adult groups, with daily Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and Scripture-based Prayer Labs woven into every program. Summer brings two distinct camp traditions — the Chaldean-rite Chaldean Youth Camp rooted in cultural heritage, and Damascus's high-adventure Catholic Youth Summer Camp with ziplines, a climbing tower, high ropes, kayaking, and a lakefront aquapark — making OLF a one-of-a-kind retreat destination in southeast Michigan.
About Our Lady of the Fields
Our Lady of the Fields Camp & Retreat Center sits on 218 acres in Brighton, Michigan, under the spiritual guidance of Bishop Francis Kalabat and the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Its mission is to bring youth and adults closer to Christ through a Catholic camping experience, envisioning that campers and retreatants will take the joy and love they found at camp into the world as ambassadors for Christ. The center operates as a year-round retreat destination hosting Catholic school groups, youth groups, sports teams, and parish communities from across Michigan and beyond.
- 218 acres in Brighton, Michigan
- Spiritually administered by the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle
- Run by an Executive Director with a Camp Oversight committee
- Year-round retreats plus summer youth camps
Our History
The Chaldean Diocese purchased the former Detroit Recreation Camp (164 acres) in 2007 and renamed it Camp Chaldean. Construction of St. George Shrine began, and the Chaldean Youth Camp was pioneered by seminarians and volunteers in 2014. Bishop Kalabat renamed the property Our Lady of the Fields in 2018 to welcome a broader Catholic audience, hired Michael Hickey as the first Executive Director, and expanded programs into a year-round retreat ministry. The property grew to 218 acres in 2022 when a 54-acre parcel across the street from the Shrine was acquired.
- 2007: Property purchased, renamed Camp Chaldean
- 2010–2012: St. George Shrine constructed and dedicated on Euler Lake
- 2014: Chaldean Youth Camp (CYC) founded
- 2018: Renamed Our Lady of the Fields; Michael Hickey hired as first Executive Director
- 2019: High and low ropes course built; gates opened to non-Chaldean Catholic groups
- 2022: 54-acre parcel purchased; partnership formed with Damascus Catholic Youth Summer Camp
- 2023: First full summer of CYSC with ~1,200 campers across 8 weeks
Summer Camps
OLF runs two distinct summer camp programs. The Chaldean Youth Camp (CYC) is rooted in the Chaldean Catholic tradition, mixing sports, team building, art, campfires, prayer, spiritual talks, and faith formation for Chaldean children. The Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC) is operated in partnership with Damascus from the Diocese of Columbus and is built around high-adventure outdoor activities combined with daily Mass, Prayer Lab, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Chaldean Youth Camp (CYC) — day and overnight sessions for Chaldean youth
- Co-Ed Junior One Day Camp for 1st and 2nd graders
- Overnight camps for older elementary boys and girls
- Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC) — 8 one-week sessions with Damascus
- High-adventure activities: 3-sided climbing tower, 700-ft zipline, 45-ft high ropes course, inflatable aquapark, kayaking, canoeing, archery tag, paintball
Retreats
OLF hosts retreats 12 months a year for Catholic school groups, parish youth groups, confirmation classes, Kairos programs, varsity sports teams, faculty and staff groups, and young adult communities. Retreats can be day-long or overnight, co-ed or single-sex, and can be led by OLF's experienced retreat staff or by the visiting group's own leaders. Past retreatants have included groups preparing for Confirmation, Kairos teams, incoming high school freshmen, rising seniors, teachers, and varsity football teams.
- School and youth group retreats
- Confirmation preparation retreats
- Kairos spiritual retreats
- Sports team and varsity retreats
- Faculty, staff, and parish team retreats
- Young adult retreats
St. George Shrine
The St. George Shrine sits on the south shore of Euler Lake on the OLF property at 1391 Kellogg Road in Brighton. Its construction began after the Chaldean Diocese acquired the property, and it was formally dedicated by the Chaldean Diocese, becoming an iconic symbol of the community's dedication to building God's Kingdom on Earth. It serves as the spiritual heart of the camp grounds and a venue for weddings and other special events.
- Located at 1391 Kellogg Road, Brighton, MI 48114
- On the south shore of Euler Lake
- Built with funds from the Shamaya (Sam) Kassab Fund
- Dedicated by the Chaldean Diocese
- Site of weddings and special events
Facilities & Outdoor Programs
Across 218 acres around Euler Lake, OLF has developed a full-service camp and retreat campus. Renovations to the sleeper cabins added new siding, flooring, bunks, mattresses, windows, and HVAC; the dining hall was refurbished with a new floor, tables, an industrialized kitchen, and a walkout deck overlooking the lake. The waterfront has been restored with a swimming area and an inflatable aquapark, and the outdoor program area now includes a 3-sided climbing tower, vertical playpen, dual zipline, Giant Swing, high ropes course, GAGA pits, kayaks and canoes, updated pontoons for lake cruises, sports fields, basketball courts, and bonfire pits.
- Renovated sleeper cabins with new bunks and climate control
- Dining hall with lakefront deck and industrialized kitchen
- Lakefront swimming area and inflatable aquapark
- 3-sided climbing tower with vertical playpen
- Dual zipline and Giant Swing
- High and low ropes courses
- Kayaks, canoes, and updated pontoons
- Sports fields, basketball courts, GAGA pits, and bonfire pits
Leadership & Staff
OLF operates under the spiritual authority of Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, with the Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako serving as Vicar General of the eparchy. Day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Michael Hickey, a veteran Catholic educator and former longtime executive director of Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord, Michigan. The Chaldean Youth Camp's ministry program is overseen by Chaldean seminarian Matthew Bakkal. St. George Shrine is managed on the ground by Campgrounds Manager Sami Herfy.
- Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat — Eparchial Bishop
- Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako — Vicar General
- Michael Hickey — Executive Director
- Matthew Bakkal — Chaldean seminarian overseeing CYC ministry
- Sami Herfy — Campgrounds Manager, St. George Shrine
Visiting & Contact
Inquiries about retreats, school and youth group bookings, weddings, or general visits can be directed to Executive Director Michael Hickey by phone or email, or through the booking form on the OLF website. The camp address is 7000 McClements Road in Brighton; the St. George Shrine address is 1391 Kellogg Road, also in Brighton.
- Phone: (248) 379-0943
- Email: [email protected]
- Camp: 7000 McClements Rd, Brighton, MI 48114
- Shrine: 1391 Kellogg Rd, Brighton, MI 48114
- Online booking form available at olf.camp