Steve and Lisa Walker reside in Central Florida and have been blessed with 2 children, Zach, 21 a Junior at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL and Nicolina, 17 a Junior at Winter Park High School.  They are parishioners at St. Margaret Mary Parish.  Before starting Catholic HEART Workcamp they were Youth Ministers for 16 years.

The First Catholic HEART Workcamp was held in Orlando in 1993 with 100 participants as an extension of St. Margaret Mary Youth Ministry.  Father Richard Walsh, Pastor, encouraged and supported the creation and ministry of CHWC.  In 1998 Catholic HEART Workcamp grew calling Lisa & Steve to move from parish youth ministry into the role as Presidents of CHWC.

They first set up an office that consisted of only a desk in the corner of their bedroom and then moved into a home consisting of a 3 room bonus room above the garage.  Catholic HEART Workcamp is now organized out of an office building that was exclusively built for the operations. Steve and Lisa pride themselves on maintaining a “Mom and Pop” organization in spite of its growth.

The idea of offering a Catholic Workcamp was inspired by their participation in non-denominational Workcamps.  These Workcamps lacked a Catholic spirituality and perspective.  These camps nonetheless were a positive and life changing experience.

Steve and Lisa have blended their youth ministry experiences to create the ministry/business of Catholic HEART Workcamp.  God blessed their efforts when they responded to His call to step-out in faith to leave their position as parish youth ministers (and security).  After years of persistent prayer and planning, CHWC has expanded in ways they never could have imagined.  They have faced obstacles: betrayal, lack of funds, loneliness and misunderstanding, but God provided them with loyal friends & family and strength to endure over the years.  The Walkers are grateful to their “home office” staff of six, Catholic youth leaders throughout the country and the summer staff that believe in Catholic HEART Workcamp.

In the summer of 2009, 450 parishes and 10,500 adult and teen campers registered.  Their vision for the future is clear, to listen closely to the Lord and continue to build CHWC in the direction that God desires.  They want to continue offering quality service camps, serve the people in need, and spiritually enrich the lives of Workcamp participants.  Most importantly, Steve and Lisa want to provide young people and those served by CHWC opportunities to experience God’s love in a profound way!