Camp Mystic, the summer haven torn apart by a deadly flood, has been a getaway for girls to make lifelong friends and find “ways to grow spiritually.”

With more than 170 still missing, communities must reconcile how to pick up the pieces around a waterway that remains both a wellspring and a looming menace.

Many Catholics in the region have been stepping up to help, converging on Notre Dame Parish in Kerrville, located in the hardest-hit community along the Guadalupe River.

The serene banks of the Guadalupe River, usually a place of joy and laughter for young campers, turned into a scene of heartbreak on July 4, 2025. A sudden and catastrophic flood swept through central Texas,

Since Friday, Joynton has been reflecting on her time at Camp Mystic, connecting with other former staff and alumni, and grieving for the losses there. Joynton, who moved to Philly in 2017, suspected there were only a handful of alumni in the Philadelphia area.

Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe River. Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.