From the Pastor: Vacation Bible School Bulletin article June 23 Our Vacation Bible School was a great success once again this year. As you are aware, we do this summer program much differently than many other parishes do. Most churches simply buy canned programs with cute cartoon characters, happy clappy music and a couple of bible verses to memorize. Most of these programs are created by protestants for protestants but, since no two protestant communities agree with each other on theology or scripture interpretation, they must necessarily be nothing but pablum, non-offensive to any group, and not able to truly teach the faith if they wish to sell to protestants of contradicting beliefs. In order to sell to Catholics as well, rather than add true Catholic teachings they simply remove any blatantly anti-Catholic teachings to market a “Catholic” version of the same generically Christian program. Though the programs are fun I believe they are mostly fluff with no lasting value. They are basically used by parents as cheap babysitting services run by the church. Our parish VBS, on the other hand, is a means of teaching true Catholic truths. We put forth a group of Saints and teach the children how ordinary people loved God, followed Jesus’ teachings, lived their Catholic faith, shared it with others, and, ultimately, died in a state of grace and went to Heaven. People, on first hearing of what we do, often react negatively because it is so different from what they are used to. “Kids won’t like it”; “Teaching about Saints will be boring”; and other similar remarks only change into amazed respect for the program after they have seen it in action. (One excited mother exclaimed to me, “Father, the kids loved it. They were singing Latin Chant all afternoon when they got home!”) This year we focused on Popes who are either Saints or Blesseds. We started with our first Pope, St. Peter, then skipped ahead approximately 500 years and taught about Pope St. Gregory the Great. Another 500 years later our next subject, Pope St. Gregory VII came on the scene followed 500 years later by St. Pope Pius V. Bringing us nearly up to date after the passing of another 500 years we taught about Blessed Pope John Paul II. We began each day with prayer and a skit or character monologue about the life and death of our Pope of the day. The children learned about some of the most important aspects of the Saint’s life. Not only did this teach about how each of us is called differently to do different works to glorify God but it also reinforced the role of the Pope in the workings of the Church and the world. Instead of childish music which will never be sung again our children learned important and meaningful music tied in with both Pope St. Gregory the Great and Vatican II, namely Gregorian Chant. The Angus Dei, often used at Mass, was reinforced even in the games. To be “unfrozen” in freeze tag the kids had to chant it. They practiced the chants for Adoration and Benediction, namely the O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo. Again, these will (or should) be used by Catholic families on a regular basis. Even in the craft section they learned some of the Latin Chant of the Our Father prayer, the Pater Noster, with which they created decorated drinking cups they took home with them. The children not only truly enjoyed learning the Latin chants, they will be able to use them and be proud of knowing them for the rest of their lives as they follow the “forgotten” teachings of Vatican II, which gives the Latin language and Chant pride of place in the Mass. Even snacks reinforced the teachings. For instance, goldfish crackers symbolized St. Peter the fisherman turned fisher-of-men and sandwiches were cut into forms of mitres (bishops’ pointy hats). In another activity our children were also introduced (or had reinforced) the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, a traditionally Catholic bible study easily carried in one’s pocket. Thanks go out to all who helped make this VBS such a great success. People of the parish wrote the skits, acted them out, taught the children, bought, baked and cleaned up after the snacks, created the craft ideas and so much more. Your reward will be great in Heaven. With prayers for your holiness, Fr. Edwin Palka
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 18:48:17 +0000
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