Vacation Bible school includes learning, fun

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 07.01.09

BOB REDDY | FC
Volunteers join a clown on stage for a song and dance at the start of the day during the St. Patrick Parish Vacation Bible School.

SARASOTA | What is summer without some fun with a little religion thrown in for good measure?

Vacation Bible school programs throughout the Diocese of Venice engage thousands of youths of the Catholic Church and offer faith-filled activities for children ages 3-12 with a goal of teaching them about God and an appreciation for the world in which they live.

Many of the Bible schools go with common themes, such as “Discovery Canyon,” or “Crocodile Dock” or “Summertime Blast.”

BOB REDDY | FC
Fifth-graders paste a cross with “Footprints in the Sand” on it and add decorations such as sand and shells during the St. Patrick Parish vacation Bible school.

Kindergartners watch and listen during an assembly at the start of the day during the St. Patrick Parish Vacation Bible School June 23 in Sarasota.

BOB REDDY | FC
Kindergartners in yellow shirts watch and listen during an assembly at the start of the St. Patrick Parish vacation Bible school June 23 in Sarasota.

At St. Patrick Parish, the theme for this year’s vacation Bible school was “St. Patrick and the Holy Trinity.” Each day began with morning prayer led by Deacon Raymond Lyons. He asked the students on their second day what they had learned about St. Patrick on their first day. The younger children screamed out a variety of answers, but all of them remembered the lessons they learned about how St. Patrick had been captured by pirates. Many of the children made pirate hats and learned the “Song of St. Patrick.”

A group of teen volunteers, led by a visiting clown, performed the song using sign language and promised the children they would each learn the song and the sign language by the time they had a recital later in the week.

Joe Diaz, St. Patrick director of religious education, said the Bible school offers children a opportunity to expand on their religious studies while combining fun activities. About 130 children participated this year, with 60 high school students acting as volunteer teachers; some of them were students who attended the summer camp when they were younger.

Some children made crosses with the poem “Footprints in the Sand” written on it, while others made a cross where the words God and Love intersect with a rainbow and sunshine above. Still others stuffed bottles with maps and treasures. Throughout the week the children were sent to a variety of activities, including crafts, music, recreation and even meditation in the parish chapel.

“We want them to have time to learn about the Bible and St. Patrick while away from the fun activities,” Diaz said. “It is important for us to teach them about being Catholic while we have them here.”

The outdoor activities included playing soccer or kickball, or spending time on the swings, slides or seesaw in the playground. Because of the ages, most activities are limited to about 15 minutes. Diaz said this allows the children to stay engaged throughout the five half-day sessions.

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