Our parish center transformed itself into an explorer’s dream the first week of August, complete with hidden ruins, ancient caves and dense jungles.
It was all part of this summer’s edition of Vacation Bible School, as campers discovered God’s greatest treasure isn’t diamonds, gems or gold, it’s them. Fittingly, the week’s theme was “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God.”
St. Viator Associate and Youth Faith Formation Coordinator, Rosy Hartz — now in her 20th year of youth ministry at our parish — led the expedition, with the help of more than two dozen teen leaders who devoted their week to accompanying younger children in the parish.
“The leader turnout was amazing,” Rosy said.
Young campers rotated through different stations, where they dug into action-packed, faith-filled adventures every day. Yet, embedded in each activity was a different Bible verse that was reinforced throughout the day.
Consider the first day’s verse, from Psalms (139:1): “Oh, Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” From there, they read from Samuel about how God identifies David as the future king. The take-away: God knows you. The rest of the week builds from there.
“The youth leaders ran everything,” Rosy says, “and the children loved it.”
Whether they know it or not, getting so many high school and college-aged teens involved with leading the week reinforces the mission of a Viatorian-run parish: to build up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated.
It was all part of this summer’s edition of Vacation Bible School, as campers discovered God’s greatest treasure isn’t diamonds, gems or gold, it’s them. Fittingly, the week’s theme was “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God.”
St. Viator Associate and Youth Faith Formation Coordinator, Rosy Hartz — now in her 20th year of youth ministry at our parish — led the expedition, with the help of more than two dozen teen leaders who devoted their week to accompanying younger children in the parish.
“The leader turnout was amazing,” Rosy said.
Young campers rotated through different stations, where they dug into action-packed, faith-filled adventures every day. Yet, embedded in each activity was a different Bible verse that was reinforced throughout the day.
Consider the first day’s verse, from Psalms (139:1): “Oh, Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” From there, they read from Samuel about how God identifies David as the future king. The take-away: God knows you. The rest of the week builds from there.
“The youth leaders ran everything,” Rosy says, “and the children loved it.”
Whether they know it or not, getting so many high school and college-aged teens involved with leading the week reinforces the mission of a Viatorian-run parish: to build up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated.
