Chaos isn’t typically associated with Catholic education, but a week at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Harrisburg was filled with it – and for good reason.
The parish rejuvenated its Vacation Bible School program with “Camp Chaos,” showing children that Jesus is the path to peace when life gets messy.
Tents, artificial trees and rocks, camping gear and balloons of various woodland animals welcomed nearly 100 kids for faith-based lessons, crafts, skits, sing-a-longs, games and snacks that underscored how we can turn to God when things become hectic. The children were also treated to Father Leo Goodman’s Magical Revelations show, which illustrates the message of the Gospel through optical illusions.
“What a joy it was to witness the enthusiasm of our children during Vacation Bible School at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. Throughout the week, our parish was filled with laughter, music, creativity and the unmistakable presence of God’s love,” said Father William Forrey, pastor.
“Our young people were invited to discover more deeply how much Jesus loves them and calls each of them by name. It was wonderful to see their excitement as they learned, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their faith with one another,” he said.
The more than 30 volunteers who led the program were inspired by the sights and sounds of so many children excited about the faith and engaged in the week’s activities.
“One of my favorite things from the whole week was hearing all the little voices praise God through worship music with smiles on their faces. Through this, we are reminded that we don’t always need big gestures to get closer to Jesus. It’s seeing the world’s wonders through their little eyes that reminds us how great Jesus can be,” said Becka Biacchi, a volunteer teacher with the four-year-old group. These youngest campers learned the Sign of the Cross, were introduced to the Rosary and heard about the love of Jesus’ mother.
“My favorite thing was dressing up different every day of the week,” camper Colin said of the themed days.
“The most fun was eating snacks and learning about God,” said Adeline. “I learned that Jesus can do impossible things.”
Each day focused on a different Bible story, including the account of the wise and foolish builders, the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and Jesus calming the storm at sea. The stories were complemented by crafts and songs that helped students relate the message to their own lives and see more fully how they can find the good in life by focusing on Jesus.
“As a parent raising small children today, finding activities that allow them to build lasting memories while not compromising our faith can be extremely difficult, and in our home we don’t settle, so when I heard about VBS at Holy Name we signed up right away,” said Rosemarie Hack. “I cannot stress enough how powerful this past week was. The kids had so much fun growing in their faith and doing it with new friends. It’s so uplifting seeing our youth strongly embrace their Catholic faith. And to be completely honest, as a volunteer, it was such a breath of fresh air to meet so many wonderful Catholics within our community.”
“VBS reminds us that the Church is truly alive when we nurture the faith of our youngest disciples,” said Father Forrey. “Seeds of faith were planted and watered this week, and we pray that they will continue to grow throughout their lives as they come to know, love and follow Jesus Christ.”
(Photos courtesy of David Eichman, Holy Name of Jesus Parish.)
The Catholic Witness
