
Vacation Bible School: Finding Summer Joy
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Vacation Bible School
Finding Summer Joy
By Robin Mull
Director of Marketing
Parishes throughout the diocese teach children about the word of God every summer in Vacation Bible School.
“The significance of Vacation Bible School is that the children are receiving the faith in a very different but joyful and loving way,” says Father Douglas E. Dorula, pastor of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning, and administrator of St. Mary, Mother of God Parish, Yatesboro.
Many VBS volunteers are former participants. Rita and Brendan Boylan, teenage parishioners of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, have spent a week every summer at VBS since childhood. Now they dedicate a week of their summer vacation earning service hours by teaching and leading VBS students.
Brendan says he volunteers because his friends help and it’s a fun and different way to learn the faith. He enjoys seeing children learn and grow in their faith.
“I grew up doing Vacation Bible School, and I just wanted to continue doing it,” Rita said. “Helping out is so much fun. And being with the kids is a great experience.”
Most VBS programs have a special performance for families on the closing day to show what the children have learned throughout the week.
“The kids get really enthusiastic about it,” Father Dorula said. “Their parents and their grandparents remember when they might have gone to Vacation Bible School, so it really links the generations.”
BRADY’S BEND
St. Patrick Parish
July 8-12, 6-8 p.m.
Information: Mary Anne Seybert, 724-526-5079 or [email protected]
BROWNSVILLE/GRINDSTONE
St. Peter, St. Cecilia Parishes, held at Nixon Gun Club, Brownsville
June 10-12, 6-7:30 p.m.; June 13, 6-8 p.m.
Information: 724-785-7781
CONNELLSVILLE
Immaculate Conception, St. John the Evangelist, St. Rita Parishes, at Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Connellsville
July 22-26, 6-8 p.m.
Information: Mary Sampey, 724-628-6840, ext. 108, or [email protected]
DERRY
St. Joseph Parish
Aug. 6-8, 6-8 p.m. (cost: $10)
Information: 724-989-5725
GREENSBURG
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish
July 8-12, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Tammy Rzempoluch, [email protected]; Sister Jeanne Marie Vonder Haar, 724-834-3710, ext. 35, or [email protected]
Our Lady of Grace Parish
June 24-28, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: 724-838-9480
St. Bruno Parish
June 24-27, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Emma Sarsfield, 724-836-0690, ext. 11
HARRISON CITY
St. Barbara, Mother of Sorrows Parishes, at St. Barbara
June 10-14, 1-4 p.m.
Information: Joan Duncan, 724-744-7474; Erin Colcombe, 724-733-8870
HERMINIE
St. Edward Parish
June 10-13, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Cheryl Hall, 724-446-5197
INDIANA
St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, at St. Bernard Regional School
June 24-28, 9:30 a.m.-noon
Information: Hollie Uccellini, 724-465-2210, ext. 114
JEANNETTE
Ascension, Sacred Heart Parishes, held in Mersinger Hall
June 24-27, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Theresa Mazur, [email protected]
KITTANNING
St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
June 17-21, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: 724-548-7649
LATROBE
Holy Family, St. John the Evangelist, St. Rose, St. Vincent Parishes, at St. John the Evangelist
July 22-24, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Eva Japalucci, 724-537-9322 or [email protected]
LEECHBURG
Christ the King Parish
June 17-21, 9 a.m.-noon
Information: Katie Tylinski, 724-212-6740 or [email protected]; Beth Kendle, 724-433-7227 or [email protected]
LIGONIER
Holy Trinity Parish
July 22-26, 6-8 p.m.
Information: Carol Serafin, 724-238-6341
MOUNT PLEASANT
St. Pius X Parish
June 17-21, 6-8:30 p.m.
Information: 724-547-1911
NEW ALEXANDRIA
St. James Parish (with New Alexandria community churches)
July 8-12 (time TBD)
Information: William D’Angelo, 724-668-2829
NORTH HUNTINGDON
St. Agnes Parish
June 24-26, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; June 27, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. performance (cost: $15, with T-shirt)
Information: Mary Blythe, 724-864-5393
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
June 17-21, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Information: Jen Henry, 724-864-6364 or [email protected]
PERRYOPOLIS
St. John the Baptist Parish
June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m.
Information: Scott Martin, 724-736-0158 or [email protected]
UNIONTOWN
St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph, St. Mary (Nativity), St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus Parishes, at St. Joseph
June 24-28, 6-8:30 p.m.
Information: 724-438-2341
UNITED
St. Florian Parish
VBS for senior citizens June 17-21, 9-11 a.m.; VBS for children June 24-28, 6-8 p.m.
Information: 724-423-5087
WHITNEY/YOUNGSTOWN
St. Cecilia, Sacred Heart Parishes, at St. Cecilia
June 24-28, 8:45 a.m.-noon
Information: Mary Stoner, 724-423-8244, or Bill Smith, 724-423-3777
YATESBORO
St. Mary, Mother of God Parish
June 17-21, 6-8 p.m.
Information: 724-783-7191
YOUNGWOOD
Holy Cross Parish
June 17-21, 6-8 p.m.
Information: Brian Lohr, [email protected]
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