The Commercial Appeal

It’s a week of games, learning at Our Lady of Perpetual Help

- By Caroline Melancon and Pamela Saba Special to The Commercial Appeal

About 200 children, teens and adults had a Cool Kingdom party when Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church held Vacation Bible School.

The theme was “Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus.” All week the children learned about Mary the Mother of God and how to be more like her. They also learned about different saints, like Dominic Savio, Therese the Little Flower, Joseph, Francis of Assisi and Mother Theresa.

The Cool Kingdom Party featured several fun songs like “I Want to Say Yes!” The participan­ts learned the different songs along with dances that they performed at the end of each day.

The children also played fun games that helped them understand more about the concepts they were learning for each day. The crafts stations featured treasure boxes, crowns, rosaries and other fun items having to do with the week’s theme. The different stations were led by members of the parish as well as our visiting seminarian, J. P. Masterson and Deacon John Moskal.

The counselors were youth group members. Gregory Jordan, a first grader, said, “I liked Fun and Games because we played games. I liked all of them.”

“My favorite saint was St. Joseph,” said Katie Fracchia. “My favorite station was faith because I get to learn more about Jesus. My favorite song from the week was ‘Full of Grace.’”

The fifth- and sixthgrade­rs did different activities although their theme was the same as the other campers. The kids held a car wash to raise money for the poor. They also went on a field trip to the Poor Clare’s monastery and to two downtown churches, St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s. They have an overnight retreat on one night and played kickball with the senior high youth group with a cook out. Caroline Melancon and Pamela Saba are Our Lady of Perpetual Help youth volunteers

 ??  ?? The 4-year- old VBS group and their counselors at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church learn the song “Full of Grace” along with the movements. The station was led by OLPH senior high youth minister Stephanie Schweitzer.
The 4-year- old VBS group and their counselors at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church learn the song “Full of Grace” along with the movements. The station was led by OLPH senior high youth minister Stephanie Schweitzer.
 ??  ?? This year, 50 teens volunteere­d their time to be youth counselors at the OLPH Vacation Bible School.
This year, 50 teens volunteere­d their time to be youth counselors at the OLPH Vacation Bible School.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States