Notre Dame Parish in Greene-ville held vacation Bible school every Wednesday night in June that concluded with a Water Day on July 1.
The VBS theme this year was “Cool Kingdom Party: Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus.” The parish hall was turned into the Castle of Notre Dame with a banquet hall where a meal was served each night. The participants enjoyed a music session followed by a demonstration on a daily virtue, including obedience, purity, faith, and love.
The daily theme was: 1. Mary said “yes” to God. Mary is the mother of Jesus and our heavenly mother. 2. Mary remained pure her whole life. She never sinned. 3. Mary is queen of heaven and Earth. She brings our prayer to Jesus. 4. Jesus is king and Lord of our lives.
Students were divided into three groups: princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, and knights and dames, and they traveled to different sessions including the Faith Station, Game Station, and Craft Station. Crafts included mugs for Mom, mini-Mary gardens, finger puppets, and VBS treasure frames, including a keepsake picture. A saint was introduced each day, including St. Dominic Savio, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Teresa of Calcutta.
The service project for this year’s VBS was collecting change in bottles for a Handmaids of the Precious Blood expansion project. The community in New Market is building a larger chapel for eucharistic adoration, an infirmary for its aging sisters, and new housing for incoming vocations.
The VBS, staffed by adult and teen volunteers, concluded with a picnic meal of grilled hot dogs as well as water activities on July 1.