Highlights from 2024 Vacation Bible School
Date posted on September 19, 2024
Vacation Bible School took place across several Parishes across the Diocese of Hamilton this summer! These opportunities to experience our faith could not have been possible without our wonderful Pastors, Parish Ministers, and volunteers who planned, supported and implemented these engaging programs. During these programs, the young people explored how they can live as disciples of Jesus by living out the Gospel and following in the footsteps of the saints. A special shoutout to all of the youth leaders who served their parishes this summer by supporting these initiatives.
We invite you to see highlights of the summer programs, featuring the following parishes:
- St. Francis Xavier, Stoney Creek
- St. Michael, Waterloo
- St. Patrick, Hamilton
- St. Raphael, Burlington
- St. John The Baptist, Guelph
- St. Thomas the Apostle, Waterdown
- St. Gabriel, Burlington
- Holy Rosary, Burlington
- St. Anne/St. Joseph, Kitchener
- Holy Rosary, Milton
- St. Mary of the Visitation, Cambridge
- Holy Cross, Georgetown
Operation Service Camp
In addition to Vacation Bible School this year, St. Francis of Xavier Parish in Stoney Creek held a new camp for their young people. This summer a new camp week called “Operation: Service” was introduced at St. Francis Xavier Parish. This camp was offered for students entering Grades 7-9 and focused on the call to love and serve others that Jesus gives to each one of us.
The week centred on the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy. Our participants and leaders shared the gifts of their time and talents by engaging in 7 service projects throughout the week, each one tying into a different Work, and also spent time reflecting on why we are called to do these acts for others and how Jesus wants to help us to break down the stereotypes and fears that can get in our way.
The service projects included visiting the residents of local retirement homes, volunteering at Living Rock Ministries, visiting a local cemetery to pray the Rosary for the Dead, and handing out snacks and water in Gore Park and Jackson Square Mall.
