Tuesday, June 13, 2017

June Thoughts! Summer Camps?

            This year we had a small graduating senior class--but their qualities made such an impact on our church community!  There is Evelyn, who sings in the choir and volunteers in every activity and goes as often as she can to feed the homeless at the Salvation Army and Celeste, who always works behind the scenes at regional retreats and children’s activities with a “Cathy, we’ve got this!”  We have Joseph, who has quietly volunteered every single Sunday to set up and take down the Sunday School set-up for years;  Emily, who wanted to be King in the nativity and was our Virgin Mary this year, a model of social justice; and finally Jacob, who reminds you of Tigger at times--happy and bouncy--and came so consistently to religious education and youth activities that he became our Joseph in the Nativity! 
As I look back at their religious education from pre-school through high school, what qualities do I want our children to possess?  What Maronite values do we want to teach them that will stick with them all the rest of their days?  
I want them to know who St. Maron was - a hermit who attracted many followers, whose disciples build a large monastery from which others were founded.  His followers were always faithful to the teachings of the Pope. 
I want them to love the Maronite liturgy and participate in the “work of the people.”  I want them to love the Scriptural tradition, the hymns, the monastic spirit, the conversation between the priest and the people.  I praise my students’ parents for making liturgy a priority for them--for teaching them that Sunday liturgy is part of our very being as Maronite Catholics! 
            Above all, I want them to love the Maronite view that God is mystery!  It is acceptable to not fuly understand God, but to surround ourselves with his mystery and to discover him with wonder, communion and prayer. 
            I want them to know that prayer is being in the presence of God who is present to us all the time. Through creation and humanity and Scripture, we encounter him.  In our religious education program, we teach this a little at a time in progressive stages.  I want our students to love the symbolism of the Maronite Church and to be able to talk about it with others.  I want them to love our saints and know the impact they have had on our Church.  
            Finally, I want them to treat others with dignity, compassion, respect, and love.  I want them to come back to us after college and participate in their Maronite Church as young adults and beyond!

Vacation Bible School and Bible Camps
Are you using a program this summer with your children?  Which one?
What part of the summer do you have your program?
Is it a day or evening program?
How many attend?  Do you have difficulty getting volunteers?
What are some of your favorite/best practices?
Let us know:  cathysgeorge@gmail.com  and we will report the findings!