‘Vatican Express’ takes students through Vacation Bible School at St. Peter’s

Friday, June 29 was the culmination of a full week of Vacation Bible School at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Parish. St. Peter is one of many parishes in the Diocese of Corpus Christi holding Vacation Bible Studies camps during the summer.

At St. Peter’s, the campers were busy all week with arts, crafts, learning the Bible, singing and “praising Jesus.”  Art was displayed throughout the St. William Center on the theme of “The Vatican Express."

Priscilla Chapa, Director of Religious Educator, said the campers learned about the Vatican, the Holy Father, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo. They read about St. Jerome and how he translated the Bible into a language that people could understand.

Each day, 101 campers from Pre-K through fifth grades gathered at St. Matthew’s Hall for opening prayer and “The Warm-up Song” and dance. From there, the children went to CCD Center classrooms for Bible lessons.

After Bible class, the campers participated in activities, games, music, arts and crafts in St. William Center and the Youth Center where they had snacks at “St. Peter’s-Square Café.” At the end of each day campers gathered for closing prayer and a favorite song.

Fifty teens and 18 adults volunteered to help with all of the different activities. The teens put on a skit for the entire assembly of parents and younger campers at a Friday closing ceremony. The skit included the selection of the pope, played by Bailey Ayers, along with a question and answer sequence where the laity asked “the pope” about different subjects.

The kids told the assembly they learned that the pope is chosen by a conclave of Cardinals and Holy Smoke is used to let the people know when the conclave decides on who will be the new pope. They also learned that a bishop’s chair is called the cathedra.

After the play the children sang and danced for their parents in joyful unison. The ceremony concluded with refreshments.