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 catholic vacation bible school info Minimize

Catholic Vacation Bible Schools

If you are looking for options for a Catholic Vacation Bible School you might want to examine the variety that are out there! I did some exploring myself and thoroughly enjoyed the creative websites – the samples of music and the characters that play a part in the themes for each particular experience. Even if you don’t plan to use one this year, I think you will enjoy exploring the possibilities!

Parade around the Our Father from Growing with the Saints
Featuring St Joseph of Cupertino, learn why priests are called Father. Discover the awesome Service Project designed to celebrate the Year for the Priest.
http://www.growingwiththesaints.com/

SonQuest Rainforest from Liguori Publications
Enter a world of amazing animals and plants that bring to life five of Jesus’ parables.
http://www.liguori.org/vbs/

High Seas from Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division
Experience the deep rolling waters of God’s love as you set sail on the high seas.
https://www.mycatholicbookstore.com/L1-CatholicSummer.aspx

Crocodile Dock from Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division
Take a romp in the swamp during this bayou themed Catholic celebration
https://www.mycatholicbookstore.com/L1-CatholicSummer.aspx

Baobab Blast from Our Sunday Visitor
Set under the Baobab tree, God’s amazing get-together explores the themes of trust, love, follow, care, and share.
http://www.thecatholicvbsplace.org

Come Journey with Jesus: A Summer Mission Experience from Columban Mission Society
Through this summer Bible school experience, children will journey to other lands and discover their baptismal call to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, meet world neighbors, discover the beauty of other cultures and hear the stories of missionaries, saints and heroes.
http://www.columban.org/content/view/12/67/

Cool Kingdom Party – Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus and
Marvelous Mystery – The Mass Comes Alive from Cat. Chat
This one I have just come across that comes out of Canada. I haven’t discovered exactly who they are, but they cite reviews and support of Jeff Cavins and Matthew Pinto.
http://www.catchat.ca/

Circus of Stars – Spotlight on the Father from Kids 4 Jesus by Regnum Christi
Learn how each saint of the day practiced balance and reflected God’s glory.
http://www.k4j.org/circus-stars-2010

Heroes in Heaven
This is another one new to me. It focuses on the lives of the saints and was developed in response to needing something totally Catholic. It comes out of Ohio from HNH Productions, but I still haven’t found out who they are.
http://heroesinheaven.com/index.htm
 


    

 Seasonal Suggestions - summer viewing Minimize

Summer is here! Ever wonder what to do to keep the kids occupied? You might want to check out some of these excellent DVDs that both teach and entertain. You will find them all in the Jegen Center - 312-534-4562.

Video and DVD Titles Available for Summer Viewing

Animated Stories from the New Testament is a series published by Nest Entertainment and developed by Richard Rich, former director for Walt Disney Productions. Animated; Interactive DVD format; bilingual, contains English and Spanish tracks; subtitles in English and Spanish available; includes bonus features; running time approximately 30 minutes. Target audiences are primary and middle-school students.

The titles we currently have from this series in DVD format are as follows:
DVD150120 Bread from Heaven; [2005].
DVD150121 Built Upon the Rock; [2005].
DVD150122 Forgive Us Our Debts; [2005].
DVD150125 He Is Risen;[2005].
DVD150126 Jesus, the Son of God; [2005].
DVD150133 John the Baptist; [2005].
DVD150136 Lazarus Lives; [2005].
DVD150137 Lord, I Believe; [2005].
DVD150129 Saul of Tarsus;[2005].
DVD150130 Signs of the Times; [2005].
DVD150123 The Good Samaritan; [2005].
DVD150124 The Greatest Is the Least; [2005].
DVD150134 The King Is Born; [2005].
DVD150135 The Kingdom of Heaven; [2005].
DVD150138 The Lord's Prayer; [2005].
DVD150139 The Lost Is Found; [2005].
DVD150140 The Messiah Comes! [2005].
DVD150141 The Ministry of Paul; [2005].
DVD150142 The Miracles of Jesus; [2005].
DVD150143 The Parables of Jesus; [2005].
DVD150127 The Prodigal Son; [2005].
DVD150128 The Righteous Judge; [2005].
DVD150131 Treasures in Heaven; [2005].
DVD150132 Worthy Is the Lamb; [2005].

Big Al Live! Gospel Values for Children is a series from Harcourt Religion Publishers (now OSV Curriculum Division) designed for people of all ages to explore and share together. Each DVD contains ten presentations or segments on Gospel values by author and host, Fr. Joe Kempf. Each brief presentation includes a short Scripture reading, a reflection by Fr. Joe, a discussion with Big Al (a very large puppet), and a prayer. Children read the scriptures and reflection questions. DVD format; closed captioned if you select "Subtitles On" from the main menu; study guide includes questions for various age levels; includes bonus features. Total running time is approximately one hour, 10 brief segments; can easily be used as a whole or in parts. Target audiences are primary, intermediate, and preschool children, and parents and catechists.

The four volumes in this series contain the following:
DVD150075 Volume 1, [ 2007]
     1) What names have you been called?
     2) What good are broken things?
     3) Is Jesus your shepherd?
     4) What's your note to play?
     5) Forgive...or clobber?
     6) How big is your family?
     7) Who will take your hand?
     8) Do you stay connected to God?
     9) Did you see him?
   10) Do you try to be cool?

DVD150076 Volume 2 [2007]
     1) Will you fit?
     2) Is it okay to cry?
     3) How brightly does your light shine?
     4) If someone starts to be mean, what does God do?
     5) What part of the puzzle do YOU hold?
     6) What language does God speak?
     7) Do you like salt?
     8) Who will catch you?
     9) Are you able to get quiet enough?
   10) Who is hungry tonight?

DVD150077 Volume 3 [2007]
     1) Have you ever seen a giant?
     2) What's the most important test you'll ever take?
     3) Which direction does YOUR life take?
     4) What is it that no one can take from you?
     5) What do you want to be when you grow up?
     6) Do you ever get jealous?
     7) What's wrong with talking about someone?
     8) How could a burden be light?
     9) Whose lives matter?
   10) When you pray, who is listening?

DVD150126 Volume 4 [2007]
     1) Does your Baptism matter (Baptism)?
     2) How big is your list (Advent)?
     3) Why do we have Christmas (Christmas)?
     4) What does God do when we say we're sorry (Reconciliation)?
     5) Why give up something for Lent (Lent)?
     6) Are you good at finding Easter eggs (Easter)?
     7) What is the best food you ever had (Eucharist)?
     8) What is a mother for (Mother's Day)?
     9) Is your dad holding on or letting go (Father's Day)?
   10) Who are you (Halloween)?

DVD040037 Catholic Basics for Kids [2006]
This DVD contains four Ikonographics video programs for grade-school-aged children by author Fr. Jack Rathschmidt. Target audiences are primary and intermediate age students.
     1) What Is the Bible?: Grow in understanding and appreciation of the Bible as God's  Word for our daily lives, and realize that God's friendship with us will never end. Running time 16 minutes.
     2) What Is a Sacrament?: Deepen your appreciation of sacraments as actions and expressions of God's love within the Christian community. Sacraments help us live more like Jesus and be signs of Jesus' love by the way we love one another at home, in our neighborhoods, and at work. Running time 11 minutes.
     3) What Is the Church?: Explores how we understand the different meanings of Church: the People of God, the Body of Christ, the Family of God. Be challenged to become a faith community that continues to do what Jesus taught and did in caring about others -- especially those in need. Running time 12 minutes.
     4) A Tour of Our Parish Church: Tour a Catholic church with older students as they learn the names and discover the meaning of the objects of our Catholic faith that help us remember and celebrate God's presence. Running time 12 minutes.

DVD040063 The Best of Little Children [2002]
This DVD contains 3 of the Series for Little Children videos plus other special features:
     Rosary for Little Children
     Prayers for Little Children
     Sing-Along for Little Children
Young viewers can learn to pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, the Angelus, the Guardian Angel prayer, Memorare, and more; includes more than 15 songs. Total running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Target audiences are primary and preschool children, and their parents and catechists.

DVD180113 Champions of Faith; Baseball Edition [2007]
This DVD is a ground-breaking film that showcases the intersection of sports and faith in Major League Baseball by profiling many of the most accomplished and devout figures in the game both on and off the field. Major League baseball champions Mike Piazza, David Eckstein, Jeff Suppan, Mike Sweeney, Jack McKeon, and Rich Donnelly lead an All-Star line-up in this moving and uplifting sports special that tells the story of faith in baseball. Provides an emotionally powerful, action-packed glimpse into what makes a baseball player and human being great. DVD format; can be played with accompanying English or Spanish subtitles; running time approximately 65 minutes; includes study guide. Target audiences are high school, junior high, and college students.

DVD100010 Doing the Right Thing; Seven Morality Stories for Young Teens [2003]
These seven short dramas should help pre-teens and young teens facing contemporary moral dilemmas re-examine their prejudices, moral codes, and values, so hopefully they are more prepared to accept responsibility for their own words and actions. The goal of each story is to help young teens develop better coping skills and healthy behaviors. Total running time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes; each story ranges from 9 to 15 minutes. Target audiences are high school, junior high, and later middle school students.
     1) Back Alley Buddies focuses on peer pressure dilemmas.
     2) Jazz Band Blues discusses themes of personal insecurity and the desire for attention.
     3) Math Class Mischief discusses themes of jealousy and gossip.
     4) Rock Ticket Trouble discusses themes of cheating in school and taking someone else's research paper.
     5) School Smoking Scare discusses themes of being bullied and telling the truth.
     6) Street Hockey Hassle discusses themes of lying and unjustly blaming the wrong person.
     7) Swim Team's Splash focuses on jealousy and bullying and insecurity.


    

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 Children and the Bible Minimize
Resources for Teaching Scripture to Children
The following resources can all be found at the Jegen Center for Catechetical Media and Research. They are good tools for helping children learn the stories of the Bible and have them rooted in their hearts and lives.
 
Books:
My Very First Bible, published by Good Books, 2003
Every Day Bible Stories – Catholic Edition, published by Tyndale/OSV, 2002
Can You Find Bible Heroes? Published by St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998
Children’s Psalms to Pray, Sing and Do, written by David Hass, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2003
Guided Meditations for Children, written by Jane Reehorst, published by Harcourt, 2002
I Want to Be Jesus, published by Ave Maria Press, 1999
 
Script Cards:
Scripture Comes Alive, published by Loyola Press
 
Videos and Dvds:
Animated Stories from the Bible – Old Testament Series – animated
Awesome Bible Adventures
The Beginner’s Bible – stories of Creation, Joshua and Jerico, Johan and the Whale, Jesus and His Miracles
Big Al Live – Gospel Values for Kids
Jesus, A Kingdom Without Frontiers - New Testament Series – animated
Story Keepers
Testament: The Bible in Animation
Veggie Tales
Welcome to God’s Library