By Carol McGowan
The turnout for St. Fabian‘s Vacation Bible School was a great one this year.
Approximately 100 children, teens and adult volunteers took part last week, June 26 through June 30.
Paula Kroll, pastoral assistant and director of lifelong faith formation for St. Fabian Catholic Church, said it was a great turnout.
“This was our first VBS since COVID,” she said. “Only a handful signed-up last year, so it was cancelled. This was a wonderful turnout, and we had more and more attend as the week went on.”
“After the first day, some of the children told their family and friends, and they started coming for the rest of the week.”
Prior to COVID, the Bridgeview church held at least 25 vacation Bible school programs.
Everyone was happy to see it take off again this year.
Vacation Bible school took place from 9 a.m. to noon, was free, and open to anyone in the community.
The theme was Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through.
On June 29, participants got to take a ride through the parking lot on the Rocky Railway, which was a treat from John Campbell of CJ&B Express.
Rev. Grzegorz Warmuz was the first to pull up riding the train, then the children had their chance to take a ride throughout the morning.
During the week, those who took part had a variety of activities to enjoy.
They do a song and dance, and visit different stations, including Bible study, cinema, games, crafts, and even a food station.
Kroll said the week-long event is possible with their planning, and volunteers.
This year, she thanked Anita O’Donnell, Joanna Toczek, Paula Daley, Victoria Kudlinski, and Marilyn Beliveau.
There are plans to do this again next year. You can check the church website in late spring of 2024 for more information, at saint-fabian.org