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COMMUNITY
September 10, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
The Guiding Hand of the Holy Spirit in Vacation Bible School at Saint Athanasius Church
of the Blessed Sacrament. For most
of our campers and teen counselors,
it was their first time experiencing
the intimate presence of God. They
learned that God is truly present in
the Eucharist and spent silent time ac-
companying God and listening to His
voice. It was a challenging exercise for
our young campers to be still and quiet
down for 15 minutes, but the grace of
God supported them through it.
By Isabella Franco, VBS Core
Team Member and
Alice Lee, VBS Director
At Saint Athanasius Parish’s 8th
annual Vacation Bible School (VBS),
campers learned that “When Life is
Wild, God is Good!” 49 campers and
29 teen journeyed across the African
Safari during our week-long, “Roar”-
t hemed VBS. Each day, campers
attended morning Mass with teen
leaders serving as lectors, altar serv-
ers, pianist and choir members. After
Mass, they immersed themselves in
the Opening Sing and Play and rotated
between the Crafts and Bible Adven-
ture Stations.
Bible Stories Coming to Life
The highlight of the camp was the
Bible Adventure Station where some of
the core team leaders re-enacted Bible
stories. Each day, campers learned
about how Moses led the Israelite
Isabella Franco, VBS Core Team Member and Alice Lee, VBS Director.
people out of the land of Egypt and
how they spent 40 years in the desert
to reach the promised land. Camp-
ers pretended to be Israelites who
grumbled at Moses and God, crossed
the Red Sea, and ate the manna and
quail which were cornflakes and
home-made marshmallow. On the
second-to-last day, each camper was
given a stone. They put their sins in
the stones and gave them to Jesus
who died for us and rose from the
dead. The sorrowful feelings of our
sins contrasted the excitement of the
resurrected Christ as the whole room
was filled with sounds of joy.
Encountering Christ in the
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Besides immersing the campers in
the Bible stories, our campers encoun-
tered Christ through the adoration
Bonding over God
Vacation Bible School was a great
opportunity for core team members
to deepen their faith and share their
knowledge with younger campers.
They spent over four weeks preparing
the materials, planning the details,
praying and singing together. They
built special bonds and develop last-
ing friendships with one another.
Through the workings of the Holy
Spirit, the core team becomes one
Body of Christ, sharing their gifts and
talents for the greater glory of God.
Catholic Cemeteries: Take Care of Those You Love by Taking Care of What Will Be
By Laura Schemmel,
Outreach
Here we are again. Summer has
gone; kids are back in school. Life moves
forward, ready or not. Many had an op-
portunity to travel and see other places
of the world, visit family and friends,
and maybe build new relationships or
rebuild some old ones. The days are
growing shorter. Time seems to move
faster. Settling back into a more struc-
tured routine, we look at our to-do list
and check off all that we accomplished
or plan for items yet undone.
Where is completing your burial
plan on that list? Have you already
done it? Are you afraid to do it, that it
might bring death upon you sooner?
Is it difficult to talk about? If you have
checked this off your list, congratula-
tions! You have completed something
that unfortunately very few people do.
The National Funeral Directors Asso-
ciation findings reveal that 62.5 percent
of consumers felt it was very important
to communicate their funeral plans
and wishes to family members prior to
their own death, yet only 21.4 percent
had done so. Two of the most common
factors involved in this imbalance is
that preplanning is not a priority and
prepaying is too costly.
We are not immortal. Therefore, we
will all die someday. As Christians, we
live our lives here on earth in hopes
for that place that Jesus has prepared
for us.
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if
that were not so, would I have told you that
I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am.” John 14:2,3
Planning for your death and funeral
is probably not at the forefront of your
thoughts. It can be one of the most un-
comfortable, yet crucial topics that is
never too early to start thinking about.
Pre-planning enables you to make
choices on many components: whether
you will be buried or cremated, wheth-
er you desire Catholic Funeral Rites (a
Vigil, Mass or Memorial Service, and
Graveside Services), your choices of
music, scripture and who you would
like to participate, what clothing and
jewelry you’d like to wear, and if you
would like a reception. If you do not
have a next of kin to oversee your
funeral, you can decide whom you do
trust and put them legally in charge.
Preplanning removes so many
burdens from your loved ones during
their time of grieving. They are faced
with exhausting, urgent decisions and
finances to be agreed upon. With plans
in place, your loved ones can then
concentrate on the funeral service and
consoling one another. Pre-planning al-
lows you to make your wishes known,
offering peace of mind to you and your
loved ones.
Catholic Cemeteries can walk with
you through this process. We have
several workshops that will assist you
in completing your Advance Directive,
Estate Plans, Planning your Catholic
Funeral and making End-of Life deci-
sions from a Catholic perspective. We
have counselors to assist you with se-
curing a final resting place where your
loved ones, church family and other
faith-filled can visit and pray for you.
We do have programs that provide for
0% interest payments for up to 5 years.
It is never too early to take care of
those you love by taking care of what
will be. Contact us at (833) 677-9644 or
[email protected] to inquire about
our next event or contact a counselor.
Upcoming Workshops
Parish Bereavement Ministers’
Training FALL 2019
Bridging the Gap with Hispanic
Communities*
Queen of Apostles – Geary Hall
4911 Moorpark Ave., San José
Six Thursdays evenings: Sept. 19, 26,
Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24; make-up session: Nov. 7
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Facilitators: Candee Lucas, Kathy
Fanger – Outreach Team
Cost: $100. Per person (fee returned
upon completion of all 6 sessions)
This in-depth training and enrich-
ment series is for parish staff, clergy
and volunteers. Focus includes the
grief process, effective communication,
and models of parish consolation pro-
grams. Two or more individuals from
your parish are encouraged to attend.
*Course materials provided in English
and Spanish. RSVP by Sept. 14.
Death Café
Monthly Drop-in Group
A safe space to talk about death, dying,
what it means.
September 18 from 7 – 9 p.m.
(3rd Wednesday each month)
890 Benton St., Santa Clara
Facilitator: Candee Lucas, M.A. Pastoral
Ministries
Space provided by Santa Clara
University Graduate Program in Pas-
toral Ministries. For more informa-
tion: www.deathcafe.com/deathcafe.
Endorsed by Catholic Cemeteries.
SOLACE – Soul + Grief
Monthly Drop-in Grief Support Group
Grounded in spirituality and faith
September 25 from 7 – 9 p.m.
(4th Wednesday each month)
O’Connor Hospital Chapel – Main
Entrance 2105 Forest Ave., San José
Parking in the back lot
Facilitator: Candee Lucas, M.A. Pastoral
Ministries
Sponsored by Catholic Cemeteries and
O’Connor Hospital.