The Importance of Bible Camp

Dr. Kathie Amidei • July 3, 2025

Bible Camp…Why it is Important and a Blessing to our Children

From the Heart of Our Pastoral Associate, Dr. Kathie Amidei...

“Another week of Bible Camp in the books!” said Tasha Baures, who capably led our Bible Camp this year, with our dedicated Faith Formation staff Lea Boyd, Ann Grunwaldt, Debbie Kusch, Michelle Lukas and incredibly wonderful volunteers, especially Ann Fons, Jack and Maribeth Blankenheim, as well as many fabulous leaders of every age from middle school through our retired gifted pros.

A parishioner, whose children are in their 40’s, said to me that she sent her children to Vacation Bible School as it was known at the time, the only place it was offered, at the Lutheran Church.VBS has been a tradition in Protestant churches for decades. We Catholics are latecomers to this model of catechesis. But we are catching up quite well.

Often as Catholics, we gave prayer books, statues and medals as gifts. While these were, and are, great gifts, children were rarely gifted a Bible, and certainly Scripture was an afterthought in a catechetical lesson. We weren’t taught this is a library, preserving a legacy of our ancestors in faith and how it is a chronicle of Salvation History. We weren’t shown the beauty of the poetry of God’s Word. The biggest compliment I hear about a homily is “Father made it sound like the readings related to my life.” When actually everything in Scripture relates to our life! I believe that was the point of God’s Holy Spirit inspiring the writers.

So, why is Bible Camp, as we call it today, valuable and important?

1.) It presents the narratives in Scripture as accounts that give us lessons for life today; the importance of being brave for our faith like in David and Goliath, reminding us how to listen to God and do hard things as Moses and of learning from the Master Teacher, Jesus, that the bonds of death are broken by his Resurrection.

2.) It presents these lessons of our faith through a joyful, vibrant methodology.

3.) If a child participates in most years of childhood, they have 50 Scripture stores in their minds and in their hearts laced with memories of warm relationships.

4.) It is an intergenerational experience, where all ages are learning and teaching, from preschoolers to octogenarians.

5.) It vitalizes our spirituality by combining song, story, art, games, memorization, beauty, nature, and snacks into a summer experience of learning and fun.

6.) It creates community. Relationships are formed between our Catholic school children and Family Program children, between new parishioners and longstanding members and between staff and volunteers.

7.) It is a leadership development program where middle school, high school and all ages of adults work side by side to catechize and share our faith.

8.) It deepens the knowledge, understanding and inspiration found in the Bible, God’s Living Word, meant to inspire us each and every day.

9.) It helps our children come to know our God who loves them dearly.

Bible Camp is something every parish should support, and every family should prioritize.

My 1^st grade granddaughter was talking to her mom after Bible camp and asked, “Mom, are we Israelites?”

It was a great week. We all learned a lot. But I guess we have more work to do.😉 Hope to see you part of this wonderful week next year!

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By Taylor Baar • June 5, 2025

What an amazing week we just spent at our sister parish in Peru! 11 young adults from St. Anthony on the Lake traveled to Piura, Peru May 23-30 and were overwhelmed by the warm greetings and generous welcome they received. We served in the community in so many meaningful ways. The young adults delivered food packages to families, visited the orphanage, built three houses, herded sheep and goats, distributed clothing, delivered furniture to newly constructed homes, visited the primary school, trade school, and hospice, and more. We also had the opportunity to drive down to Chiclayo one day, which is where Pope Leo was from. We celebrated Mass in the cathedral and ate at one of his favorite restaurants! Not many people can say they have done that. The service opportunities were wonderful, but it was even more meaningful to build connections with the people we met. Each night during our group reflections, everyone talked about the joy they witnessed in those they were serving, the community they felt, and the relationships they were building in the community. It was a wonderful experience and we are looking forward to taking more groups of young adults in the future! If you would like to participate in the next trip or know a young adult who might be interested, please have them email baart@stanthony.cc This experience reminded us that we are all part of one Church, one family in Christ. As we return home, we carry not only memories but a renewed mission: to continue building bridges of encounter, both with our Peruvian family and within our own community. Here are a few thoughts from some of the young adults who participated in this mission trip: “It was an amazing experience to be able to help in the various ways we did. From building homes, to donating food and clothes, to playing soccer with the kids. I’m extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to help the Peru community.” “The pictures and stories we hear at St. Anthony’s don’t do this experience justice, and being here in person is much more eye opening. The people were incredibly kind, and I’ve made memories I’ll remember forever.” “My trip to Peru was an unforgettable experience that taught me a lot about gratitude, giving, and patience. My favorite moment was on the first day delivering food to families where I got to see the living conditions of the people we were there to serve. It truly opened my eyes to the impact of my role in this mission trip.” “I will absolutely be returning to Piura to continue my service and reconnect with the wonderful people I met here, and I would recommend this trip to all people, especially the younger generations who are looking to start getting involved with the parish community” Evan R: I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to participate in this mission trip. It was an incredible eye-opening experience that I would especially recommend for anyone in our own community. The Peruvian people were incredibly thankful for all of our service and the donations from our St. Anthony on the Lake community! Peter G: This mission trip was an opportunity that I’m very glad to say I didn’t pass up on. It was an amazing experience to be able to help in the various ways we did. From building homes, to donating food and clothes, to playing soccer with the kids. I’m extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to help the Peru community. Graham H: Traveling to Peru was truly an eye-opening experience that cannot be put into words. The hospitality, people, and experiences have created countless memories, and I will cherish my time in Piura forever. Colin R: I’m blessed to be able to go on this trip, and it’s truly something difficult to put into words. The pictures and stories we hear at St. Anthony’s don’t do this experience justice, and being here in person is much more eye opening. The people were incredibly kind, and I’ve made memories I’ll remember forever. Marc S: After spending this past week in Peru, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the trip again. From the food, to meeting the incredibly kind people, to experiencing the culture, and to most importantly the service we accomplished, time and time again we were blessed enough to have seen the life that this place is so full of. It was an amazing experience and one we’ll all cherish for the rest of our lives! Clara G: Being on this mission trip was such an eye-opening experience. The community of people here is so amazing, and everyone is so loving and kind. One of my favorite aspects of the trip was meeting and hanging out with the children. I would 100% recommend this trip to other people as it was truly amazing to interact with our sister parish that we hear so much about! Macy O: My trip to Peru was an unforgettable experience that taught me a lot about gratitude, giving, and patience. My favorite moment was on the first day delivering food to families where I got to see the living conditions of the people we were there to serve. It truly opened my eyes to the impact of my role in this mission trip. I would without a doubt recommend this trip to not only adults but high school students and young adults as well as it is an incredibly important opportunity to serve others as God created us to do so. Grace P: Spending the last week on this trip to Peru was an extremely eye-opening experience. From finally meeting the amazing family I sponsor through the Church, to dancing with children at the women’s home, to delivering food to different homes in the Piura community, I was blessed with an amazing opportunity. This experience taught me gratitude, opening my eyes to the importance of appreciation and igniting a whole new realm of the meaning of happiness. I will absolutely be returning to Piura to continue my service and reconnect with the wonderful people I met here, and I would recommend this trip to all people, especially the younger generations who are looking to start getting involved with the parish community. The people of Piura have so much love, compassion, and joy to share with us, and I am beyond grateful that I was granted this opportunity. Henry O: Fr. Joe mentioned how Fr. Tony and himself talked about the importance of showing us, the youth, what they have done for the community here since we are the ones who will decide how involved we continue to be, as a parish, in the future. It is something you have to see and experience for yourself to understand the impact we have on each individual and their community here in Piura. William F: Seeing how close the parish community was involved with the families and how they were involved with Christ in their life was a heart touching experience. I am so grateful to all the staff at Santisimo Sacramento and all the families that sponsor families here in Peru as you make a huge impact on their lives. The partnership with St. Anthony has built nursing homes and trade schools here in Piura and the service that my group did would not have been possible without St Anthony on the Lake and Father Tom and Padre Joe, who started this program over 25 years ago. This Is something I would recommend to all seeking to pursue God’s will because seeing the joy and empathy of our Peruvian families was uplifting and inspiring.