Camp, VBS, family vacations, sleep overs, swimming, lazing around. What do your kiddos do during the summer? Do you ever get to the point where you are so sick of hearing them complain about the heat and boredom you want to scream? Do your summers seem to fly by with all the activities you do or do they creep by, because there aren’t enough activities to keep your kids occupied?

These are two extremes that most of us fall into the middle. Sometimes we are so busy, we can’t remember the last time we just spent the day at home hanging out. Sometimes, those four walls drive us completely crazy. In our Texas heat, it is hard to make the kids stay outside all day…we don’t want to be in the heat, why should they? But, the pool isn’t always an option either. So what can you easily do to keep them busy without camping them out in front of the TV or video games?
Well, VBS is a wonderful option. Not just ours, either. You can do the VBS circuit! When I was a kid, the Catholic churches in my hometown didn’t have VBS, so Mother sent us to the Lutheran church down the street, the Baptist church our neighbor was pastor at, the Episcopal church we belonged to (Mother is Episcopalian), the Methodist church my best friend went to, etc. I remember for a fact that I learned the Noah Arky-Arky song at the Lutheran church and I learned the books of the Bible at the Baptist church. I may not remember much else, but I have great memories of being in loving environments that taught me that Jesus loves us all, no matter what church we go to. Since I attended Catholic school, I had a good sense of what my faith taught and I saw similarities when I went to those other VBS programs. It was fun, different, and my mother got us out of the house enough during the summer months that she didn’t have to hear us complain about boredom so much.

If you work fulltime and don’t know what to do with your young children, then call LaPS here at St. Anthony. They have a fulltime summer program to take advantage of! Richard, Kathy and the staff will be happy to have your kids hang out and learn a few things in the process!

I'll work to put up a craft or activity to do with your kids each week to go along with the Saint of the Day or Liturgical Feast, too. So, you can keep up with their Faith Formation. And don't forget to pray daily with your family!

If you have older kids who have outgrown VBS, then look for ways to get them together with friends. We’ll be holding a few JSAY nights in the summer for 7-8 graders to hang out, play games, eat, listen to music together and maybe watch a movie. Keep updated on these through the website and the JSAY Facebook group.

Above all, keep coming to Mass. That weekly “checkup” with our Lord is important all year. If you are on vacation, look for a church nearby and go. It’s great to be able to attend a strange church and find inside the familiar sacrament. Jesus tells us to “Do this in memory of me.” Not only at home, during the school year, but always, everywhere. We belong to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. The Mass in Denver is the same as the one here. The Mass in Orlando is the same as the one here. The Mass in Paris is the same as the one here. The Mass in Nicaragua is the same as the one here. If you cannot find a Mass (http://www.masstimes.org/ ), then at least pray with your family the scripture that is prescribed for that Sunday that you are unable to attend. Make a spiritual communion with your family. Keep holy the Sabbath day.