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Queen of Angels Catholic Church celebrates Pandamania vacation Bible school

Though Austin Catholic Parishes held vacation bible school for 180 kids this week, many more than just children walked away with a sense of accomplishment.

Eighty-five helpers were also among the children in this week’s Pandamania Bible School at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Many of the helpers were high school students and those who have returned from college for the summer.

Stephanie Maus was one of those volunteers.

“I’m really into God and just helping the kids,” she said.

She helped with vacation bible school two years ago, and her experiences brought her back — not just her volunteer experiences, but her memories participating in the bible school, too.

Maus said she’s experienced how vacation bible school breaks down scriptures and makes them easier for children — and makes learning fun, too.

This week, children at Queen of Angels learned about the Bible through hands-on activities, where teachers dressed up as figures from the bible, dressed up as animals, such as pandas, and transformed areas of the church into biblical settings. By making teachings more visual, volunteers were able to teach kids as young as preschoolers. The teaching method grasped children’s attention, according to Maus.

“It’s huge,” she said, and added vacation bible school was a big reason she returned to her church. Maus said it’s easy for kids to be pulled away from the church, but having people to look up to help them retain faith. Because kids often look up to teenagers, the bible school keeps them coming back.

“I think it has a huge affect,” Maus said. “That really tells them it’s for all ages.”

Vacation bible school offers Maus a bonus, as well. She’s studying elementary education in college, so vacation bible school offers her some extra experience before she enters her career.

Keri Flahive, youth director for Austin Catholic parishes, coordinates the hands-on bible school every year. Though she’s the director, she stands back and lets the youth interact and learn from each other.

“It’s fun to see the teenagers interacting with these little kids,” she said.

To close this year’s vacation bible school, members held a giant picnic for family members, where kids shared what they learned throughout the week.