DUNMORE – From making colorful necklaces and singing songs for Mass to learning about God’s gift of creation, children participating in this year’s Vacation Bible School in Dunmore discovered that faith is best experienced together.
Held June 15-19, 2026, on the grounds of Saint Rocco Church, the weeklong program welcomed children from Saints Anthony and Rocco Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, just days before the two communities consolidated into what is now Saint John Paul II Parish.
Guided by teen and adult volunteers, campers rotated through music, craft, Bible stories, outdoor games, and hands-on activities, all centered around this year’s rainforest theme.
For Avery Shivock, who will enter fourth grade this fall, this summer marked her final year as a Vacation Bible School camper before she hopes to someday return as a volunteer.
“There are a lot of fun activities here,” Shivock said. “You make new friends and learn new things. It’s really nice.”
Among her favorite activities is the craft station, where campers created colorful necklaces on the opening day.
“You learn how to be helpful; you learn a lot about the Bible. There is a great variety,” she added.
Many of the volunteers guiding the young campers once stood in their shoes.
“I’ve been doing this camp since I was a little girl and now helping at it is a great experience,” high school volunteer Mollie Urban said. “I honestly love being able to help the children. It’s very fun and I love seeing the smiles on their faces.”
Anna Polishan, a senior from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, helped lead the music sessions, teaching songs the children would later sing during the closing Mass of Vacation Bible School.
“I want the kids to know that faith doesn’t have to be boring,” she said. “It can be fun and it can be joyful, and I think music is a really great way to do that.”
Throughout the week, children learned that God is present in every moment of their life.
Fifth-grader Grace Markovich said one lesson especially stayed with her.
“We learned that God is with us when we’re sad, happy, sick. He’s always with us, no matter what,” Markovich said.
For Sister Donna Cerminaro, M.P.F., Director of Religious Education, seeing former campers return as volunteers each year has become one of the program’s greatest blessings.
“We have been doing this for about 15 years,” she said. “We have many volunteers. In fact, our leaders are high school kids and seventh and eighth graders. They keep on coming back every year. They just walk through the door and say, ‘I am here to help.’”
Sister Donna loves to watch the program continue to bear fruit year after year.
“I hope they have a better understanding of God and a better understanding of the Bible,” she said.