Vacation Bible School
“To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love, For it is in giving that we receive. . .”
~ from The Prayer of Saint Francis
Vacation Bible School at Holy Cross Parish!
What is Vacation Bible School?
Each summer, our Holy Cross community spends a week with children, teens, and adults sharing songs, crafts, games, acting, and prayers as we learn about our Catholic faith. Children are in small groups led by our amazing teens and they move through stations during our mornings, experiencing Christ in music, crafts, games, and story. We learn passages from the Bible, we meet new saints each day, and we grow closer to one another as we build our community.
No Vacation Bible School 2022, but we've got you covered!
Join us for Family Faith Fun!
We won't be having a full VBS this summer, due to COVID-19 and our limited parish gathering space. We want to keep you and your families healthy and happy, so we aren't hosting the usual VBS for a full week.
But, we want to continue to provide you with resources to enrich your family's summer!
Families can gather in person at Holy Cross for three family events this summer:
June 12
July 6
August 14
Each gathering lasts from 10 am to 1 pm.
Please join us for the whole time or for whatever segment your schedule allows.
Come to Mass with us on June 12 and August 14, and all throughout the summer!
Each gathering is FREE and is filled with games, songs, skits, and more!
Please RSVP with Andrea Swanson if you'd like to join us: aswanson@archdpdx.org All are welcome!
At-Home Faith Resources for Your Family
In addition to these gatherings, our Vacation Bible School page here is filled with resources for you and your family! Please use all of the videos and resources below to guide your family in lots and lots of faith activities throughout the summer!
If you would like to take a photo of your family completing one or more activity, we would love to share these images with our community! Please send images to our Director of Religious Education, Andrea Swanson, at aswanson@archdpdx.org. If you have your own ideas for crafts, games, prayer activities, skits, etc., please email Andrea at the above email address!
May your family's summer be filled with FAITH and FUN!!
Bible Story Videos:
Saint Videos and Coloring Pages:
- Saint Focus: St. Veronica video
- Saint Focus: St. Thomas the Apostle video
- Saint Focus: St. Kateri Tekakwitha video
- Saint Focus: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati video
- Saint Focus: St. Teresa de los Andes video
- Saint Focus: St. Bonaventure video
- Saint Focus: Sts. Anne and Joachim video
Games:
- GAME.TrinityTag
- GAME.SaintSaintJesus.VariationOnDuckDuckGoose
- GAME.FeedingTheGiantGoliath
- GAME.SprinklerJump
- GAME.Follow the Disciple
- GAME.Building Church
- GAME.JesusMIssionWalk
- GAME.BibleTreasureHunt
- GAME.PopeFrancisSays
Crafts:
- CRAFT.PrayerJars
- CRAFT.RainbowsOfGodsPromise
- CRAFT.FamilyHandprintCelebration
- CRAFT.NatureCollage
- CRAFT.Mosaic Chalk Art
- CRAFT.Cross Fingerprint Craft
- CRAFT.Stained Mason Jar Candle Holders
- CRAFT.Blessing Wreath
- CRAFT.FamilyAffirmationBags
- CRAFT.The Lords Prayer Bracelets
Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda Videos:
- Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda: "Great Things Happen when God Mixes with Us"
- Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda: "What Makes Love Grow?"
- Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda: "Only a Shadow of Your Love for Me"
- Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda: "I've Got the Joy Down in my Heart"
- Sing Along with Ashley and Amanda: Greatest Hits (all songs together!)
Our Past VBS Songs:
- Holy Cross VBS Theme 2017 "God is Good"
- Holy Cross VBS Theme 2018 "He is the Light"
- Holy Cross VBS Theme 2019 "My God is Powerful"
- VBS Favorite "Power Shuffle"
- VBS Favorite "I Have a Friend"
- VBS Favorite "I Sing the Mighty Power of God"
- VBS Favorite "Stand Firm"
Fun Snacks:
Please continue to check on this website throughout the summer.
We will keep on adding material for you!
If you're interested in helping to add material to this site, please contact Andrea Swanson at aswanson@archdpdx.org.
Our Holy Cross Community having Summer Faith Fun!!
Learn more about Holy Cross's past Vacation Bible Schools. Click here!





Questions? Contact Andrea Swanson at 503-206-8069 or at aswanson@archdpdx.org.