• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Vacation Bible school campers give a thumbs-up during snack time July 27, 2021 at Immaculate Conception School, Towson. (Brooke Mosca/Special to the Review)

Vacation Bible School back and thriving at Immaculate Conception in Towson

July 29, 2021
By Brooke Mosca
Catholic Review
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

TOWSON – Immaculate Conception Parish in Towson resumed hosting its annual Vacation Bible School, after taking off 2020 due to COVID-19.

While attendance was lower than previous summers with 65 campers during the week of July 26-30, new VBS leader and Coordinator of Religious Education Kristen Mumaw was more excited than ever to help attendees grow in their faith from across a table, rather than through a computer screen.

Vacation Bible school campers dismiss after a day of faith sharing and fun activities July 27, 2021 at Immaculate Conception School, Towson. (Brooke Mosca/Special to the Review)

An Immaculate Conception parishioner for 10 years, Mumaw has taught Sunday school and in sacramental prep programs. She began her new role as coordinator of religious education in November 2020 during the height of COVID-19, and was thrilled to again serve her parish in a face-to-face setting.

Vacation Bible school campers make their own science projects during Imagination Station July 27, 2021 at Immaculate Conception School, Towson. (Brooke Mosca/Special to the Review)

“I really pushed to have it (VBS) in person,” said Mumaw, adding that she was willing to follow whatever protocols necessary to give children the opportunity to get out of their homes and share in their faith together.

Many community members shared that desire and were eager to volunteer at VBS.

Among those 36 volunteers was Evan Mumaw, 17, Kristen’s son. He spent two years as a camper. This was his sixth as a volunteer, and he wore his passion for the program on his sleeve.

“It’s special because I’m helping kids learn about God and showing them how important it is to love God,” he said.

Deedy Macdonald, a nine-year volunteer at Immaculate Conception’s VBS, shared that she and her eight children used the absence of VBS last summer as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle. The Macdonald family got creative by attending outdoor adoration and drive-through confession at St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel. 

While Macdonald was grateful to expand her family’s faith horizons in different ways, she was glad to return to the halls of Immaculate Conception’s middle school for VBS. Her involvement included four of her children also volunteering. 

“VBS was always a way that I could volunteer with them,” she said.

Father Joseph Barr, who served at Immaculate Conception from 1982 to 1988 and returned as pastor in 2010, noted that the children seemed especially hungry to engage with each other this summer.

Lindsay Wilk, 20, leads scripture story reenactments with vacation Bible school campers July 27, 2021 at Immaculate Conception School, Towson. (Brooke Mosca/Special to the Review)

“There’s more enthusiasm from the children,” Father Barr said.  “I think they appreciate even more what they didn’t have.”

Though COVID-19 safety procedures were in place, such as social distancing and smaller group sizes, the usual VBS spirit was still very much alive. The children participated in faith-enrichment activities throughout the days, including interactive Scripture-sharing during Bible Adventures and educational videos during Kid Vid. They also were given time to make their own fun during Imagination Station and play games outside with one another.

Mumaw emphasized that the goal of VBS has always been to bring God into the daily lives of the children and ensure they are having fun while doing so. Though VBS looked slightly different this summer, Mumaw and her team of volunteers made sure that this still held true. 

“It’s really important for the kids to be with other kids who believe the same things that they do,” Mumaw said. “And it’s fun, so they’re going to make memories that will last forever.”

Also see

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Men’s religious leaders confront change with fraternity and faith

Sister Rose Sylvia Lindner, S.S.N.D., dies at 91

Radio Interview: The true story of ‘Xavier Rynne’

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Brooke Mosca

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary

  • Warsaw archbishop ‘devastated, crushed’ by priest’s arrest in brutal murder of homeless man

  • Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

  • Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

  • Conference of Major Superiors of Men Men’s religious leaders confront change with fraternity and faith

| Latest Local News |

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Men’s religious leaders confront change with fraternity and faith

Sister Rose Sylvia Lindner, S.S.N.D., dies at 91

Radio Interview: The true story of ‘Xavier Rynne’

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

| Latest World News |

Catholic leaders ICE

Report on alleged conditions at ICE’s Florida detention sites prompts Catholic leaders’ call for change

RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-meeting

Pope Leo meets with top Russian Orthodox cleric amid war, strained relations

new york city shooting

‘Never get used to violence,’ says NY cardinal after mass shooting in building near St. Patrick’s

Massacre ‘of faithful in the house of God’ in Congolese Catholic church leaves 43 dead

Pope welcomes young people to Rome for jubilee, thanks media for promoting truth

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Report on alleged conditions at ICE’s Florida detention sites prompts Catholic leaders’ call for change
  • Pope Leo meets with top Russian Orthodox cleric amid war, strained relations
  • ‘Never get used to violence,’ says NY cardinal after mass shooting in building near St. Patrick’s
  • Men’s religious leaders confront change with fraternity and faith
  • Sister Rose Sylvia Lindner, S.S.N.D., dies at 91
  • Radio Interview: The true story of ‘Xavier Rynne’
  • Massacre ‘of faithful in the house of God’ in Congolese Catholic church leaves 43 dead
  • Pope welcomes young people to Rome for jubilee, thanks media for promoting truth
  • Cardinal Tomasi: Religious communities can play key roles in nuclear disarmament

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en