Sports VBS 2016: In It To Win It!

I'm all in.  I thought you, the reader, might be interested in the process of developing a VBS program. Boot Camp came about when we decided to go back to basics, just what does it mean to be a Catholic  Christian?  We arrived at Greatest Hits when I told my friend, Louise, I thought we should do stories from the Hebrew Scriptures and she had the title and decided it should be a film with a movie theme.

So what about In It To Win It?  Louise wanted to do a VBS with sports.  The idea sounded fun and St. Paul has loads of references to athletes.  My son, Fr. Josh, said that St. JP II had written a letter about the value of sports.  So I checked.  Guess what?  Many popes have written about the value of sports!  We're good!  Right now, the main points are the cardinal virtues, corporal works of mercy, and maybe the Beatitudes.  It's still developing.  I have a lot of reading to do.

In the back of my mind, I'm also working on a funny script for the video.  Our VBS begins each day with a brief video newscast to set the stage--right after prayer and cheers, of course.  Two young friends, Elijah and Luigi, have been doing the video the past seven years.  (Last year they won $400 for an original film at WVU.)  Last Chance Luigi and Easy Out Elijah are going to through out a bunch of sports cliques: no I in team, team work makes the dream work, etc.

Lastly, here are the notes I have as I go along.  Here's hoping (and praying) this helps you develop your VBS program.

Sports Camp VBS: In It To Win It!

Jesus

Miracles: Stories and Bible Stories about miracles

All Star Saints and All Star Catholics

Team work makes the dream work.

Blessed Pier Georgio

St. Sebastian

St. JP II

1. Slam Dunk!  Be a strong athlete for Christ.  Nothing but net!

2. Field Goal!   Be a faithful, courageous witness to His Gospel.  Go team!

3.  Home Run!  Persevere in prayer.  Hit it out of the park!

4.  Spike it!  Train in virtue.  Kill!

5.  Go for Gold!  Follow the divine Master in everything.  (Jubilee Sports, Oct. 29, 2000)

      

Apache by Bongo

Warm-ups, drills, skills, games, Cross training! Plays! Technical and tactical skills, competition, scrimmages

Javelin and tumbling mats

Shot put with softballs

Discus with frisbee so

Balance board

Broad jump

High jump

Hurtles

Running races

Timed runs

Run for faith

Archery

White Stripes: Seven Nation Army

Referee shirts with whistles for teens and adults

Manliness talks from NET: Strength under control with Soccer analogy.  It is strength under control when you kick the ball with precision and strength, not wildly erratic or out of control

Monday: Catholic Athletes: Virtues of Sports are Honesty, Meekness, Charity, Humility, Moderation, Purity, and Good Sportsmanship

Tuesday: Coach fosters Cardinal virtues

Wednesday: Champions of Faith!  Be players, not spectators!  What is a virtue?  Cardinal and corporal virtues: Martyrs and Saints

Thursday: Practice: Self control, team-work, perseverance, sacrifice

Friday: Olympics!  Play like you Practice!  

Sports as a means of living and teaching the Catholic Faith

Evangelization and Catechesis

1. Faith with Sports as an analogy

2. Process of evangelization: True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

3. Foundation of Faith

4. Practice!  Witness!  Discipline!  Training!  Focus!  Character!

5. Develop a routine and regular devotions such as Chaplet of Divine Mercy or Rosary

6. Go on the road!  Get in the game!  Live out the faith.  Put what you practice to the test, just as athletes compete.

6a.  Players not spectators

7. Keep your eye on the prize.

8. Virtues of Sports: What are virtues?  Cardinal virtues?  Corporal virtues?  Virtues outlined by St. John Paul II?

How to connect self-control, team work, perseverance, creativity, tenacity, self sacrifice?

Catholic Athletes for Christ: Ray McKenna

evangelization through sports

http://www.appleseeds.org/Athletics-Sports_Resources.htm

http://www.laici.va/content/laici/en/sezioni/chiesa-e-sport.html

Can we adapt sports cliches to faith practices?

We need typical band songs at football games like Apache

Www.mikesweeney.org

Champions of Faith: film of major league players and their faith

All stars

Olympians

NFL coaches who are Catholic

Go for Gold

Saints in Training

Win it!

Book Six Eusebius' Ecclesiastical: "Athletes of Religion". Saint Leonides (202)

http://tomperna.org/2013/09/20/holiness-in-the-sports-complex-three-athletes-and-their-catholic-faith/

http://catholicexchange.com/sports-and-the-catholic-faith

http://sportsfaithinternational.com/uploads/FaithonField_OSV.pdf

Evangelization and Sports

Preparation and practice both for sports and faith: certain analogies

Integrity of the person: safeguard body and soul

Unity of Body and Soul: Unity of Faith and Fun!

John Madden and Yogi Berra for sports cliques.

Discipline and disciple

Gather both bible verses, athlete quotes, and quotes from Popes JPII, Bendict, and Francis

1946 Pope Pius XII and sports quote

St. JP II the Great 2004 synod?

Pope Benedict

Pope Francis: Engage the culture!

Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck

Mike Sweeney

Justin de Fratus

Ray McKenna

Morales: DVD Champions of Faith: Watch and distribute

Sister Mary David Taplan

Patrick Griffin 

Amy McMahon

Grant Desme: Norbertines

Fr. Michael Lightner

Manchester United Phillip Mulryne: Pontifical Irish College

NFL : Phillip Rivers

http://www.catholicathletesforchrist.org/speakers-bureau/speaker-bios/

 Best Answer:  VBS Cheer: Run, run, run, the race! Keep, keep, keep the pace! Run the race Keep the pace. Keep your eyes on Jesus! 


Exodus 20:8-11

Skills, Drills, Game

Fr. Justin: The quarterback can launch a perfect spiral aimed directly at the receiver.  If the receiver is distracted, out of position, or doesn't have his hands up, he won't catch it.  Jesus is sending us a perfect spiral!  Are we catching it.

We will praise you! Tune is we will rock you.  

Jesus was a cool dude, forty days without food...