Vacation Bible School 2026 – Foundation in God

LeoAugust 2, 2026VBS
Vacation Bible School 2026 – Foundation in God

by Venista Dharmaraj

Hosted by the RTP Tamil Catholic Association, the 2026 Vacation Bible School welcomed 53 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade for a joyful week of faith-filled learning, fellowship, and fun under the theme “Foundation in God.” Through Scripture, prayer, songs, crafts, and interactive activities, the children learned that God created us, Jesus is our Savior, the Holy Spirit is our guide, forgiveness brings healing, and God’s blessings follow those who strive to live like Christ.

The VBS program was organized into:

  • Four Elementary School classes, focusing on Creation, Salvation, the Holy Spirit, Faith, and Forgiveness.
  • Three Middle School classes, exploring God’s Power, the Resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Forgiveness, and the Beatitudes.
  • One High School class, encouraging deeper reflection on Scripture, Christian discipleship, and living out the Gospel in everyday life.

To build identity and community, each class was named after inspiring biblical figures. The Elementary classes were John, Peter, Matthew, and Luke; the Middle School classes were Jonah, Daniel, and Elijah; and the High School class was Enoch.

Throughout the week, students explored Bible stories, memory verses, and real-life applications that deepened their understanding of God’s love and encouraged them to build their lives on the firm foundation of Christ. They grew in biblical knowledge, faith, character, friendship, and a desire to follow Jesus each day.

The week concluded with a joyful Grand Finale on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, featuring performances, crafts, memory verse recitations, a pizza party, and special gifts and prizes for all the children.

by Nirmaala Francis

Heartfelt thanks to Venista for leading VBS 2026 for the second consecutive year. We truly appreciate your dedication and hard work in making VBS a meaningful experience for our children.

A special thank you to our teachers—Auxilia, Benita, Crescenta, Mano, Maria, Mary, Raji, and Susan—and to our Board representatives, Mike and Monicka, for your commitment and support.

Sincere thanks to all our volunteers for making VBS 2026 a wonderful success. God bless all our RTPTCA families!

2026 RTPTCA Lenten Retreat

LeoAugust 2, 2026Retreat
2026 RTPTCA Lenten Retreat

The 2026 RTPTCA Lenten Retreat was held on March 14, 2026, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Durham, under the theme “Step Forward into a Deeper Connection with God.” The day brought our community together for prayer, reflection, and renewal. For the first time in RTPTCA, distinct Leadership, Family, and Women’s Retreats were held, allowing each group to reflect on its unique calling and responsibilities.

Leadership Retreat
The Leadership Retreat, the first of its kind for RTPTCA board members, began with a hymn and prayer invoking the Holy Spirit. Centered on Stewardship, Fr. Vimal Backyaraj reflected on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) and reminded the ministry leaders that they are not owners, but faithful stewards of God’s mission. He urged them to care responsibly for the organization’s mission and resources so they may serve future generations.

Father emphasized servant leadership, leading by example, collaborative decision-making, unity, and mutual trust. He reminded participants that effective leadership depends not only on vision and strategy, but also on humility, integrity, and character.

He concluded with the words:
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is God’s gift.”

He challenged everyone to use that gift wisely and reminded us that we are all merely “karuvi” (tools) in God’s hands. God’s work will continue through His people—if not through us, then through someone else.

Family Retreat
The Family Retreat focused on reconciliation with God and the transforming power of His Word. Fr. Vimal reminded families that sin weakens our relationship with God and that we can discern His will only by spending time in His presence through prayer and Scripture.

He called everyone to seek God’s forgiveness, forgive one another, and become living examples of faith for their children. Through Scripture, the witness of the saints, and prayer, families were reminded that God’s Word heals, transforms, and brings lasting peace to receptive hearts.

A powerful reminder echoed throughout the retreat: our children learn not only from what we teach them, but from the lives we live every day.

Women’s Retreat
The Women’s Retreat, the first of its kind in RTPTCA, was embraced with great enthusiasm and became a deeply meaningful experience for all who attended.

Fr. Vimal reflected on the glory of Mount Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured before His disciples in the presence of Moses and Elijah, and the Father’s voice proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son.” He then led the women to Calvary, where the same Lord, wounded and rejected, prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

By connecting these two sacred moments, Father reminded everyone that true glory is never separated from sacrifice. He also reflected on the unique vocation of women as the heart of the family—called to nurture faith, preserve unity, and pass Christian values to the next generation.

The retreat offered women a grace-filled opportunity to place their concerns about children, family life, and daily responsibilities before God, and to face life’s challenges with wisdom, patience, hope, and faith.

The 2026 Lenten Retreat became a memorable milestone for RTPTCA, inspiring every participant to grow closer to God, deepen their faith, and renew their commitment to serve Christ, their families, and the community with joyful hearts!