Thursday, 02 August 2012 11:30

Faithful invited to the ‘crawl’ until Aug. 25
Parishioners of St. Vincent DePaul in Andover traveled back to the ’60s the weekend of July 14-15 at their third annual Catacomb Crawl. This year the crawl celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Twelve exhibits highlight some of the Council’s major contributions.
There are exhibits that appeal to every age. A favorite among the slightly older crowd are the scrapbooks reviewing the historical events leading up to the council, some of the notable people who attended, and some of the behind the scenes action.
Sister Kathy Vasselli’s ever popular cards are back; this year featuring famous quotes from Vatican II, which Sister Kathy has artistically rendered and offered for reflection. Children may play “church” at each of three displays: The Church at Prayer, The Church at LIFE, and The Church at Service. All ages will enjoy the “Celebrate” exhibit, which sports a revolving altar showing pre and post Vatican II liturgy and the, “See With New Eyes” exhibit, which shows how liturgy can incorporate the cultures of a universal Church.
Several of the exhibits are interactive. Folks can help build a 3-D puzzle of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the council was held, or reach out to others in the spirit of the Council by helping to make a simple quilt for a teen in need.

SVDP’s pastor, Fr. Kent Hemberger, said “Visitors to the exhibits will get a taste of the history of Vatican II and a sense of the themes that emerged from the Council, but my hope is that people will also find some things to inspire them which they can apply to their lives today.”
The catacomb crawl is created each year by the parish’s LIFE design team, as a faith formation experience for the whole parish. The exhibits are open to the public each day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., whenever the building is open until Aug. 25.
Everyone is invited including non-parishioners and people of other faith traditions.