Look up! If you see a plane flying gracefully in the sky with possibly some doves trailing it, Sloan and Beau may very well be on it. At the start of this week, they punched their tickets for a Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer.

This summer, Sloan and Beau are taking off from the St. Mary Airport on the Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer.

It is that time of the year—Catholic Summer Camp! For the fourth time since we moved to Spokane, our family is involved with St. Mary Catholic Church’s spectacular twist on vacation bible school. However, this year our involvement doesn’t extend to just one camper. Beau is making his camp debut as he joins Sloan for what has already been a memorable camp.

Sloan and Beau have loved putting on their camp shirts the past few days as they hop on the radical ride of prayer.

But if you have followed my past posts on Catholic Summer Camp (here, here, and here), you already know that this week-long adventure can’t be anything but memorable. When you have the world’s best vacation bible school director, you really can’t expect anything less. Marie Bricher makes sure the campers receive the complete VBS experience with music, skits, snacks, and games. She also takes themes to complete extremes (in a good way) and she has outdone herself once again by transforming the St. Mary gym into the St. Mary International Airport.

The St. Mary gym in the Spokane Valley has been transformed into the St. Mary International Airport.

However, there is something more important than the fun activities and clever theme—yes, I am talking about the content. This summer, it is all about prayer. Throughout this week, Sloan and Beau are learning more about prayer and how to put it into action (as Fr. Jeff Lewis says, “Just pray, baby!”). Each day, they are “flying” on the wings of prayer to a different country to learn about a specific type of prayer and a saint native to the nation they are visiting.

Upon entering the St. Mary International Airport, you naturally have to go through the metal detector.

Whether it be Lectio Divina, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or just quiet contemplation in Eucharistic Adoration, these kids are learning a lot and growing spiritually. And this is absolutely crucial because let’s be honest: our society is anti-prayer. It has become popular to discredit and shun “thoughts and prayers” as worthless. People are so impatient and misinformed that they feel prayer is useless if if doesn’t end in an immediate miracle.

At the opening kickoff for Catholic Summer Camp on Sunday, a large contingent of saints “flew” into St. Mary International Airport to be part of the festivities. Camp volunteers stand on the gym steps with photos of these holy men and women.

Try telling that to the campers at St. Mary. I can tell you that they will be moving mountains in front of the blessed sacrament tomorrow.

Marie Bricher is making sure Sloan, Beau, and the rest of the campers know the power of prayer. Her love for a theme even extends to the pilot hat she is wearing.

But off my soap box and back to St. Mary International Airport. You seriously have to see inside the gym. Campers check in for their flight, walk through a metal detector, and find their airline. A large plane constructed by 8th grade teacher Kevin Schultz hangs from the ceiling. Aviation-themed photo backdrops are affixed to the walls. Sloan and Beau made their own carry-on bags and were issued passports. There is even a baggage claim where the kids can put their lunch boxes!

St. Mary School 8th grade teacher Kevin Schultz created the centerpiece airplane that hangs in the gym.

With the week more than halfway over, the radical ride will start making its initial descent soon. The final physical destination will be a Friday afternoon picnic lunch for all campers and families on the St. Mary blacktop. The ultimate destination? Well, Heaven of course. And if there is one thing that Marie Bricher and her volunteer staff has taught the 120+ campers this week, it is that prayer does provide some powerful fuel for that journey. Don’t Blink.