CBS Advanced Year Planning 2016-17

We're only halfway through the academic year, but it's time to put in place the elements of next year's programs--like course scheduling, for example.

Students currently studying in Year 1 will most likely have their Year 2 class at the same place and time as this year, but  all students in Year 2 and 3 of their studies will be combined into Advanced Year classes that have to be carefully put together in a well-reasoned way to allow everyone to continue with their studies without excess hardship.

It is my habit to elicit input from next year's Advanced Year students (that is, this year's Year 2 and 3 students) through a survey. An email invitation containing a link to the online survey was sent yesterday to all students affected. Another invitation was sent by post to those students for whom we don't have an email address on record. You should receive the postal version in the next day or two.

But if your survey invitation does not reach you for any reason, please use the following link to reply to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJLP2M5. OR call Jill Costa at the OREE (860) 242-5573, ext. 2670 to have a paper copy mailed to you by post.

Surveys must be completed by March 1, 2016. Please do NOT reply more than once to the survey.
Your input will only be recorded once.

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.

NOTES on next year's courses:

Next year’s Advanced Classes will be studying the Green Curriculum, also known as CBS 300 or Year Three. Even though some of you may be starting your fourth year of study, this is the correct class for you to enroll in. The material covers the exile and restoration period of Israel’s history and focuses heavily on the prophetic literature and the psalms. Syllabi are available at www.orehartford.org.

Teacher assignments have not and cannot be determined at this time. You can change your preferences based on teacher assignments any time before August 1st.

Jubilee Year of Mercy #whatsinitforme

We Americans always want to know, "What's in it for me?" Of course, in this case it's an ironic question--being merciful usually involves overlooking "what's in it for me."

Still, it's a fair question. What's "in it" for you is to become fully who you are by devoting yourself to being the presence of Christ on earth. That's the long answer. The short answer is "eternal life."

Unfortunately, though, the consumer mindset of our American culture makes the short answer seem like something to be earned or won--first prize for the "best" Christian.

The long answer is much better (truer), but harder to understand because it involves a paradox--namely, the central paradox of the gospel: cross and resurrection. The long answer suggests to us that we are "in it" to give, not to get. But what we "get" is the same as what we give--the life of Christ, fully present in ourselves, in our communities, in our world--forever.

(To be clear: When I say we give this, I really mean that we get to be part of this gift, which is from God, through Christ and Christ's Church.)

Here are some websites and resources to help us all "get it" more fully than ever before:

Archdiocese of Hartford website at http://archdioceseofhartford.org/year-of-mercy/ 

Steve Binz is leading pilgrimages to Rome for the Year of Divine Mercy. To see what Binz has to offer, check out his presentation on Mercy in the Old Testament on Catholic Life Television: http://www.catholiclifetv.org/shows/merciful-like-the-father/old-testament/#.VpqB5vkrL4Y

One-Day Lenten Retreat:  "MERCY:  What God Gives and What God Requires," led by Amy Ekeh, CBS faculty. To find out more and register, go to: http://www.ascjus.org/calendars/item/index.aspx?linkid=27816&moduleid=164 

St. Thomas Seminary's Archbishop O'Brien Library (http://stseminary.org/library-main.html) has many resources available to help you pray and live the gospel of Mercy this year. For example, check out these titles in the Pastoral Resources for Living the Jubilee Year series, put out by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization:

• The Psalms of Mercy
• The Parables of Mercy
• The Saints in Mercy
• The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
• Confession: the Sacrament of Mercy

Susan Lewis, RIP

Susan Dennen Lewis, CBS Class of 2011, died a blessed death on Friday, December 25, 2015 at her home with family by her side. She was 85 years old at the time of her death.

Susan's devotion to Christ and the Church was immediately apparent both in her studies and in her relationships in the Biblical School from 2007-2011. She commuted weekly from Simsbury to Cheshire, despite failing health at the time. Susan's love of Scripture was clearly demonstrated in the way she proclaimed God's Holy Word at both St. Mary's in Simsbury and St. Mary Star of the Sea in Unionville.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, December 29th at St. Mary's Church in Simsbury. Please visit Susan's "Book of Memories" at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.

Some information for this Blog Notification was drawn from The Hartford Courant, Dec. 27, 2015. See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?pid=177039939#sthash.jR2IF6zC.dpuf

Inclement Weather is Nigh

All CBS students are reminded that it is their responsibility to check each week for any cancellation notifications that might be in effect for your class. A notice of cancellations will be posted at least two hours in advance of your class if we need to cancel for any reason. Do not rely on receiving an email from the office or from your teacher, as these may be delayed during inclement weather conditions.

Students may check online for official notification at http://www.stsregistrar.org/cgi-bin/CBS/cbsstudentlogin.pl . Be sure you have your access password before you need it! Jennifer McClintock at the OREE, can assist you with that, if you are having trouble logging in (860-242-5573).

Students who do not have access to the internet are requested to call the CBS Direct Line at (203) 880-4807 to get a voice mail message with the latest information. Finally, the OREE can also be called during regular work hours (860-242-5573, ext. 2670).

Remember too, that cancellations will be made based on the locations of the class and the teacher. If conditions differ at your location, keep yourself safe. You should talk to your teacher directly (at the next class) to let them know what happened.

Bundle up and stay safe, my friends! BJ

Class Cancellation This Week

Attention all Advanced Years (Year 3 and 4) students:

The Tuesday evening class at Caritas Christi Center (with Fr. Donahue) will not meet on January 5, 2016. Homework for both lesson 2.4 and 2.5 will be due at your next class meeting, January 12.

Blessings for a Holy and Happy New Year!

For others, Christmas is now over. Trees begin to appear curbside as they await the chipper.

But as Christians, our Christmas continues and is lived throughout the year. We know that Christ lives still. As we move through Ordinary Time toward Lent, we might also imagine some other "firsts" in the life of Jesus: his first steps and his first words; his first tooth and later his broken smile as his permanent teeth make way for grown-up needs. We might imagine him with young friends in Nazareth, smiling and growing and learning as a teen and into young adulthood.

And finally, we imagine him teaching, preaching, owning his deepest identity as Son of God and Savior. We remember his gruesome death and his glorious resurrection. And we await his coming among us by becoming ourselves his presence on earth.

Peace on Earth to All,

From BJ and the Catholic Biblical School, 2016