Hartford Catholic Biblical School

Biblical Concert Event

2012-02-13T16:44:00.000-05:00

Ernani Domingos, CBS Class of 2015

Vocalist Ernani Domingos will perform "A Musical Journey Through God's Word," featuring works by classical and contemporary composers set to biblical verse, on Saturday, February 25.

The concert will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel at the Archdiocesan Center at Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. Domingos will be accompanied by pianist Miguel Campinho.

Currently a student at the Catholic Biblical School at the Archdiocesan Center at Saint Thomas Seminary, Domingos says his courses inspired him to develop this concert. He and his accompanist, Campinho, are established musicians.

The concert is being sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School, Office of Religious Education, and the Archbishop O'Brien Library, Saint Thomas Seminary.

To let us know you are coming, contact the Office of Religious Education at 860-243-9465, ext. 2670 or email jcosta@orehartford.org. A free-will donation of $10 is suggested. Light refreshments will follow the concert.

Submitted by Maria Zone, Archdiocese of Hartford

Save the Date!

2012-02-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

April 28, 2012, 9:30 am-noon, St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield:

The Resurrection Body According to Paul and his Successors. Intended for Biblical School graduates and others with background in the New Testament, Dr. Adela Yarbro Collins of Yale Divinity School will be our speaker.

Hartford Biblical School in U.S. Catholic

2012-01-31T16:44:00.002-05:00

Two recent Hartford Catholic Biblical School graduates are featured in the most recent issue of U.S. Catholic magazine, a major Catholic monthly with a national audience.

The article explores adult faith formation programs and their impact on Catholic ministries. It describes CBS as one of "a new generation" of formation programs "that are having a significant impact both on parishes and other Catholic institutions, as well as on the lives of those who enroll in them."

Barbara Evans (Class of 2010), is quoted in the article saying, "From the moment I walked into the [CBS class]room, I knew that's where I was meant to be.... I couldn't get enough." Kathi Bonner (also Class of 2010) adds, "It's not for the faint of heart, [but] I loved it, I loved every minute."

As over 300 graduates attest, the Catholic Biblical School is challenging but fun--and incredibly inspiring.

Left to right: Theresa Vincenzo, Claudette LaChance and Sr. Heather Deneen. Class of 2014

Leslie Scanlon is the author of the U.S. Catholic article, "Off the Corporate Ladder: Working for the Church," which you can read in full (for a limited time) by clicking here.

February News in Faith Formation

2012-01-31T15:55:00.003-05:00

Looking for a "boost" to your faith? Adult faith formation may be exactly what you're looking for. Find out what's available through the Archdiocese (some of it, right in your neighborhood) in the January newsletter, ORE Connections. Click here to explore.

Celebration of Sacred Scripture

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Save the Date:

March 25, 2012 Celebration of Sacred Scripture

12:30-4:30 pm "Is Natural Disaster God's Punishment for Sin?"

"Coffee And" Begins at Noon

Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary

Bloomfield, CT

Open to the public, our 2012 “Celebration of Sacred Scripture” features Sr. Dianne Bergant, senior professor at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union.

HCBS Grads Living and Leading in God’s Word

2012-01-13T15:56:00.004-05:00

Ms. Mary Laureno, Class of 2000
Confirmation Coordinator
Saint Bernard Parish
Tariffville, CT

Catholic Biblical School graduates bring the Word of God to catechesis in a way that stirs and inspires children, youth, and adults alike.

Mary Laureno is no exception. Mary coordinates and teaches in St. Bernard's two-year confirmation program, where she helps form teenagers in the faith and invites them to encounter God's Word in Sacred Scripture. "I want students to be comfortable reading the Bible," she told me this week. The parish provides students with their own Bibles to encourage students to make Scripture an indispensable part of their adult faith life.

St. Bernard Church

Mary will be expanding her evangelizing ministry at St. Bernard Parish next year as a presenter in their Christian initiation program (RCIA), teaching about the Old and New Testaments to adults coming into the Catholic faith for the first time.

Geography Tasks Revised for Oxford Atlas (Adv Year)

2012-01-11T13:55:00.000-05:00

Students in the Advanced Year of the Biblical School (St. Thomas Seminary CBS 400) who are using the Oxford Atlas to complete Geography Tasks will find the following table to be of assistance. Thanks to Jay Pershing, Class of 2012, for putting it together.

Here are the page numbers of the appropriate maps for each lesson in Unit Two:

ADV YEAR UNIT ONE	OXFORD ATLAS PAGE NUMBERS
II.1	128 (Nineveh)
II.2	128 (Persian Empire)
II.3	128 (Ecbatana in Media)
II.4	124 (Babylonia and the land of Chaldea)
II.5	Use the Oxford index to trace the events in 1Maccabees 5
II.6	133 (Idumea, Beth-zur, Joppa, Jamnia, Modein, Gilead) 72 (Carnaim/Karnaim)
II.7	78, 85, 100, 105, 114, 124-125, 128-129, 146 (Places mentioned in Judith 1:1)
II.8	124 (Babylonian Empire)
II.9	67 (Susa)

Jonah: A CBS Student Poem

2012-01-03T10:03:00.001-05:00

There is a part of me—
    inside of me—
    that is Jonah.

A part of me that God loves so
                            very much
    and that loves God so
                            very much
    but that runs away to Tarshish so
                            very often
    because going to Ninevah seems so
                            very difficult.

But as I get closer and closer to Tarshish
    The water gets
        very unsettled and
              very unsettling—
    And I fight the waves and billows
        all the more—
    but I know
        all the while
    that I am being
              very blind
        and I feel
              very empty.

I know that I cannot go to Tarshish
        though I try
              very hard.
    So I long for the day,
        for the grace to say
        very often:
    “Throw that part of me overboard
           and then the sea will be calm!”
    Throw that part of me overboard
            into the
              very Hands of God.

By Sr. Doretta D’Albero, ASCJ (Class of 2013)

A New Year in Faith Formation

2012-01-03T02:12:00.000-05:00

What's happening in the Biblical School, adult spirituality, catechist enrichment, youth ministry? It's all here in the January newsletter, ORE Connections. Click here to explore what's happening this month in faith formation in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that JOY is the noblest human act. Have a very joyful holiday, and don't forget to continue the festivities through the entire Octave of Christmas (at least!).

Magi Text Gives Another View of the Christmas Story

2011-12-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

The Bible tells us very little about the magi, those mysterious visitors “from the east” who come to Jerusalem looking for the child whose star they observed “at its rising” in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. After meeting with King Herod the magi follow the star to Bethlehem. There, upon seeing the baby Jesus and his mother Mary, the magi worship him, presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then they return to their own lands, never to be heard from again.

Questions about the background and personalities of the "wise men" (NOT kings) have fired the imaginations of Christians for over two millennia. Many have shaped new narratives to answer the fundamental question, “Who were the magi?” My favorite, written by Henry Van Dyke in 1895, is called The Other Wise Man.

But much earlier someone—whose identity remains unknown—wrote an apocryphal account of the traditional Christmas story that is attributed to the magi themselves. The Revelation of the Magi has been recently translated into English by Brent Landau, professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, and is preserved in an eighth-century manuscript held in the Vatican Library.

The staff of the Biblical Archaeology Society describes the writing in this way:

"In the Revelationof the Magi, there are not just three magi, as often depicted in earlyChristian art (actually, Matthew does not tell us how many there were), nor arethey Babylonian astrologers.... Rather ... the magi (defined inthis text as those who “pray in silence”) are a group—numbering as few as 12and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics from a far-off, mythical landcalled Shir.... They are descendants of Seth, the righteous thirdson of Adam and the guardians of an age-old prophecy that a star ofindescribable brightness would someday appear 'heralding the birth of God inhuman form.'

"When the long-prophesied starfinally appears, the star is not simply sighted at its rising, as described inMatthew, but rather descends to earth, ultimately transforming into a luminous 'star-child' who instructs the magi to travel to Bethlehem to witness itsbirth in human form. The star then guides the magi along their journey,miraculously clearing their path of all obstacles and providing them withunlimited stamina and provisions. Finally, inside a cave on the outskirts ofBethlehem, the star reappears to the magi as a luminous human child—the Christchild—and commissions them to become witnesses to Christ in the lands of theeast."

To find out more about The Revelation of the Magi, click here.

Course Instructor Change: Year 2

2011-12-20T08:58:00.000-05:00

Congratulationsto Fr. Aidan Donahue for his appointment as pastor at St. Mary Parish inMilford, CT beginning January 9, 2012. Fr. Donahue has taught in the Biblical Schoolsince its beginnings and promises to continue as part of our faculty for theforeseeable future. (Thanks be to God!)

Hisrelocation to the southern part of the Archdiocese does, however, change Fr.Donahue’s availability to teach in certain northern locations. So beginning inJanuary, Fr. Donahue will no longer be teaching the Year 2 class in Bloomfieldon Wednesday nights. He will, however, continue teaching the Year 2 class inCheshire on Monday nights.

Weare pleased to announce that Deacon Robert Pallotti will take over for Fr.Donahue in Bloomfield. Dr. Pallotti joined the regular Biblical School facultythis year and will become the permanent instructor for the Year 2 class onWednesday nights, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Bloomfield.

Biblical School Schedule

2011-12-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

Biblical School students will enjoy an extended Christmas break this year. Classes will reconvene (God willing and the creek don't rise!) in the new year during the week of January9-13, 2012. For details, check your CBS academic-year calendar or go to www.orehartford.org and click on“Calendar” at the top of the page. (Feel free to contact Jill Costa forstep-by-step instructions for accessing the CBS online calendar.)

O Antiphons: Prayers for December 17-23

2011-12-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

For more information to help you pray the O Antiphons this year, click on the image above, or cut and paste this URL into your web browser: http://www.rc.net/wcc/antiphon.htm.

HCBS Grads Living and Leading in God’s Word

2011-12-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

Ms. Kathi Bonner, Class of 2011
Director of Religious Education
Saint Catherine of Siena Parish
West Simsbury, CT

We all know that the Sunday readings each week give us a "snapshot" of Holy Scripture. Week to week, these passages of God's Word come together to create a kind of mosaic of Scripture, drawing us more deeply into relationship with God's Word Become Flesh, Jesus the Christ our Savior.

This Advent, some parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Parish have been enjoying an even wider view. Under the guidance of Kathy Bonner, their parish catechetical leader, these adult learners have been exploring more deeply the rich Lectionary readings proclaimed each Sunday of the season.

Kathi holds the Certificate in Advanced Biblical Studies, awarded by Archbishop Mansell through the Office of Religious Education and St. Thomas Seminary. Her four years of study have provided the skills and knowledge needed to place the Sunday readings into conversation with the scriptural books of which they are a part and with the Bible as a whole.

"The adults who come to gather each Wednesday are so enthusiastic and open to learning," Kathi tells us. "I just love it! It gives me renewed purpose."

Hundreds of graduates and students of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School are involved in ongoing ministries in their faith communities throughout Connecticut and even around the world. If you are, or someone you know is, a CBS graduate who helps others to encounter God's Living Word, we want to hear about it! Send a descriptive paragraph to BJ at cbs@orehartford.org.

December News in Faith Formation

2011-12-08T12:52:00.001-05:00

What's happening in the Biblical School, adult spirituality, catechist enrichment, youth ministry? It's all here in the December 2011 newsletter, ORE Connections. Click here to explore what's happening this month in faith formation in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Discerning the Presence of God (Part Two)

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Knowing how to act in a morally challenging situation can be confusing. Even the holy writers of the books of Scripture sometimes offer conflicting advice about how the people of their times should act in a given historical situation.

Daniel in Lion's Den

The Book of Daniel, on the one hand, advises believers not to take action against persecutions of the Emperor Antiochus IV but rather to trust completely in the power of God to deliver the faithful from their oppressors. The Books of First Maccabees and Judith, on the other hand, encourage believers in this same thorny situation to take action--even violent action when necessary--against their persecutors. And the Book of Esther suggests a kind of "middle course" between these teachings.

Which advice is "right"?

The Old Testament teaches that what is "right" in any situation becomes known by the wise through discernment of God's presence and God's call within the situation itself. And it teaches that wisdom and discernment come only through living a life in right relationship (covenant) with God. This right relationship includes abiding in a deep love for and respect for Creator and all creation (and not just the community of faith). It is only if we come to know God intimately, seeking out God's presence in our every moment, that we will come to understand what God is requiring of us within our every moment.

Of course, moral behavior is expected and taught emphatically in the Old Testament. Morally evil actions are never considered "good," in the Bible, though they may sometimes be justified.

But there are loads of times when we are required to choose between more than one morally good course of action. Right now, should I be writing this blog post or clearing off my messy desk? Both are morally good things to do. I have to decide, moment by moment, "What is the most loving action for me to take?" (My desk can wait...again!)

St. Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers in the Society of Jesus many important principles for helping discern what God is requiring of us from day to day. But that's food for another post!

Discerning the Presence of God (Part One)

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

This winter, advanced students in the Biblical School are studying the post-exilic period of the Old Testament. We've been talking about how different biblical books show faithful Jews as responding in a variety of ways to the Hellenization ("Greek-izing") of Judaism in this time period.

"The Book of Jonah" observed one student, "Recognizes the value of all human life, Jew and Gentile alike, while other books, like Tobit, encourage Jews to remain as separate from foreign cultures as possible. Why is that? Doesn't the Bible teach us God's will?"

The Bible shows us human beings in communities of faith seeking to discern God's presence in their lives. God's presence, according to the Old Testament covenant, is found in right relationship with God and others. (Right relationship is translated in English Bibles, misleadingly, as "fear of the Lord.")

That is, the Old Testament urges us to know better our Creator and ourselves if we are to live in right relationship (covenant), and that the sign of this right relationship is "awe and respect" (translated misleadingly in English Bibles as "fear of the Lord.") before God.

In biblical times, the choice between holding fast to one's faith sometimes meant separating the community from what were seen as harmful influences in the dominant cultures (like Persian, Greek and Roman cultures). At other times believers were called to a "3 R" approach:

recognizing God's presence in the dominant culture,
reaching out to share the faith community's wisdom with these others, and
realizing what wisdom might be found in the other, new perspective.

And it's possible that, at the very same time and place, what is the best course of action (the best act of love) for one group or individual might not be the best course of action for another.

In the Old Testament, even apparently "conflicting" teachings (like those in Jonah and Tobit) are all considered sacred and inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is up to the faithful, with the guidance of the Church, to discern the meaning of each and how to live the Word of God day by day.

(And, of course, the Biblical School is designed to help you in the process!)

Cancelled: A Festival of Lessons and Carols

2011-11-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

St. Mark's is experiencing difficulties with church maintenance that have, sadly, required the cancellation of their annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.

Proverb for Today

2011-11-27T14:58:00.000-05:00

"Multitasking is the enemy of mindfulness."

(Remember to submit to BJ your favorite proverbs for publication any time!)

With Thanksgiving to God

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

The prayer that I say (sing, actually) every single day for the Hartford Catholic Biblical School—for students, faculty and administration, colleagues in other Biblical Schools and at Paulist Press, and Archbishop Mansell himself—is a prayer of thanksgiving in song, recorded by the Monks of the Weston Priory in their album, "Go Up to the Mountain." (Click on the link to order the song from their website.)

On this Thanksgiving Day, I wish to share this prayer with you, my friends:

With thanksgiving to God our prayer is
Always filled with profound joy for you
When we think of the strength you are for others
And letting God live in you with such beauty and truth.

May your faith become strong in God's Word,
Certain land having been planted in you:
Thirst for wisdom and sensing Spirit's presence,
A life within, deep instilled, will inspire others' joy.

May God's Spirit of Peace be with you,
Living sign of the love that you share;
May your homes be filled with goodness and caring,
A place where there's no difference between stranger and friend.

May God's Presence be what you offer
As you welcome each other this day;
Simple kindness the bread of our lives,
A word of peace, a gentle mood, is God's gift to be shared.

Amen my friends, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Advent Prophets—An Exploration into God's Word

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

The prophetic literature contains some of the most spiritually rewarding material in the Old Testament. At the same time, the prophets pose a number of unique challenges to those who read them and encounter them in the liturgy. In this lecture, Dr. Harry Nasuti, Professor of Old Testament at Fordham University, will explore some ways of experiencing the power and beauty of these important texts. The lecture will pay particular attention to the prophetic readings that play such a significant role in our liturgies during the Advent season.

Time: December 11, 2011, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (“Coffee and” at 12:30)
Place: The Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary
RSVP to Jill Costa by Fax or Email: 860-243-9690 or jcosta@adh-ore.org

Biblical School graduates, their guests, and other parish and archdiocesan leaders are invited to attend an afternoon designed for ongoing growth in understanding God’s Word. There is no fee for this program. It is essential, though, that all participants register with the Office of Religious Education by Friday, December 2, 2011.

Inka Peczerski, 1931-2011

2011-11-21T11:08:00.001-05:00


J. Inka Peczerski 1931-2011

Our dear friend Inka, a 2011 graduate of the Catholic Biblical School, has been called to new life in Jesus this week. We celebrate the dynamic spirit she brought to everything she did and we mourn our own loss. We keep Inka and her children and grandchildren in our prayers. We will miss you, Inka!

Here are some thoughts from two of her classmates:

I was shocked to read this.... Last year when Inka and I visited with dying former classmate, Pauline Goulet who passed away on Oct. 30, 2010 from pancreatic cancer, I wonder if Inka knew of her own condition? (Nancy Stimac, Class of 2011)

This is very sad. (Maureen Brouillard, Class of 2011)

Obituary Notice:

J. Inka (Hoffmann) Peczerski, 80 of Hartford, beloved widow of Roman J. Peczerski, died peacefully after waging a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer, Wednesday, (November 16, 2011) at her home. She was born in Lodz, Poland and had lived in Hartford since 1961. Mom was a lifelong learner and after raising her children she got her undergraduate degree in German from Central Connecticut State University and then a Masters in Library Science from Southern State College. She just finished a four year program in Bible Studies. She worked most of her career with Monsanto. She loved to travel and spend summers at her summer home on the coast of Maine. She was a flower enthusiast and a member of the CT Rose and Dahlia Society. She is survived by her son, Thomas Peczerski and his wife, Anna of Cottage Grove, WI and two grandchildren, Patrick and Natalia; her daughter, Teresa Baldwin and her husband, Kevin of Hebron and three grandchildren, Matthew Baldwin and his wife Tracy, Marc Baldwin and his wife Amanda, Peter Baldwin and his wife Mary Kathryn; great grandchildren, Mial, Sebastian, and Kayla Baldwin; her brother Harry Hoffmann and his wife Charlotte of Toronto, Canada and their daughter, Karen.

The funeral was held on Monday, November 21 at 10:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, 494 New Britain Ave. Hartford. Burial will be private. There will be no visiting hours.... To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com.

CBS Recommends—Advent Weekend Retreat

2011-11-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

"Of Angels, Magi, Shepherds and Kings"

The Infancy Narratives in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

Saturday & Sunday

December 3, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & December 4, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

The Christmas creche is the most familiar visual icon of the Christmas story. Its origins can be traced to the tableau that Francis of Assisi arranged at Greccio in 1223. For centuries it has remained the main vehicle for conveying the Christmas story to believers and unbelievers alike: Angels announce the birth of God’s son from on high, while Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are visited in a stable by shepherds at the bidding of an angel and by Magi at the leading of a star. Ironically, the creche scene mixes details from the two Gospel accounts (those of Matthew and Luke) into a single scene, which makes it difficult for modern audiences to hear the distinct message of each evangelist regarding the significance of Jesus’ birth. The two Gospel stories have different characters, different themes, and different theological and spiritual perspectives. During this weekend workshop, we will read and discuss the two Gospel stories separately to highlight the distinct contour and message of each, and look at how some of the main characters and themes from these stories were developed in later Christian centuries.

Presenter: Paul Sansone studied Scripture at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and has been involved in adult faith formation for many years.

Suggested Offering: $20.00; includes lunch on Saturday
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 29, 2011
To register, please call St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church at 860-756-4034

Do not contact the Catholic Biblical School office. This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School but is an authorized make-up for certain requirements towards archdiocesan certificates in biblical studies.

Urgent Notice for ALL CBS Students

2011-11-02T11:01:00.002-04:00

All CBS classes have been cancelled for the week of October 31-November 4, 2011.

Several Catholic Biblical School campuses, including the St. Thomas Seminary home campus, are without power, and downed power lines continue to make travel unsafe for most Connecticut residents.

"Snow relays" for all CBS classes have been activated, but bear in mind that many telephones (including the CBS office phone) are not in service. Students and grads should make every reasonable effort to contact their small-group members. If a phone number is out of service, please skip ahead on the phone tree, calling the next person on the list--but please also continue, at intervals, to try to contact the individual you've skipped.

In preparation for classes next week (November 7-11, 2011), all students need to prepare Lessons 1.8 and 1.9 in their student workbooks, and should bring both these homework assignments with them to class next week.

Faculty members have agreed to cover both the missed lesson (1.9) and conduct a review of the Unit material next week. Unit "memory exercises" will take place as previously scheduled, November 14-18, 2011.

As indicated on the CBS calendar (online at http://www.orehartford.org/), no classes are scheduled during the Thanksgiving holiday week, with the exception of the Year 2 class on Monday, November 21, at Epiphany Parish in Cheshire. Classes will then resume November 28, 2011. (God willing.)

St. Thomas Seminary Archdiocese of Hartford

Certificate in Biblical Studies Catholic Biblical School

Ten books on the shelf ...

2011-10-25T11:53:00.000-04:00

Bookshelf, by Colin Thompson

CBS students and grads are always asking me to provide book recommendations. Although I can't seem to find time to blog on the subject, I found this excellent listing of "Ten Books on the Shelf" of Walter Brueggemann in Sojourners magazine.

To see Brueggemann's review of each book,click here:

And here's the "short" version:

1. Job, part of the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series (Smyth & Helwys, 2006), by Samuel E. Balentine

2. The Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder (Oxford University Press, 2010), by William P. Brown

3. The Arrogance of Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire (Fortress Press, 2008), by Neil Elliott

4. The Ten Commandments (Interpretation commentary series; Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), Patrick D. Miller

5 In Apocalypse against Empire: Theologies of Resistance in Early Judaism (Eerdmans, 2011) Anathea E. Portier-Young

6. From Faith to Faith: Essays on Old Testament Literature (Harper & Brothers, 1955), by B. Davie Napier

7. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (Fortress Press, 1979), by Brevard S. Childs

8. The Tribes of Yahweh: A Sociology of the Religion of Liberated Israel, 1250-1050 B.C.E. (Orbis Books, 1979), by Norman K. Gottwald

9. The Prophets (Harper & Row, 1962), by Abraham J. Heschel (a staple of Year 3 in the Biblical School)

10. The Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, and Historical Criticism (Westminster John Knox Press, 1993), by Jon D. Levenson

Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933) is a retired Old Testament scholar, prolific author, and professor emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. An advocate and practitioner of rhetorical criticism, Brueggemann has authored more than 58 books, hundreds of articles, and several commentaries on books of the Bible. He is also a minister of the United Church of Christ.

ORE Leader to Receive Award

2011-10-19T10:45:00.003-04:00

The Biblical School has been profoundly blessed by the ministry of Patricia A. Keck, M.A., Assistant Director in the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Hartford. "Behind the scenes," Pat has smoothed the way for developments that have enhanced the experience of students and graduates in the Biblical School, including our recent accreditation and the addition of new continuing education programs for CBS grads.

Thank you, Pat, and congratulations on receiving Fordham University’s Sapientia et Doctrina Award (Fordham’s motto for wisdom and knowledge) for Service to the Renewal of the Church.

The ORE staff will be joining Pat's family and friends to honor her at Fordham this Friday evening, October 21.

"Keck’s path to receiving this award is rather unexpected," as Maria Zone, Communications Director for the Archdiocese, writes. "For twenty years, Keck worked in the corporate world as a director of management information at Aetna Life & Casualty, where she developed impeccable organizational skills and the ability to set goals and get things done. She never contemplated a career in religious education. As it turns out, the same skill set has served her well as Assistant Director in the Office of Religious Education. She supervises a large staff of professional religious educators, including RCIA, Catholic Biblical School, Adult Lay Ministry Formation, Catechist Formation, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Catholic Scouting, and Catechesis for Hispanics.

"Keck says working in religious education has fulfilled her life. When she worked in corporate America,
the salary was lucrative, but the work lacked purpose. She recalls the Christmas in 1991 that changed the course of her life. She wanted to do something meaningful, and she decided she would help a family in need over the holidays. She thought that the best way to accomplish this goal was to go to a church. She picked St. James Church in Rocky Hill, because it was near her home.

“'I didn’t belong to the church, I just knocked on the door and handed a check to this nice, young priest, and I literally said, ‘here’s a check, go help someone,’ and I left.'

"The Rev. Michael J. Motta (now Monsignor Motta) was the priest who greeted Keck. Intrigued by her, he followed up their brief encounter with a phone call.

"Little did Keck know that this chance meeting would catapult her second career and transform her life. She became a member of St. James Parish, and later Monsignor Motta encouraged her to take the position of Youth Ministry Coordinator in the Office of Religious Education, where he was the director. In that role, she organized an archdiocesan pilgrimage for World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado. Several years later, she was promoted to Assistant Director, and will be celebrating her 20th anniversary with the office in 2012.

“'Monsignor Motta saw in me this predisposition toward pastoral ministry that I didn’t even know that I had. I am grateful to him, and I am glad to call him a mentor, my boss and a friend.'

"In addition to a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, Keck has a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College.

"She will receive the Sapienta et Doctrina Award on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University, Bronx, NY.

New Series: HCBS Grads Living and Leading in God's Word

2011-10-17T11:15:00.000-04:00

Hundreds of graduates and students of the Biblical School are involved in ongoing ministries in their faith communities throughout Connecticut and even around the world. If you are, or someone you know is, a CBS graduate who--by their lives and activities--helps others to encounter God's Living Word, we want to hear about it! Send a descriptive paragraph to BJ at cbs@orehartford.org.

Living and Leading in God's Word #1

Nancy Stimac (Class of 2011)
Mary and Lawrence Galarneau (Class of 2010)
St. Mary, Windsor Locks

For the past couple of years, Nancy, Mary and Larry have facilitated a Centering Prayer group at their parish. During this time, they've been fortunate to have the pastor, Fr. O'Grady, sponsor severalcontemplative prayer workshops offered by the renowned retreat master, Fr.William Sheehan, OMI, who was recently at St. Mary Parish to introduce theancient prayer practice called Lectio Divina.

One of the principalways to develop receptivity to God's Word in the Bible, Lectio DIvina teaches us to deeply listen and hear; tospontaneously respond; and then to consent and surrender to the indwelling of Christ, God's Word, within us. St. Mary parish was blessed with 40 attendees at this workshop, a number of whomwere CBS grads and students.

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School encourages Lectio DIvina as a way of praying in conjunction with formal Bible study.

CBS Recommends—“Hearing the Lord’s Gospel ...

2011-10-11T09:49:00.001-04:00

... Hearing the Gospel’s Lord,” A Day of Reflection at St. Thomas Seminary

Romans 10:17 says, “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” With this biblical writing in mind, the Pastoral Department of Small Christian Communities (SCC) of the Archdiocese of Hartford is sponsoring a day of reflection called, “Hearing the Lord’s Gospel, Hearing the Gospel’s Lord.” It will be held on Saturday, October 29, at the Archdiocesan Center at Saint Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave, in Bloomfield from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Brother Robert K. Moriarty, S.M., will lead the conference in prayer, reflection and conversation.
He is a member of the Marianists and has directed the SCC since 1989.

The workshop is $15, which includes lunch. To register, call 860-761-7450. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 19.

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School but is an authorized make up for certain requirements towards archdiocesan certificates in biblical studies.

Year Two Class Scheduling Alert

2011-10-08T12:56:00.000-04:00

If you are in Year Two of the Biblical School, please note that Fr. Donahue's class in Cheshire (Epiphany Parish) will NOT be meeting on November 28, as previously scheduled.

Instead the class will meet on November 21 (the Monday before Thanksgiving). The material covered in all other CBS classes during the week of 11-28 through 12-2 (Year 2 Unit 2 Lesson 2) will be covered (for Fr. Donahue's class in Cheshire only) on 11-21.

If you have questions, please call Jill Costa at 860-243-9465, ext. 2670.

Post Your Own Proverbs!

2011-10-05T12:28:00.001-04:00

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School wants to post your original proverbs.

Successful entries will be written in the biblical style of the Book of Proverbs but will incorporate contemporary elements that address lived spirituality for today.

Within the limits of the editor's time and imagination, all suitable entries will be posted in this blog with a by-line (so please include your full name, as you prefer it to appear, with your proverb). Entries will not be returned or acknowledged, but successful proverbs will be posted on this blog.

Inspired by CBS Year Four Optional Challenge #1.3. Have fun with it!

And here's an example, by third-year student (and CBS resident rapper--see April 2010), Margaret (Marj) Hurley:

Better than glib promises are commitments honorably kept.

Email yours to: cbs@orehartford.org. Contemporary (and of course "clean") imagery and language encouraged!

Echoes of Canaanite Concepts in Biblical Language

2011-10-03T11:05:00.003-04:00

Biblical School graduates, their guests, and other leaders in parish and archdiocesan ministries are welcome to register (by October 7, please!) for this seminar exploring the mythological background of our biblical texts:

Ruins at Ras Shamra

When: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 9:30-noon

(Sign in and "coffee and" begins at 9:00)

Where: St. Thomas Seminary, Room 2A

(Click here for directions.)

Presenter: Mr. Paul Sansone, life-long biblical educator

Since 1929 when the first Canaanite (Ugaritic) texts were found at Tel Ras Shamra in northern Syria, a steady stream of publications has made us aware of the religious beliefs of the people who wrote these texts. The people of Canaan shared a common culture with the people of Israel. These writings shed light on the religious language of the Old Testament (and indirectly on some important New Testament imagery).

During this session, we will discuss examples that illustrate how the biblical authors drew on their cultural background to forge a rich and textured language about God (including various divine titles used in the Old Testament) and God's interaction with human beings. We will also consider how these cultural forms of expression influenced Israelite worship and look at some of the theological debates presented in the Old Testament through the lens that this language provides us in order to gain a better understanding of the biblical authors' meaning and message.

Survey: Young Adults and the Bible

2011-09-29T14:46:00.001-04:00

"If there were a monthly discussion group that met to talk about how the Bible could connect to our everyday lives as young adult Catholics, would you be interested in attending?"

Leigh-Ann at CBS graduation 2009

This opening to a ten-question survey gets to the heart of Leigh-Ann Hammond's new ministry project. A 2009 graduate of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School, Leigh-Ann is working with the Office of Religious Education to identify and develop a faith community of young adults interested in learning more about the Bible.

The survey identifies interest in a Bible-based discussion group among young Catholic adults in Connecticut between the ages of 21-39.

If you are 21-39 and this idea appeals to you, click here to take the survey.

Or if someone you know might be interested in developing this kind of faith community of young Catholics, email this blog to them by clicking on the envelope icon where it appears below.

Melinda Scollin (Class of 2010) Presents...

2011-09-27T10:58:00.000-04:00

A Free Concert to Raise Awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease

As part of their journey of healing, professional musicians Melinda Czerkawski Scollin and Gregory Czerkawski present classic religious and secular pieces, including "There is a Balm in Gilead"; Faure’s Pie Jesu; and DeBussy's Claire de Lune.

When: Sunday, November 13, 2011, 3:00 PM
Where: The Church of St. Aedan, 112 Fountain Street, New Haven

As Melinda says, "So many of my Biblical School companions helped me survive my journey with my Mom's Alzheimer's. This I will never forget."

Click here for directions to the Church of St. Aedan.

"If this is Catholic teaching, how come I've never heard it before?"

2011-09-21T17:30:00.003-04:00

A recent article in America magazine points out that "according to many studies, Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans," despite the best efforts of the Catholic Biblical Schools all over the country and their graduates, who bring biblical literacy into ever-wider circles.

And, as the author explains, contemporary Catholics continue to be "shocked at [for example] the suggestion that the first and second chapters of Genesis did not contain literal, historically accurate accounts of creation." Biblical literalism (or fundamentalism) is well and flourishing in our nation.

I recommend this interesting and accurate (in my experience) article by Brian Pinter, who is the director of campus ministry at Regis High School in New York and a graduate student in Bible at The General Theological Seminary in New York City.

Follow this link to read more: http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=13002

CBS First-Year Class Meetings Changed

2011-09-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Please note the following two schedule changes:

Bloomfield, CT: Mondays, 7:00-9:00 pm, St. Thomas Seminary (moved from Sacred Heart Parish beginning Monday, Sept. 19). Instructor: Ms. Marcia Franko, MA.

No class in Milford, CT

If God Had Texted Moses (10)

2011-08-31T15:19:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 10: You shall not set your desire on ... anything that belongs to your neighbor. (NIV Dt 5:21b)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Geography Tasks Revised for Oxford Atlas (Year 1)

2011-08-25T10:36:00.003-04:00

For the convenience of CBS first-year students (or graduate auditors) who choose to use the Oxford Atlas in their studies, BJ provides the following amendments to the Geography Tasks in the workbook lessons, indicated below by Unit and lesson number (e.g., I.1 refers to Unit one, lesson one).

***NOTE that one or two lessons include slight alterations to the tasks themselves because of differences in the maps provided.***

In each workbook lesson, replace the words Hammond Atlas with the words Oxford Atlas and replace the given page numbers with the following page numbers from the Oxford Atlas:

Unit and Lesson #	New page numbers and text (when applicable)	Unit and Lesson #	New page numbers and text (when applicable)
I.1	Oxford Atlas p. 78 (No modern-day map for comparison)	I.6	Oxford Atlas p. 78
I.2	Oxford Atlas p. 78	I.7	no change
I.3	Oxford Atlas p. 78	I.8	no Geography Task
I.4	Oxford Atlas p. 78, “identify three (not four) of the deserts through …”	I.9	Oxford Atlas pp. 78 and 72 (No modern-day map for comparison)
I.5	Oxford Atlas p. 78. Do not try to locate Marah, Elim or Rephidim on this map.

II.1	Oxford Atlas p. 72, 78 and 100	II.6	Oxford Atlas pp. 66-67, 72 and 84-85
II.2	Oxford Atlas p. 78	II.7	Oxford Atlas p. 72
II.3	Do not complete this geography task	II.8	Oxford Atlas p. 72
II.4	no Geography Task	II.9	Oxford Atlas p. 78
II.5	Oxford Atlas pp. 66-67, “find the mountainous region named in Genesis 8:4.”

III.1	Oxford Atlas pp. 84-85 (questions “a and b”), p. 100 (“d”) and Boadt, p. 204 (“c”)	III.6	Oxford Atlas p. 92
III.2	Oxford Atlas pp. 84-85	III.7	Oxford Atlas pp. 92 and 105
III.3	Oxford Atlas pp. 84-85	III.8	Oxford Atlas p. 105
III.4	Oxford Atlas p. 85	III.9	Oxford Atlas pp. 110-11 and 124-125
III.5	Oxford Atlas pp. 92 and 100

Intro to Scripture and the Catholic Biblical School

2011-08-22T10:52:00.000-04:00

St. Gabriel Parish, Milford, CT

On Thursday, August 25, BJ will be with the people of St. Gabriel parish in Milford to introduce the Catholic approach to the Bible. From 7:00-8:30 pm in the Ministry Center, students who are interested in learning about God's Word can come, meet other folks with similar questions and interests, and find out some of the basics about how Catholics understand the Bible.

Information about the Archdiocesan Catholic Biblical School will be available for anyone interested in pursuing this approved and nationally recognized program of study.

St. Gabriel is located at 26 Broadway, Milford, CT. (It's on the beach.) For driving directions click here: http://www.archdioceseofhartford.org/cgi-bin/directions.pl?textdata=192

If you or someone you know feels drawn to deeper devotion to the Word of God, you are invited to attend this introductory session. Hope to see you there!

Geography Tasks Revised for Oxford Atlas (Adv Year)

2011-08-17T10:23:00.007-04:00

Thanks to Jay Pershing (Year 4 student in Bloomfield) who has coordinated page numbers for the Oxford Atlas with Geography Tasks in the first Unit of the Advanced Year.

I encourage any student who wishes to provide similar information for the other curriculum years to send the info to me, and I will post it for others to use.

Here is the table he prepared:

ADV YEAR UNIT ONE	OXFORD ATLAS PAGE NUMBERS
I.1	78 (Egypt), 105 (Israel), 159 (Mesopotamia)
I.2	30 (Mean annual rainfall & temperature)
I.3	100 (Massa - North Central Arabia)
I.4	110 (Edom & Syria, 125 (Chaldea)
I.5	110 (NW Arabia or Edom), 138 (Shuah), 110 (Teman)
I.6	No geography task
I.7	138 (Alexandria, Egypt)
I.8	92 (Lebanon), 92 (Hermon), 105 (Engedi), 105 (Jericho)
I.9	72 (Sodom, Gomorah, Admah, Zeboim, Zoar)

If God Had Texted Moses (9)

2011-08-15T15:16:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 9: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. (NIV Dt 5:21)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

CBS Recommends—An Imaginative Word

2011-08-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

"The flourishing of Christianity depends upon us touching people's imagination. The good news will only come alive in people's minds and hearts if it transforms how we see the world and each other." Timothy Radcliffe, OP

Wisdom House and Fairfield University presents "An Imaginative Word," a retreat that will help you to connect with God's Word in imaginative ways. Friar Timothy Radcliffe will be giving this weekend retreat at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, CT on September 23-24, 2011. Commuters are welcome; overnight accommodations are also available.

Cost runs from $30 to $165, depending on what portions of the program you choose to participate in and whether you will be staying overnight at the retreat house.

To get more information go to: www.wisdomhouse.org, call 860-567-3163, or email programs@wisdomhouse.org. To register, go to: http://www.wisdomhouse.org/forms/formTR-9-2324.html

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School, but is authorized as a "make-up" for certain missed CBS requirements.

And CBS graduates take note: This is likely to be especially meaningful for you as you continue to grow in devotion to and understanding of the Word of God.

BJ Reports on the Catholic Biblical Association Meeting

2011-08-10T09:54:00.003-04:00

Catholic biblical scholars from all over the world come together every year to share research, friendship, and inspiration at the annual meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA).

I've just returned from this amazing gathering of hundreds of deeply committed Catholics (bishops and priests, nuns and lay folks) who have dedicated their lives to the systematic study and teaching of Sacred Scripture. The Word of God was dynamically and palpably present among us as he promised long ago. ("Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I will be among you.") The entire 3-day meeting was a sacramental encounter with Christ present in one another.

From breakfast to bedtime, I conversed both formally and casually with the most learned and devoted Scripture scholars in the world--people whose works form the background for the entire Biblical School curriculum.

Setting aside for a moment the formal presentations, organized discussions and liturgies--the simple conversations between-times, over meals, "coffee and," and while walking the grounds--powerfully renewed both my love of Scripture and my life-long commitment to studying and teaching the Bible.

I came away thanking God, once again for the presence of the Catholic Biblical School in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

My friends, I ask for your redoubled efforts and prayers that our enrollment might increase again this year, as it did last year, so that more Catholics will come to know God more profoundly through study of the Bible.

YOUR BIBLE ATLAS: Breaking News for CBS Students

2011-08-07T08:30:00.000-04:00

The Hammond Atlas of Bible Lands, used for Geography Tasks in all four years of the Catholic Biblical School, is currently out of print.

The Good News: Students who already have the Hammond Atlas can continue to use it indefinitely.

The Other Good News: Students who have not yet purchased the Hammond Atlas have two fine options:

1. You can still purchase a copy of the Hammond Bible Atlas (new or used) online.

2. You can choose the Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition, published by Oxford University Press and edited by Adrian Curtis, $24.95 (ISBN 9-780199-56046-2).

The Oxford Bible Atlas has many things to recommend it: Its 27 maps are easy to read, and its map index is extensive and reliable for finding most hard-to-find locations. It also includes beautiful color photographs and over 200 pages of text, providing in-depth info on the geography of the Bible.

The main advantages of the Hammond Atlas are: (1) the CBS student workbooks reference that atlas by page number in the weekly Geography Tasks, (*see note below) and (2) at $9.95 in softcover, it was significantly cheaper than comparable atlases. (Today, in August 2011, it can be ordered from www.amazon.com for $11.99 (used) or $14.91 (new). Remember, though, you’ll have to pay shipping if you purchase it online.)

Oxford Atlas offers more than the Hammond Atlas but is more expensive. It will be selling soon in the Catholic Bookstore at the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary for $24.95. (And don't forget, Biblical School students get 10% off their textbooks at the Catholic Bookstore.)

*Note: BJ has prepared a handout, which will be available at the Year One Scripture Day, with all page numbers in the Oxford Atlas to be used with the Geography Tasks in the Year One workbook.

Apostle Philip's Grave Unearthed?

2011-08-05T10:29:00.004-04:00

Hung upside down by his ankles until dead, the St. Philip said to be martyred in Hierapolis ("Holy City") in what is now Turkey may be Jesus' own apostle, listed among the Twelve in all four gospels. Or it may be the deacon named Philip who baptized the Ethiopian eunich in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:26-40).

St. Mariamne

Philip's ministry in Asia Minor (Turkey) and Greece is told in the ancient, nonbiblical text known as the Acts of Philip. The story, expanded and embellished over the centuries, tells of a Roman (pagan) proconsul who became enraged at the apostle and his missionary companions, Bartholomew and Mariamne, when the proconsul's wife, Nicanora, was converted to Christianity and then healed of a terrible illness.The three missionaries were tortured publicly, but only Philip was killed at that time, according to the tale.

Excavators of the church associated with St. Philip's martyrdom have searched fruitlessly there for Philip's burial site. Last month, a team led by Italian professor Francesco D'Andria discovered what may be St. Philip's grave in a smaller church recently discovered on the site.

“St. Philip is considered a martyr," D'Andria reminds us. "In fact, the church built in his name on the Martyrs’ Hill is, for this reason, also called Martyrion, despite the fact there were no traces of the grave of St. Philip. As we were cleaning out the new church we discovered a month ago, we finally found the grave. With close examination, we determined that the grave had been moved from its previous location in the St. Philip Church to this new church in the fifth century, during the Byzantine era."

When the archeological team opens and examines the newly discovered burial site they will, without doubt, painstakingly review the evidence to determine whether this is indeed the long-sought grave of St. Philip.

To learn more about this excavation, click here.

To read an English translation of the Acts of Philip, click here.

CBS Recommends—Lectio Divina Workshop

2011-07-31T13:28:00.004-04:00

Learn the ancient art of praying with sacred texts (principally Scripture) with a master.

St. Mary's Parish Center, Windsor Locks - 45 Church St., Windsor Locks
Saturday, September 24, 2011

Program: 9:30 to 3:30

4:30 liturgy celebrated by Fr. Bill available

Coffee and danish provided for breakfast; beverages throughout the day. Lunch is your own brown bag.

Suggested offering: $20
Information and reservations: Mary or Larry - 860-623-9132
Presenter: Rev. William Sheehan, OMI

Fr. Bill Sheehan was ordained in 1965 as a Catholic priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He has served as a Retreat Director and led many Centering Prayer, Welcoming Prayer, Forgiveness Prayer and Lectio Divina workshops all over the world. He resides in Massachusetts.

If God Had Texted Moses (8)

2011-07-31T08:30:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 8: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (NIV Dt 5:19)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Did Women Play a Role in Forming Our Biblical Faith?

2011-07-29T15:07:00.011-04:00

We know that the Bible is a patriarchal book. It's true that it is filled with the adventures, exploits, deeds and misdeeds of male characters, from Adam and Abraham to Moses and Jesus and Paul.

But while men dominate the Bible's story line, women also play significant, decisive roles as well. And when women do come on the scene they are usually not passive, timid or submissive. They are, most often, rather active, fearless and assertive.

Learn about these women who shaped our faith. In the first year of the Biblical School, get to know women like Rebecca and Leah, Deborah and Jael, Miryam and Huldah. In the second year, meet Mary, Jesus' mother and Mary Magdalene; Joanna and Junia; Elizabeth and Lydia. In years three and four, get acquainted with Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly; Judith and Esther; Gomer and Suzannah.

We still have a few spots in our first-year class. Click here for more information and to download an application. Or call us at the Office of Religious Education, 860-243-9465, ext. 2670 and 2679.

Some of this post paraphrases an email I recently received from the Biblical Archeological Society, For more information about BAS, click here.

If God Had Texted Moses (7)

2011-07-25T15:01:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 7: You shall not steal. (NIV Dt 5:19)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Finding the "Buy in" in Bible

2011-07-21T11:43:00.001-04:00

I recently found a terrific blog post that I think you might like from Jesuit priest, Jim McDermott of LA. Here's an excerpt and a link:

"Catholics do not read the Bible. They just don't. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it seems like work? Or it's daunting, what with all the books and strange references? Or was it something I said?

"But it's really too bad, because there's so much lovely material in there waiting for us if we're willing to venture forth -- psalms that capture the cries of our own hearts; little tales of family and faith, heroism and self-sacrifice; weird and wonderful moments like the bird who poops on Tobit and makes him go blind....

"...Maybe one way to turn the Bible from chore/encyclopedia -- do we still have encyclopedias? -- into an adventure is to let kids have the opportunity to read around, choose for themselves from among a much wider range of stories or books, and see what they find interesting. Let them find their own favorites." ...

[And BJ thinks you should start with Bel and the Dragon. As Fr. McDermott puts it:]

"Why give this to kids? Hello, it has a dragon. Also, lions. And a really fun story about how Daniel proves an idol isn't a god. And ... it's short.

"But most of all -- Come on, it has a DRAGON."

To read more of Fr. McDermott's witty blog, click here:

Gone Walkabout: Bible Camp

First-Year Alert!

2011-07-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

Your Scripture Day is Sept. 10, not August 20! Notice that yesterday's blog was directed to Years 2, 3 and 4 in the Biblical School.

Have You Started Your Summer Reading?

2011-07-20T12:17:00.000-04:00

Countdown to Scripture Day (Advanced and Year Two students). Imagine, just one month and counting to our first gathering of the Academic Year 2011-12!

Remember, your summer reading assignment is due at your Scripture Day, August 20.

If you haven't started reading, here's your wake-up call. But of course, CBS students are diligent--you probably have the assignment done and typed (or printed VERY neatly, to save your instructor's eyeballs).

And in case your book hasn't made it into your beach bag yet, here are links to assignment sheets for both years, plus another link to the text for the advanced-year assignment:

Look for a mailing in early August to remind you once again. See you on August 20!

Unearthing the Bible’s Bad Boys

2011-07-18T14:51:00.001-04:00


Ancient carving of Philistine warrior

The Philistines, those "villains" who gave David headaches and sleepless nights (not to mention a paycheck for a while, but that's another story...), are once again making headlines.

Excavations recently underway are shedding more light on an ancient people who vie with Egypt and Assyria for the title of "worst enemy" of Israel in Biblical times. At Tel el Safi in southern Israel, the remains of the Philistine city of Gath are being excavated under the direction of authorities at Bar Ilan University.

Gath’s most famous resident was Goliath, the giant said to be killed by David in one of the Bible’s most popular stories.

It seems that the Philistines, believed to be of Greek origin, arrived on the southern coast of the biblical lands as one of the "Sea Peoples" around 1200 B.C. Archeologists tell us they held fast to their Greek culture and were still worshiping Greek gods five centuries after their arrival in the area we still call Gaza, after one of the Philistines' ancient cities. Find out more about everyday living in ancient Gath by clicking here.

Taken from the Biblical Archeological Review and Yahoo News, July 8, 2011.

If God Had Texted Moses (6)

2011-07-14T08:30:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 5: You shall not commit adultery. (NIV Dt 5:18)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

If God Had Texted Moses (5)

2011-07-05T08:30:00.001-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 5: You shall not murder. (NIV Dt 5:17)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

The Class of 2011: Message from a Graduate

2011-06-23T15:45:00.003-04:00

Four years ago I embarked on a wonderful journey of the Bible through the Catholic Biblical School, which culminated in a lovely and meaningful graduation ceremony this month at St. Thomas Seminary. Along the way, I learned so much about my faith, met new friends and enhanced my knowledge as a Director of Religious Education. But most importantly, the enrichment I received through the excellent instructors, supplemental reading and outstanding Scripture Days, have brought me closer to Christ in both mind and heart, which for me, is the true journey.

I truly loved every minute and am glad to have been able to earn college credit as well! I appreciate all the hard work that went into accreditation for CBS.

Ms. Kathi Bonner

Director of Religious Education

St. Catherine of Siena, West Simsbury, CT

If God Had Texted Moses (4)

2011-06-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!
No 4: Honor your father and your mother. (NIV Dt 5:16)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Words Made Flesh—Love, Feel, and Think with the Church

2011-06-13T12:28:00.003-04:00

Biblical Reflections on Pentecost Sunday by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

"Pentecost is considered to be the birth of the Church. Our baptismal consecration in service to Christ cannot be separated from consecration in service to the Church. One of the main themes permeating the thought of St. Ignatius of Loyola is his exhortation 'Sentire cum ecclesia' or 'Think with the Church.' 'Sentire cum ecclesia' also means to feel with the Church and to love the Church.

"Pentecost invites us once again to walk with the Church, breathe with the Church, hope with the Church, feel with the Church, 'sentire cum ecclesia.' What does the Church mean for me as an individual? What is my personal relationship with the Church? Do I love the Church? Do I feel loved by the Church?

"Moving beyond ideology

"...Today, some of us seem to be stuck in the ideological battles that followed the Second Vatican Council. Perhaps we are frozen in categories of left and right; traditional vs. avant-garde; male vs. female; hierarchical vs. lay-led, or prophetic vs. static.

"Our inter-ecclesial and inter-community fixations and polarizations ... can distract us from addressing with requisite depth and discernment the issues facing us today. Whatever is not purified and transformed within us is transmitted to others—especially to the next generation." (emphasis BJ's)

"When we sell ourselves to cynicism and despair, meanness of heart, smallness of spirit and harshness in ecclesial discourse, we betray our deepest identity as bearers of joy, hope and truth. Is joy present in our Christian witness? What prevents me as an individual and us as a community from giving a robust, joyful witness to Jesus Christ, the Catholic Faith and the Church?"

For the rest of Fr. Rosica's commentary on the Feast of the Pentecost, click here.

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and writes a weekly commentary on the Sunday readings for Zenit.

If God Had Texted Moses (3)

2011-06-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No. 3: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.... On it you shall not do any work. (NIV Dt 5:12, 14)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

With Thanksgiving to God...

2011-06-09T14:33:00.000-04:00

...and profound joy for the beauty and truth manifest in the lives of the graduates of the Class of 2011, the Catholic Biblical School announces graduation festivities at St. Thomas Seminary Chapel on Sunday afternoon, June 12.

The following graduates will be honored:

Ann Bodurtha

Kathi Bonner

Maureen Brouillard

Elizabeth Carr

Barbara Evans

Donna Girard

Mary Head

Carl Heineman

Jane Holler

Cheryl Kasek

Laurie Janecko

Jean Kononowiz

Susan Lewis

Daniel Marecki

Inka Peczerski

Mary Renker

Albert Saxer

Nancy Stimac

Janet Turco

Congratulations on your achievement!

Words Made Flesh—The Presence and the Absence of God

2011-06-06T13:36:00.001-04:00

Reflecting on the gospel for the Feast of Jesus' Ascension this week, Fr. Thomas Rosica tells us that "the words ... 'I am with you always, even unto the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20) have a special ring to them. They send us back to the beginning of Matthew's account when Jesus is given the name 'Emmanuel.'

"In that name we find the answer to humanity's deepest longings for God throughout the ages. Emmanuel is both a prayer and plea (on our behalf) and a promise and declaration on God's part. When we pronounce the word, we are really praying and pleading: 'God, be with us!' And when God speaks it, the Almighty, Eternal, Omnipresent Creator of the world is telling us: 'I am with you' in Jesus.

"At the conclusion of [Matthew’s] Gospel, the name Emmanuel is alluded to when the Risen Jesus assures his disciples of his continued presence: 'I am with you always, until the end of the age' (28:20). God did indeed keep his promise in Jesus."

We might add that at other times when we pray "Emmanuel," we could be confiding our trust in Jesus’ promise. Or we might be expressing a hope that our lives be lived out in closer harmony with God. The wonder of the name Emmanuel is that it is so wide, encompassing a breadth of meaning that is at heart an expression of the most intimate of prayers, the deep desire of our hearts to dwell with Jesus.

But the reason we need to pray "Be with us" is at the center of our understanding of the Feast of the Ascension
and of this fragile moment between the Ascension and Pentecost. It is a fragile moment because Jesus seems to have gone away; the Ascension means precisely that Jesus has gone beyond our human physical sensing.

Fr. Henri Nouwen wrote about this as a paradox: in a way, our LORD is both "present" to us and "absent" from us. That is, Jesus the Christ is the one with whom we are already united in Baptism. He is also the one for whom we must wait to come in the fullness of glory.

For the rest of Fr. Rosica's commentary on the Feast of the Ascension, click here.

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and writes a weekly commentary on the Sunday readings for Zenit.

*ZENIT is a non-profit international news agency comprising a team of professionals and volunteers who are convinced of the extraordinary richness of the Catholic Church's message, particularly its social doctrine. The ZENIT team sees this message as a light for understanding today's world.

If God Had Texted Moses (2)

2011-06-03T13:24:00.000-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

No 2 You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. (NIV Dt 5:11)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Bible Students Awarded Basic Certificates

2011-05-31T08:30:00.031-04:00


Yr 2 Students Study with Dr. Don Gray

On Wednesday, May 25, people of all ages gathered at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford to receive a variety of awards and certificates presented by the Office of Religious Education under the authority of the Archbishop of Hartford, Henry Mansell.

The following second-year CBS students qualified this year for the Certificate in Basic Biblical Studies:

Ms. Alexis Chacchia, St. Teresa, Woodbury
Ms. Lynda T. Curtis, St. Francis of Assisi, South Windsor
Sr. Doretta D’Albero, ASCJ, Mt. Sacred Heart, Hamden
Dr. Paula A. deSilva, St. Ann, Avon
Mr. Thomas A. Desjardin, St. John the Evangelist, Watertown
Ms. Yvonne Distante, St. Mary, New Haven
Ms. Prudence Doty, St. Dominic, Southington
Ms. Elizabeth M. Gerrity, Resurrection, Wallingford
Deacon Edward J. Giard, St. Christopher, East Hartford
Ms. Fran Giard, St. Christopher, East Hartford
Ms. Kimberly Green, St. Peter Claver, West Hartford
Ms. Margaret M. Hurley, Sacred Heart, Bloomfield
Mr. Karl L. Kuhn, St. Thomas the Apostle, West Hartford
Ms. Amy Louen, Immaculate Conception, Waterbury
Sr. Maria Lourdes Maranan, ASCJ, Mt. Sacred Heart, Hamden
Ms. Martha C. Marin, Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazo, Waterbury
Ms. Carol Ann McAllister, St. Francis of Assisi, Naugatuck*
Ms. Constance T. Oligino, Our Lady of Assumption, Woodbridge
Mr. Albert Van Leuven, St. Clare, East Haven*
Ms. Phyllis Voira, St. Francis, New Haven
Mr.Bogumil Romuald Zacharski, St. Augustine, Hartford

*Will be completing certificate in summer

Words Made Flesh: The Presence of the Spirit

2011-05-31T08:29:00.000-04:00

Broken heart filled with Spirit

"In John's Gospel, the sense of loss among the apostles is palpable as Jesus prepares to take leave of them. Peter asks: 'Lord where are you going?' (John 13:36) and 'Lord, why can I not follow you now?' (John 13:37). To this poignant longing Jesus responds: 'If you love me you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever' (John 14:15). Then Jesus identifies the new Advocate (Gk paracletos) as the Spirit of truth, unknown to the world but an abiding presence within the disciples (John 14:17). This then is the foundation of our trust in the guidance of the Spirit.

"...The new Advocate is not a kind of a proxy sent to replace the absent Lord: on the contrary, it assures his presence as well as the Father's. They will 'come to' the one who remains faithful to Jesus' word, and they will dwell 'with' him."

Biblical Reflection for 6th Sunday of Easter

For Fr. Rosica's commentary on the other readings from this Sunday, click here.

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and writes a weekly commentary on the Sunday readings for Zenit.

If God Had Texted Moses

2011-05-28T14:22:00.020-04:00

Moses: Check your phone!

In the spirit of lighthearted fun in the Third Millennium, here's a summer series asking the question, "What would the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) look like if God had texted Moses?"

No 1: You shall have no other gods before me. (NIV Dt 5:7)

Courtesy of Sr. Carol Cimino, PhD and Religious Education Consultant for Sadlier Publishers.

Words Made Flesh: Christian Service Is Based in Faith

2011-05-26T14:46:00.003-04:00

A message especially for youth and young adults, and their ministers:

"In Sunday's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7), we learn that ... the essential function of the Twelve (6:2-4) is the 'service of the word,' including ... formulation of the teachings of Jesus. In Verse 2 we read: 'It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.'... At the Apostles' invitation the disciples chose seven men: 'Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus. The Apostles prayed over them and laid their hands upon them' (6:5-6).

"The real purpose of this whole episode is to introduce Stephen as a prominent figure in the community whose long speech and martyrdom will be recounted in Acts 7. After Stephen and the others are chosen, they are never presented carrying out the task for which they were appointed (6:2-3). Rather, two of their number, Stephen and Philip, are presented as preachers of the Christian message. ...

"Let us remember that in addition to charitable work, Stephen carried out the work of evangelization.... Stephen, 'full of grace and power' (6:8), presented in Jesus' Name a new interpretation of Moses and of God's Law itself. Stephen reread the Old Testament in the light of the proclamation of Christ's death and resurrection.

"One of the powerful lessons we learn from Stephen's witness is that charitable social works must never be separated from the bold, explicit and courageous proclamation of the faith.
There is no question that Stephen was one of the seven entrusted with the works of charity. But it was impossible to separate charity and faith. Thus, with charity, he proclaimed the crucified Christ, even unto his own martyrdom. Charity and the proclamation of faith always go hand in hand."

Advanced Summer Reading Assignments

2011-05-22T08:30:00.002-04:00

Students entering their third and fourth years in the Biblical School should download their summer reading assignment by clicking on the following links:

Text of The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (abridged for purposes of this assignment)
Assignment Questions and a Glossary of Terms

For paper copies contact Jill Costa in the Office of Religious Education. (Click on her name or call her at 860-243-9465, ext. 2670.)

Bad Bible Info Online (Again)

2011-05-20T15:07:00.002-04:00

Back in January we noted that there is an awful lot of incorrect information about the Bible out there, especially online.

A week ago, Cee Cee Johnson, CBS Class of 2010, noticed a story on a CNN blog about a book (entitled Forged) that is chock-full of misleading information on the Bible. The blog claimed that "half of the New Testament was forged."

Students in the second year of the Biblical School get the real scoop about the ancient practice of pseudepigraphal writing (that is, the ascription of false names to a literary work). It was customary in ancient times for an author to write in the name of another, usually a person whose teaching had inspired that author. Hence, many of the letters in the New Testament are written as if by Paul, but are truly written under the inspiration of Paul by a later writer. In the Old Testament, the Book of Ecclesiastes implies it is written by Solomon, but it simply cannot have been so.

Pseudepigraphal writing was a common, well-respected practice in biblical times. The practice wasn't meant to deceive anyone, but when we apply words like "forgery" to the texts, we suggest something sinister.

Anyone claiming the New Testament is "half forged" is showing their ignorance of the Bible, at least as the Catholic Church (and other non-fundamentalist Christians and Jews) understands it.

The lesson here: Be very careful about using online or other popular sources for faith information. Period.

And if you do decide to venture into cyberspace for information about the Bible, we recommend three guidelines:
First, consider whether the material you find online is consistent with the Catholic approach to the Bible, as outlined, for example, in the Pontifical Biblical Commission document, "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church." Second, look carefully into the professional credentials of the online source. If credentials aren't provided, then you should question the validity of the material. Third, recognize that even a well-qualified scholar may draw interpretations from their exegesis that are not consistent with the Catholic tradition. In this case, draw from their exegetical knowledge and insight, but compare their conclusions with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

And FYI, my own credentials are listed on this blog in the section marked "About the Coordinator." I am very careful to print only solidly researched material on the Bible from valid sources. Nevertheless, I still encourage you to apply the same three guidelines to my own blog, as to all others!

CBS Course Schedules 2011-12

2011-05-19T16:20:00.002-04:00

YEAR ONE CLASSES (2011-12)

· Bloomfield: Mondays 7-9 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Ms. Marcia Franko, MA

· Hamden: Tuesdays 10 am to noon, Caritas Christi Center, Sr. Jewel Renna, CND, MA

· Plantsville: Thursdays 7-9 pm, St. Aloysius Parish Center, Sr. Jewel Renna, CND, MA

· Milford: Weekday evenings (Details TBD), Christ Redeemer Parish, Ms. Marcia Franko, MA

YEAR TWO CLASSES (2011-12)
· Cheshire: Mondays 7-9 pm, Epiphany Parish, Fr. Aidan Donahue, STM, STL

· Bloomfield: Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Fr. Aidan Donahue, STM, STL

· West Hartford: Thursdays 10 am to noon, St. Mark the Evangelist, Dr. Donald Gray, PhD

· Milford: Thursdays 7-9 pm, Christ the Redeemer Parish, To be determined

ADVANCED YEAR (Year 3 and 4) CLASSES (2011-12)

· Cheshire: Mondays 7-9 pm, Epiphany Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS

· Hamden: Tuesdays 7-9 pm, Caritas Christi Center, Dr. Donald Gray, PhD

· Bloomfield: Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm, Sacred Heart Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS

· Plantsville: Fridays 10-noon, St. Aloysius Parish, Ms. BJ Daly Horell, MTS

From OT Prophecy to Gospel of Christ to Catholic Social Justice

2011-05-09T10:15:00.002-04:00

The Christian tradition of caring for those in the community who are voiceless or in need has a proud heritage: straight from the pages of the Bible.

"You shall not oppress a resident alien...any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely listen to their cry." (Ex 22:21-22)

Interior: St. Ann's Avon

So when I heard that "St. Ann's Cares"--a group of St. Ann's parishioners in Avon, CT that often includes students and grads of the Biblical School--were helping out a Hartford school in need, I was not one bit surprised.

Maria Zone, Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Communications, writes this:

When “St. Ann’s Cares,” a branch of the Social Justice Committee of St. Ann Church in Avon, heard that St. Augustine School in Hartford needed help, they sprang into action. On Saturday, May 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., they spent the entire day at the school making much needed improvements to the physical plant.

Dozens of skilled and unskilled volunteers from “St. Ann’s Cares” painted classrooms, a basement floor, a wall in the gymnasium, and made improvements to a playground.

Dr. Paula deSilva, a Biblical School student and member of “St. Ann’s Cares,” says
the group, comprised of people of all ages, ...is excited to help.

“Not everyone can write a check, but we all can pick up a paint brush or a rake or a broom and transform something old into something beautiful,” she said.

St. Augustine Catholic School

St. Augustine Principal Cynthia Niedbala said that about a dozen eighth graders from St. Augustine School and nearly fifty parishioners from St. Augustine Church also joined “St. Ann’s Cares” to help.

Words Made Flesh: Mercy Flows From the Wound in His Heart

2011-05-04T09:54:00.000-04:00

"'Doubting Thomas' is a term often used to describe someone who refuses to believe something without direct, personal evidence; a skeptic.

"It refers, of course, to Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles, whose name occurs in all the Gospel lists of the apostles....

"When Jesus announced his intention of returning to Judea to visit Lazarus, Thomas said to his fellow disciples: 'Let us also go, that we may die with him' (John 11:16). It was Thomas who, during the great discourse after the Last Supper, raised an objection: 'Lord, we do not know where you are going; and how can we know the way?' (John 14:5).

"Little else is recorded of Thomas the Apostle in the New Testament; nevertheless, thanks to John's Gospel text for today (John 20:19-31), his personality is clearer to us than that of some others of the Twelve.

"...That Easter evening when the Lord appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not present. When he was told that Jesus was alive and had shown himself, Thomas stated: 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe' (John 20:25).

"Eight days later, Thomas made his act of faith, drawing down the rebuke of Jesus -- 'Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.'

"The real Thomas

"Thomas the Apostle is one of the ... most honest of the lovers of Jesus, not the eternal skeptic, nor the bullish, stubborn personality that Christian tradition has often painted. This young apostle stood before the cross, not comprehending the horrors of what had happened. All his dreams and hopes were hanging on that cross.

"Thomas rediscovered his faith amidst the believing community of apostles and disciples. This point must never be forgotten, especially in an age when so many claim that faith and spirituality are attainable without the experience of the ecclesial community. We do not believe as isolated individuals....

"Let us not forget the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 'Faith is ... not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others.

"'Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith' (CCC No. 166)."

Reprinted from "A Wave of Mercy Flows From the Wound in His Heart," Biblical Reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday, by Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, President of Canada's Salt and Light Television. To access all Fr. Rosica's reflections in Zenit on this past week's Sunday readings and on the Beatification of Pope John Paul II, click here.

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and writes a weekly commentary on the Sunday readings for Zenit.

ZENIT's objective is to inform about the "world seen from Rome," with professionalism and faithfulness to the truth. They aim to view the modern world through the messages of the Pope and the Holy See; tell about the happenings of the Church; and inform about the topics, debates and events that are especially interesting to Christians worldwide. ZENIT carries out this service independently, with the help of world-wide donors. Click here to find out more or to help ZENIT in its fundraising campaign.

Pew Research: Are Catholics Leaving the Church for the Bible?

2011-05-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

So it would seem. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey put out recently by the Pew Research Center reveals that large numbers* of Catholics are leaving the Church, often in order to join Protestant Evangelical traditions who place strong emphasis on knowing and living the Bible.

And one of the main reasons these former Catholics give for leaving the Catholic Church is that they don't feel their parish offers them a meaningful encounter with Sacred Scripture.

Here's what Thomas Reese reports in the National Catholic Reporter: "Ex-Catholics are not flocking to the evangelicals because they think the Catholic church is politically too liberal. They are leaving to get spiritual nourishment from worship services and the Bible."

Reese points out that "Thanks to Pope Pius XII, Catholic scripture scholars have had decades to produce the best thinking on scripture in the world. That Catholics are leaving to join evangelical churches because of the church teaching on the Bible is a disgrace."

Now, that last statement seems to "stretch" the research a bit. It doesn't seem to be church teaching on the Bible that is given as the reason for leaving. Rather, it seems that typical Catholic spiritual and liturgical practices around the Bible may be problematic and need to be "beefed up" in many parishes.

Reese redeems himself, though, when he goes on to affirm precisely what Vatican II and the world-wide bishops have been saying for nearly fifty years--and what Pope Benedict XVI insists in his recent exhortation, Verbum Domini.

"The church needs a massive Bible education program," writes Reese. "If we could get Catholics to read the Sunday scripture readings each week before they come to Mass, it would be revolutionary."

The numbers suggest that the pope, the bishops, and Mr. Reese are right on target. The mission of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School is to provide exactly the kind of serious, meaningful encounter with Scripture that adult Christians need and crave.

*According to the Pew Research Center, one out of three people who were raised Catholic no longer identifies as Catholic.

Osama Bin Laden Killed on Divine Mercy Sunday?

2011-05-02T11:28:00.004-04:00

The killing of Osama bin Laden on Divine Mercy Sunday, yesterday, reminds me of something my friend, Patricia Leonard Pasley, recently told me. Patricia is a New Testament scholar, the mother of five and is studying for the Episcopalian priesthood.

Some of her 16-year-old daughter's friends were having dinner at their house, including young believers of many faiths--Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist. Naturally (if you knew Tricia, you'd know it would be "naturally"), they started discussing their faith traditions.

When the conversation came around to heaven and hell, one young Jew spoke up. He said that he believes Hitler went to heaven. "How can we limit God's love and mercy?" the young man insisted. "But as soon as Hitler saw all that was going on in heaven, he wanted nothing to do with it. So he left."

Let's leave Osama bin Laden to God and concentrate on finding ways to pursue justice without hatred and violence. Only then can bin Laden's legacy be erased from the earth.

by Barbara Jean Daly Horell

Link: Vatican Says Don't Celebrate Death of Bin Laden

Words Made Flesh: The Eyes of the Beloved

2011-04-29T12:05:00.011-04:00

Easter Sunday Year A, B, C: John 20:1-9

"On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark..." (NAB Jn 20:1)

Most of us have been where Jesus’ followers find themselves at the beginning of the Easter gospel. We’ve dwelt in deep darkness, felt lost and bewildered by the loss of our beloved—someone or something we’d made the foundation of our lives. That place feels stark and desolate; there, we feel helpless to move forward because we cannot see our way. We are blinded.

Coming to faith, in John’s gospel, is often described as moving from a place where darkness blinds us to a place where we see “differently,” as God sees. We see the same pattern in today’s gospel, which begins “while it is still dark”: a predawn darkness of spirits aching; the disciples plunged into blind confusion; a spiritual darkness of profound loss of love and hope brought on by the execution of Jesus.

What does Mary Magdalene do in the midst of darkness? She goes looking for Jesus. And, as often happens when we are groping for our Beloved, something surprising happens: She stumbles upon a rock shifted.

"...[she] saw the stone removed from the tomb." (Jn 20:1)

At this point, it’s surprising that the story doesn’t describe Mary looking further, into the tomb. Instead, Mary models for us what the gospel recommends we do when we feel confused: She runs back to the faith community, where she has felt Jesus’ love before.

"So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, 'They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him.'" (Jn 20:2)

Her shocking words echo through the community. At this point, Peter and “the Beloved Disciple” race to the empty tomb, where there is now enough light to see empty cloths laying in place of a broken body. They wonder, “What does this mean?”

"The other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed." (Jn 20:8)

It is no coincidence that it is the disciple who is named “beloved” in this gospel who first “sees and believes” the meaning of the empty tomb. Then, guided by their love of Jesus, the disciples are able to begin to shift a few pebbles from the blinding wall of their fear, stirring among them what eventually becomes an avalanche of faith.

Today it is still intimate love—Jesus’ love for us and our “remaining in love” (Jn 15:9)—that draws us more deeply into faith, hope, and love. This is how we, Christ’s disciples, come to see differently, as God sees.

Summer Reading Assignments 2011

2011-04-20T10:20:00.008-04:00

Classes of 2012 and 2013: Students entering Years Three and Four of the Biblical School in fall 2011 will be reading portions (only) of the important church document, “Interpretation of the Bible in the Church.” It is NOT the entire document, which is rather lengthy and has obscure language.The portions to be assigned will be listed on the assignment sheet, which will be ready by June 1 at the latest. Look for updates in class, in this newsletter, and in this Blog.
Class of 2014: Students entering Year Two in fall 2011 will be reading Donald Senior’s book, Jesus: A Gospel Portrait. Assignment sheets are available online by clicking here.
Assignments are due at Scripture Day, which will be held for all three classes on August 20, 2011. SAVE THE DATE!
Summer reading books can be purchased at the Catholic Bookstore. Some titles may also be available at St. Thomas Seminary's O'Brien Library.

Words Made Flesh: The Meaning of Hosanna

2011-04-18T12:01:00.003-04:00

We use the Hebrew word "hosanna" as part of our Eucharistic Prayer in every liturgy, evoking Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem which we enter into in a special way every year on Palm Sunday. But what do we really mean when we say, "Hosanna"?

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, in his commentary on this Sunday's readings for ZENIT*, "fleshes out" the word and its meaning in the context of our Palm Sunday liturgy:

"'Hosanna' was originally a pilgrim blessing that priests addressed in the Temple, but when it was joined to the second part of the acclamation 'who enters in the name of the Lord' it took on Messianic significance. It had become a designation of the one promised by God. It now became praise of Jesus, a greeting to him as the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the one awaited and proclaimed by all the promises.

... "The full translation of 'hosanna' could read,
'Help (or save), please, O Son of David. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. Help (or save), please, O Most High.'

"The crowd's welcome of Jesus with cries of 'hosanna,' for help, and the waving of palm fronds, ... invoked the liturgical formulas of Sukkot, which [in Jesus' time] had already been politicized by its use in the festival of independence, the first Hanukkah.

Maccabean Revolt

"The use of this liturgical formula to welcome Jesus was clearly purposeful. Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem was followed by his cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:14-16). This was plainly a scenario in emulation of the Maccabean [war of] liberation, calculated to stir messianic hopes. When the crowd called 'hosanna' and waved palm fronds, they knew full well what they were doing.

"In the hosanna acclamation, we find an expression of the complex emotions of the pilgrims accompanying Jesus and of his disciples: joyful praise of God at the moment of the processional entry, hope that the hour of the Messiah had arrived, and at the same time a prayer that the Davidic kingship and hence God's kingship over Israel would be reestablished (Benedict XVI, 'Jesus of Nazareth,' pp. 8-10).

"'Hosanna' as an urgent plea to help and save is universally valid. It is perennially appropriate to the human situation. It is a one-word prayer with potential political impact to unsettle oppressors everywhere, now as in ancient days, and should thus be translated and understood."

Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB is CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada. He is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and writes a weekly commentary on the Sunday readings for Zenit.

*ZENIT is a non-profit international news agency comprising a team of professionals and volunteers who are convinced of the extraordinary richness of the Catholic Church's message, particularly its social doctrine. The ZENIT team sees this message as a light for understanding today's world.

ZENIT's objective is to inform about the "world seen from Rome," with professionalism and faithfulness to the truth. They aim to view the modern world through the messages of the Pope and the Holy See; tell about the happenings of the Church; and inform about the topics, debates and events that are especially interesting to Christians worldwide. ZENIT carries out this service independently, with the help of world-wide donors. Click here to find out more or to help ZENIT in its fundraising campaign.

ATTENTION Second-Year Students in the Biblical School!

2011-04-18T10:14:00.000-04:00

DUE MAY 1: Basic Certificate Eligibility Forms

Forms went out to all Year 2 students in their classes. All second-year students need to complete and return these forms to BJ in the Office of Religious Education—even if you do not think you are eligible to receive the Basic Certificate in Biblical Studies this year! If you did not receive this important form, kindly call Jill Costa in the ORE Office right away to get this form and to let us know whether you plan to participate in the Award Ceremony.

Students receiving their Basic Certificate will be honored (and will receive their certificates) at the Office of Religious Education Award Ceremony on Wednesday, May 25, 7:30 pm at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford. All are welcome to celebrate your achievement!

Archdiocesan Basic Certificate Eligibility Requirements:

Attend at least 8 out of 10 classes each unit for CBS Years 1-2
Pass all six unit "memory exercises" with 60% or better
Attend all four "Scripture Days"
Complete both summer reading assignments
All written work completed

CBS REGISTRATION NEWS

2011-04-18T10:03:00.001-04:00

DUE MAY 1, 2011: Enrollment forms for students continuing in the Catholic Biblical School or in the St. Thomas Seminary Certificate in Biblical Studies.

Tuition deposits ($125 for ORE or $175 for St. Thomas Seminary) are due on JUNE 1. Make checks out to ORE.

All students currently enrolled should have already received copies of the Registration Forms to enroll in next year’s classes. If you still need a form, you can download the form for your appropriate year by going to the CBS page of the ORE website. Click here and scroll down until you see the subheader that reads:

Registration Forms 2011-2012

First-year Lenten Scripture Day

2011-04-11T10:50:00.000-04:00

Topic: Exodus, Passover and the Paschal Mystery in the Life of the Church
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 9:00-3:00
Location: St. Thomas Seminary's Red Lounge (next to bookstore)
Presenter: Celia Sirois, MA
From the Faculty of the Archdiocese of Boston's St. John Seminary

Saturday's liturgy will be celebrated with Monsignor Michael J. Motta, Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese. Music will be led by members of the Class of 2014.

This day of study and prayerful reflection is required for students in the first year of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School. Other Biblical School students and graduate auditors may attend with the permission of BJ Daly Horell, Coordinator of the Biblical School.

Registration is required by Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Email BJ Daly Horell at cbs@orehartford.org for details.

Words Made Flesh: The Raising of Lazarus

2011-04-11T10:20:00.003-04:00

"Lord, if only you had been here...

"How often have we, like Martha and Mary, blurted out those same words of pain and despair: 'Lord, if only you had been here, my brother… or sister or mother or father or friend would not have died.' And yet today's pathos-filled story from John's Gospel tells us what kind of God we have… a God who 'groaned' in spirit and was troubled. The Greek word used to describe Jesus' gut sentiment tells us that he became perturbed. It is a startling Greek phrase that literally means: 'He snorted in spirit,' perhaps in anger at the presence of evil (death). We witness the Lord weeping at the tomb of his friend Lazarus; a Savior deeply moved at the commotion and grief of so many friends of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The shortest line in the whole bible is found in this Gospel story: 'Jesus wept.'

"Jesus reveals to us God who is one with us in suffering, grief and death -- a God who weeps with us. God doesn't intervene to prevent the tragedies and sufferings of life. If we had a god who simply swooped down as some 'deus ex machina' to prevent human tragedy and sinfulness, then religion and faith would simply be reduced to some form of magic or fate, and we would be helpless pawns on the chessboard of some whimsical god.

"Where is God in the midst of human tragedies? God is there in the midst of it all, weeping. This is our God who stands in deep, human solidarity with us, and through the glory of the Incarnation, embracing fully our human condition."

Reprinted from "I Will Open Your Graves and Have You Rise From Them," Biblical Reflection for 5th Sunday of Lent A by Father Thomas Rosica, CSB, President of Canada's Salt and Light Television. To access all Fr. Rosica's reflections in Zenit on this past week's Sunday readings, click here

April News in Faith Formation

2011-04-06T16:30:00.001-04:00

What's happening in the Biblical School, adult spirituality, catechist enrichment, youth ministry? It's all here in the April 2011 newsletter, ORE Connections. Click here to explore what's happening this month in faith formation in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

God Blesses Us...But Do WE Bless God? by Dr. Thomas Casey

2011-04-06T14:25:00.001-04:00

Even though most Catholics don't often talk about "blessing God," it is a strong prayer tradition from Scripture. Here's what Dr. Thomas Casey, biblical scholar and lecturer for the Biblical School, has to say about this tradition:

"The Old Testament is filled with examples of prayers blessing God.... The best known example is probably Psalm 103:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all my being bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits;
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills."

But blessing God is not like blessing our food or our rosary beads. To bless the Lord means to praise him and extol his greatness, usually by recounting and proclaiming his great deeds, his deeds in creation and redemption. But in praising him for his great deeds, it would be ungrateful not to thank him at the same time. So blessing God then means to praise him, but also to thank him at the same time for all that he has done for us. The two go hand in hand.

We seem to have lost the notion of what a prayer of blessing is, as well as the distinction between the prayer of praise and thanksgiving and the prayer of petition. For example, our grace before meals is not a prayer of blessing, but a prayer of petition asking God to bless us, instead of our blessing God and thanking him for all his gifts to us."

"And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers." 1 Chr 29

Gospel Story of the Man Born Blind - An Interactive Scripture Activity

2011-03-29T13:21:00.003-04:00

This activity comes from the online newsletter Awakening the Word. It is a simple and effective way to help connect young people (of all ages) to the gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The questions provided at the end can lead to in-depth discussions of the Bible and Christian faith.

(Hint: To do this challenge, you'll need some room to spread out.)

Preparation
    This activity is designed to simulate the two levels of blindness: physical and spiritual. Blindfolds will represent physical blindness while running backward will represent spiritual blindness. The idea is to let the activity bridge the two types of blindness in this Gospel.
    Preparation begins with choosing an appropriate site for a relay race (walking, running, in wheelchairs--adapt the race to suit participants). Mark a masking tape line as a starting line for Team One, and alongside that line mark an identical line for Team Two. Approximately 10 to 20 yards away, mark two lines parallel to the starting lines. This will serve as the midpoint line for each team.
    Gather four blindfolds and place two at the starting lines and two at the midpoint lines. During the first relay, only Team Two will be blindfolded.

Instructions
    Begin the activity by dividing participants into two teams. Invite half of each team to the starting line and the other half of each team to the midpoint line. Ask participants to line up in single file behind the masking tape lines. Explain that they will be competing in a relay race. The first person at each starting line will walk (or run or wheel) to the midpoint line and tag the first person at their team's midpoint line. That person will walk (or run, etc.) to the starting line and tag the next person. This pattern will continue until each member of the team has had the opportunity to participate. The first team that finishes is the winner.
    Continue explaining that each team will be given special challenges during the relays. Team One must run backward the entire relay. Team Two will also run backward during the relay; however,
Team Two will also be blindfolded. These folks must rely on the voice of their teammates to direct them to the next person waiting in line. Explain that two blindfolds have been placed at the starting line and two at the midpoint line so that teammates can prepare the blindfolded racers more quickly. Encourage Team Two to immediately remove the blindfold from the finished racer and quickly place it on a teammate waiting to race. If done efficiently, there will be one blindfolded racer will be ready to race before the current racer reaches him/her.
    Expect a great deal of protest from Team Two. Without commenting, invite the first racer at the starting line and the first racer at the midpoint line to place the blindfolds over their eyes. When the blindfolds are secure, begin the relay.

Race!
    After the relay, congratulate Team One as the winners. Invite participants to express any feelings or thoughts they may have had about the fairness of the race. After discussion, announce there will be a second relay. Invite the same teams to line up as before. Announce that Team One will again race backward during the relay. Team Two, however, will be able to race freely with no handicaps whatsoever. When finished, congratulate Team Two and lead the group to the reflection site. Distribute copies of the Gospel reading. Read the Gospel aloud and discuss some of the following questions.

Connecting the Activity to the Bible
• How did you feel being blindfolded and having to run backward in the activity?
• How do you suppose the blind man in the Gospel felt having to beg in the streets?
• How did you feel having the blindfolds removed and being allowed to run forward?
• How do you suppose the blind man felt being healed by Jesus?
• How did the blind man respond to Jesus after being healed?
• Besides being healed physically, how else did the blind man change in the Gospel?
• In what ways were the Pharisees spiritually blind?
• For Team One, how did you feel when the other team was able to remove the blindfolds and allowed to run forward while you still had a disadvantage?
• Why do you suppose the Pharisees refused to believe the blind man?

Connecting the Gospel to Everyday Life
• What are some common everyday miracles people may overlook in their busy lives?
• What are some examples of how people today are afraid of saying what they really believe?
• What are some examples of spiritual sight and spiritual blindness?
• What have you discovered from this Gospel and how can you apply it to your life?
• In the next few days, what are ways to witness your faith even when others challenge what you believe?

For more ideas, visit awakeningtheword@yahoo.com.

Registering for CBS 2011-12

2011-03-29T12:32:00.000-04:00

Registration forms for Years 2, 3 and 4 of the Biblical School (and for St. Thomas Seminary courses CBS 200 and 400) are now available in class and online. Here is the schedule of classes for academic year 2011-12:

Year Two (RED Curriculum - New Testament)
Mondays, 7-9 pm at Epiphany Parish, Cheshire
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm at Sacred Heart Parish, Bloomfield
Thursdays, 7-9 pm at Christ the Redeemer Parish, Milford
Thursdays, 10-noon at St. Mark the Evangelist, W. Hartford

Advanced Years (ORANGE Curriculum - Post Exilic Writings)
Mondays, 7-9 pm at Epiphany Church, Cheshire

Tuesdays, 7-9 pm at Caritas Christi Center, Hamden

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm at Sacred Heart Parish, Bloomfield

Fridays, 10-noon at St. Aloysius Parish, Plantsville

Click here and scroll down to the section "Registration Forms 2011-2012" to download registration forms, book lists, and summer reading assignments.

Praying the Sacrifice of Isaac—by Patti Cacciabaudo

2011-03-24T08:30:00.011-04:00

"Here I am, Lord," is Abraham's response to Yahweh's calling. Not, "Yes, Lord?"; not "What is it, Lord?"; not "What do you want from me, Lord?" Before ever he knows what God will ask, Abraham says simply, "Here I am, Lord."

It is an opening to prayer I, myself, have offered on occasion. I would like to say that it is not coincidence that my response imitates that of Abraham. But I cannot make that claim. Abraham was completely open to the Lord. God's will was Abraham's will. Abraham believed his life and his family's life was completely in God's hands. And in Genesis 22, Abraham proves his complete trust in the Lord by his willingness to do whatever the Lord wills—even if it is the heart-wrenching sacrifice of his own beloved son, Isaac.

“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and ... sacrifice him as a burnt offering."

So Abraham went. Early in the morning, he went. "Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.... When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out [with Isaac].... Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.... When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son...." (NIV, Gen 22:2-10)

Reading the verses of Abraham's and Isaac's climb up the mountain of sacrifice is painful. It brings tears to my eyes and a thickness to my throat. Could I have made that journey? Can I make that journey? Do I trust the Lord as Abraham did?

I have known other "mountains"—some of them heart-wrenching. In my daily journey I ask now for Abraham's faith, to do the Lord's will, to be strong, to say, "Here I am Lord. I am completely in your hands."

Patti Cacciabaudo is a first-year student in the Hartford Catholic Biblical School at our Milford campus.

Last Call for "Living in the New Creation"

2011-03-24T08:29:00.001-04:00

Friday, March 25, is your last opportunity to register for our Celebration of Sacred Scripture on April 3, 2011. Fr. Tom Stegman is always engaging and insightful, and his guidance through the gospels of Lent is sure to help us deepen our life in Christ.

Click here to get a registration form, which can be printed and faxed to the Office of Religious Education. Or call Jill Costa at (860) 243-9465 ext 2670 to provide us with the information we need to register you.

CBS Recommends—An Introduction to the Gospel of John

2011-03-21T10:33:00.005-04:00

LIFE IN ABUNDANCE: The Gospel of John

Reflections and commentary will focus on key passages in the gospel of John, such as the wedding at Cana (Jn 2); the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn 4); the man born blind (Jn 9); the raising of Lazarus (Jn 11); and Jesus' gift of the Spirit (Jn 19).

Presenter: Mr. Paul Sansone
Location: St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish, Hartford
Dates: Saturday, March 26 9:00-3:00 and Sunday, March 27 (1:00-3:00 p.m.)
Suggested Offering: $20.00 (includes lunch on Saturday)

This program is offered by St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish, located at 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT. This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School, but is authorized as a "make-up" for certain missed requirements.

For details and to register, kindly contact Ms. Pat Curtis, Parish Pastoral Associate, at pcurtis@spsact.org or 860-756-4034.

The Pope on Biblical Literacy (and a free webinar link)

2011-03-18T12:55:00.002-04:00

In the pope's recent encyclical, The Word of the Lord, the mission and vision of the Catholic Biblical School is affirmed:

"In order to achieve the goal set by the Synod [on the Word of God, Oct. 2008], namely, an increased emphasis on the Bible in the Church’s pastoral activity, all Christians, and catechists in particular, need to receive suitable training. Attention needs to be paid to the biblical apostolate, which is a very valuable means to that end, as the Church’s experience has shown. The Synod Fathers also recommended that ... centres of formation should be established where laity and missionaries can be trained to understand, live and proclaim the word of God." (Domini Verbum 75)

For a glimpse into the "ABC's" of biblical literacy, St. Mary's Press invites you to a free one-hour webinar on March 22, 2011. Click here to sign up.

CBS Registration—Years 2, 3 and 4

2011-03-18T11:39:00.000-04:00

Registration forms will be available next week online and in classes. The registration deadline originally published (March 15) is incorrect. Registrations will be due by May 1, 2011, with tuition deposits ($125) due June 1.

Breaking News—Archaeology of the Bible

2011-03-17T15:44:00.017-04:00

The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 unearthed more than just a new government. Truckloads full of missing archaeological artifacts came to light this week as a result of the regime change, including some rare ostraca (pottery inscribed with words and sketchings) that contain some of the oldest records of the Hebrew divine name, YHWH (Yahweh).

Photo by: Courtesy

The most interesting point for those who study the Bible, though, is the possibility that two of these ancient pottery vessels pair God's name with the name of what is (likely) the female goddess Asherah."One of the inscriptions refers to 'Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah,'" writes Hershel Shank, Editor of Biblical Archaeology Review (BAR) in the Jerusalem Post. "Another inscription refers to 'Yahweh of Teman and his Asherah.'"

Did the ancient Israelites once imagine God as having a female partner?

The evidence must be studied carefully before reasonable hypotheses can be put forward about what this new evidence suggests.

In any case, we know that Ashtaroth (plural of Asherah) were wooden poles (or possibly trees) that seem to have represented either Yahweh or a female version of Yahweh (perhaps a consort). The word Asherah is decidedly feminine and is well-established as the name of the Canaanite mother-goddess in several ancient belief-systems during the biblical era.

In the Bible, the worship of Ashtaroth was fiercely condemned by 8th century prophets and other biblical authors, such as the Deuteronomistic Historian (a late editor of the Books of Deuteronomy through 2 Kings). Would these authors have sought to abolish the Ashtaroth so fiercely if they did not think it posed a serious threat to their faith?

In that sense, the pairing of Yahweh with Asherah may simply confirm the persistence of a popular belief, common in Canaanite religions, that leaders in Israel worked hard to abolish in Israel. Whether this belief included a female god in partnership with Yahweh is likely but uncertain.

How did these findings come to light this week? Originally, these artifacts were discovered in the mid-seventies in the Sinai peninsula. They were given to Egypt as part of the Camp David Peace Agreement of 1979 and haven't been seen since.

Biblical scholars can now study these pieces carefully and, it is to be hoped, shed new light on the faith of ancient Israel.

To learn more about this important re-discovery, click here.

How to Lead Little Rock Scripture Studies

2011-03-17T08:30:00.007-04:00

Are you thinking about leading a parish Bible study, but aren't sure how to go about it? Then this workshop is for you!

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, the creators of the Little Rock Scripture series will be at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, to lead a "how-to" workshop for Biblical School graduates, parish leaders, and other friends. All who seek to encounter Christ in Scripture are welcome.

The Little Rock series is an excellent tool for parish-based Bible studies. Workshop participants will actually use the Little Rock materials themselves so that they leave with first-hand experience as well as information.

This program is free-of-charge, and lunch is provided. Graduates of the Biblical School and anyone else who leads (or might like to lead) parish Bible studies will find in this hands-on workshop an indispensable tool for using the most widely used parish-based Catholic Bible Study in North America. Advanced registration is required by April 22. Click here for a flyer and registration form. Or go to our website (orehartford.org) or contact Jill Costa at the Office of Religious Education for more information.

Free Bible Resources for Lent

2011-03-17T08:30:00.001-04:00

Loyola Press has free online tools for studying Scripture this Lent. They have programs designed specifically for youth, adults, and families in both English and Spanish. For more information, click here.

Words Made Flesh: Literary Forms in Genesis

2011-03-14T11:21:00.001-04:00

"Reflecting on today's first reading from Genesis (2:7-9; 3:1-7), we must take into consideration the literary and theological form of the first pages of the Bible. Like many stories in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, the Eden tale is an etiology -- a story that helps to explain important questions about the major realities of our life. Why is there pain in childbirth? Why is the ground hard to till? Why do snakes crawl upon the earth, etc?

"Genesis 2-3 suggests that knowledge, a necessity for human life, is something that is acquired painfully. Ignorance may be bliss, but it is certainly not the mark of adult maturity. When human beings finally understand what it means to be fully human, when they have complete knowledge, then the realities of life come into full relief in all of their complexity and difficulty. Knowledge is both enlightening and painful."

Reprinted from:
The Single-Heartedness, Faithfulness and Loyalty of God's Son
Biblical Reflection for 1st Sunday of Lent, Year A
By Father Thomas Rosica, CSB

To access all Fr. Rosica's reflections in Zenit on this past week's Sunday readings, click here.

CBS in the Hartford Courant

2011-03-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Our Celebration of Sacred Scripture is nearly upon us, and the Hartford Courant has picked up the story. Click here to see the article by Maria Zone, Director of the Archdiocesan Communications Office.

Job Opening for Book Lovers

2011-03-08T12:59:00.000-05:00

The Catholic Book Store is looking to hire a part-time sales associate for its store at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield. Approximately 20 hrs per week, some Saturdays included. Prior retail experience preferred. Must be able to bend and lift heavy boxes.

Contact: Jan Lemoine, Catholic Book Store, 467 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002, (860) 246-5628.

Words Made Flesh: Do Catholics Believe in "Justification by Faith"?

2011-03-08T08:30:00.003-05:00

Yes, yes, yes! Even though Catholics are often not familiar with the term "justification by faith," we absolutely affirm this New Testament teaching from St. Paul. Here is an excerpt on this past Sunday's readings, taken from Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB's weekly scripture commentary in ZENIT: The World Seen from Rome.

"Justification by Faith

"The Catholic Church proclaims that, just as the Bible indicates, justification and redemption come through the grace given by God because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Human beings cannot earn redemption or salvation. Neither is it won through good works. Good works are done though God's grace in response to God's redemptive work in Christ. Accordingly, Christ is the unique mediator between God and human beings.

"[Sun]day's second reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans (3:21-25, 28) provides a clear statement of Paul's 'gospel,' i.e., the principle of justification by faith in Christ. God has found a means of rescuing humanity from its desperate plight: Paul's general term for this divine initiative is the righteousness of God (Romans 3:21).

"Divine mercy declares the guilty innocent and makes them so. God does this not as a result of the law but apart from it, and not because of any merit in human beings but through forgiveness of their sins (3:24), in virtue of the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus for all who believe (3:22, 24-25). God has manifested his righteousness in the coming of Jesus Christ, whose saving activity inaugurates a new era in human history." (end quotation)

In other words, Christ's death and resurrection transforms the faithful as new creatures living in a new creation. True disciples of Christ live their lives rooted in Jesus, the Word of God incarnate.

This year, the archdiocesan Celebration of Sacred Scripture explores this very theme: Living in the New Creation. All are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is required by March 25. Click here for details.

To access Fr. Rosica's reflections in Zenit on this past week's Sunday readings, click here.

CBS Recommends—Learning About Sacred Scripture

2011-03-07T11:27:00.003-05:00

Looking for an opportunity to encounter God's Word this Lent?

St. Timothy Parish's Bible Series continues this week:

An Introduction to the Prophets
Presenter: Dr. Barbara Bozak, CSJ

Tuesday, Mar. 8, 2011, 7:00-8:30 pm

St. Timothy School, Milligan Hall

1116 North Main St., West Hartford

Advance reservations are appreciated. For more information and registration please call Ms. Pat Piano, St. Timothy Pastoral Associate: 860-232-8594

2012 Celebration of Sacred Scripture—All Are Welcome

2011-03-07T11:10:00.005-05:00

Sunday, April 3, 2011, 12:30-4:30 pm
Auditorium, Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary

All Are Welcome!
Pre-Registration Required by March 25

In two sessions, Fr. Thomas Stegman will explore with us, through the Church’s Lenten Sunday readings, Christ’s invitation to prepare for the celebration of Easter life. We will first reflect on what Jesus’ experience of temptations and his glorious Transfiguration teach us about our humanity. Then we will meditate on Jesus’ offer to drink living water, to see more clearly, and to come forth in freedom to live more fully the Paschal Mystery.

This program is open to the public and is an ideal program for Scripture enthusiasts at all levels of study. It is also a required “Scripture Day” for students enrolled in Years 2, 3 and 4 of the Catholic Biblical School (St. Thomas Seminary course numbers CBS 200 and 300).

Pre-registration by March 25 is required for all participants, including Catholic Biblical School and St. Thomas Seminary students. Download the registration form and complete brochure here. Registrations may be faxed to 860-243-9690, scanned and emailed to cbs@orehartford.org, or mailed \to the Office of Religious Education at 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002.

A free-will offering is requested at this event.

In case of inclement weather, please call (860) 243-9465 for cancellation notice.