Basic Certificates Awarded

Tuesday's Evening Prayer service at St. Jerome's Church in New Britain was punctuated by the conferral of certificates and awards to over TWO HUNDRED individuals (teens and adults) in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Fr. Christopher M. Tiano, Director of the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization, presided, with assistance from OREE staff: Shawnee Baldwin, Jill Costa, Miriam Hidalgo, BJ Daly Horell, and Jennifer McClintock. A catered reception followed in the church hall.

The following Catholic Biblical School students, representing 18 faith communities (16 Catholic parishes and 2 other Christian congregations) were awarded their Certificates in Basic Biblical Studies this week:

Janine Baryza-Ly

Nancy Brush

Laura Carnein

Marlene Carrier

Therese Cuccia

Madelyn Filomeno

Gigi Frailey

Richard Grayson

Martha Houlroyd

Susan Keller

Wilfred LaRose

Margaret Mader

Rosemarie Martocchio

Paula Mitchell

Ilse Nigro

Suzanne O'Brien

Patty Patrone-Onofrio

Lisa Pelletier

Maria Roja

Angela Ruggiero

Mary Samokar

Bernadette Slattery

Pat Sward

Michael Teiger

Peter Thomas

Philip Walker

Congratulations! We will pray that the Holy Spirit continue to guide you in your journey through the advanced levels of the Biblical School.

Weekly Bible Study ▪ John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

24 May 2015

Solemnity of Pentecost

Jesus has been quietly preparing our hearts to receive his Spirit. Have we been paying attention? Today’s Gospel and those of the last three Sundays have been taken from the “Farewell Discourse” of Jesus. In the context of a sacred meal, Jesus shares his deepest desires for all of us.

These five chapters in the fourth gospel are filled with language of love, assurance and hopefulness. We hear Jesus say, I will not leave you orphan …remain in my love…I call you my friends…your grief will become joy…Father, they are your gift to me.

Jesus also speaks here at length of an “Advocate” who will come. The title "Advocate" is telling. It speaks to us of companion, guide, comforter, counselor, one who stands by our side and and is concerned about all that concerns us. As John describes in today’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit witnesses, guides, declares and glorifies. And we ourselves are empowered and commissioned by the Spirit to witness, guide, declare and glorify, as Christ’s disciples.

Jesus goes to great lengths to give his followers assurance during this Last Supper discourse. In the part we hear in today’s Gospel, he also says something that might strike us as a little "odd": “I have much more to tell you," Jesus says, "But you cannot bear it now.” I can't help but wonder about this "more" he talks about! But we must be patient with God and with ourselves. Our “bearing of the truth” is a lifelong process in which the Spirit accompanies us as we grow into spiritual maturity. And as we grow in faith, our witness becomes stronger, as does the Spirit’s power at work in us.

So let us this week
• renew within our hearts the power of the Advocate at work within us
• continue to pray for an increase in the gifts that empower our discipleship
• grow in the truth so that we, too, may inspire, lead and guide others in the faith and therefore
• glorify God in all that we do.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

"Micro" Catechesis for Busy Adults

Being stewards of God’s gift of forgiveness

Central to the unique human and Christian vocations each individual receives from God is the call to be good stewards of those gifts. Stewardship is an expression of the discipleship called for by baptism. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have, are, and will be. They know themselves to be recipients and caretakers of God’s many gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another. Among the many responses of the grateful steward is prayer. The prayer of blessing and adoration is a dialogue in which one’s prayer ascends in acknowledgement and acceptance of the gifts God has already given that descend to humanity. The gifts are recognized as such and the one who prays acknowledges in humility that he or she is a creature before the Creator.

If we have received God’s gift of forgiveness then we have a responsibility to be stewards of that gift just as much as we are of any other gift. As Christian disciples we too must be people of forgiveness and people who carry out a ministry of reconciliation. In the fifth Beatitude, Jesus Christ teaches that God's mercy can penetrate the hearts of all people, allowing them to forgive their enemies through the example and help of Christ. As St. Paul wrote in his second letter to the Christian community in Corinth, “And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20a).

So God’s gift of forgiveness is not to be hoarded, but to be shared by generous Christian stewards.

Reflection Question
In what way do you feel yourself being called, as a disciple of Jesus Christ who has already been given God’s gift of forgiveness, to be a joyful steward of that gift and to be a forgiving and reconciling person?

Scripture to Explore
1 Corinthians 5

Additional References
Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1847, 2626, 2840, 2862
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults pp. 242-243, 450-454, 488
Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation MA.2.4.5, MA.3.2.34, MA.4.2.6, MA.5.2.3, MA.6.2.1


Resource for Adult Faith Formation
Prepared for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Distributed courtesy of the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)

© Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder.

Permission is hereby granted to all (arch)dioceses, parishes, Catholic schools, and other ecclesial entities to reproduce this document in whole or in part, in whatever form is most expedient, for the purposes of catechizing the People of God, provided that the copyright information on this page is included in its entirety. This grant does not diminish the rights reserved hereunder.

Weekly Bible Study - Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

17 May 2015

7th Sunday of Easter

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: May another take his place.” Psalm 109:8

As one engages in Bible Study, it is fascinating to explore the distinctive meanings Scripture places on particular numbers. For example, in today’s first reading we find of the selection of the twelfth apostle, to take the place of Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Surely eleven apostles could have carried on the work of Jesus, and there are certainly more than twelve people called “apostles” in the New Testament (eg., the Apostle Paul). But for the author of Acts, it seemed necessary that the original complement of twelve be restored.

Twelve is a very significant number in biblical theology, as are three and seven. Cited more than 180 times, the number twelve is a symbol of completion and fullness. It also may suggest the authority of God.

The choosing of the Twelve is built on the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel, derived from twelve patriarchs, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The church as the “New Israel” is seen as connected closely to the foundation of the twelve tribes.

The Book of Revelation is replete with references to twelve and its various multiples. For example, twelve gates encompassed the New Jerusalem, with a dozen precious stones adorning these gates. The dimensions of the holy city were derived from multiples of twelve. Revelation 7 describes twelve thousand to be saved from each tribe and a similar number ordained to serve the Lamb. The Bride of Christ, the Church, is adorned with a crown containing twelve stars.

The authors of Sacred Scripture here, as elsewhere, are engaging the symbolism of their time and culture to convey something important about the election of the Twelve. In the Acts of the Apostles, the election of Twelve assures readers that Jesus’ ministry continues in its fullest sense, even after his Ascension, through the ministry of the apostles and their successors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Weekly Bible Study - Acts 10:25-48

10 May 2015

6th Sunday of Easter

In the opening scene of today’s first reading the centurion Cornelius has just met Peter and pays him homage as if to a god. Who is this man and why his strange action? In order to appreciate the significance of this meeting, we need to take a few steps back into the story.

It may seem like their initial encounter, but Peter and Cornelius have met before – in a vision! Divine intervention has not only brought these two unlikely companions together, it has taught Peter a few profound lessons. The message of this vision has been unmistakable: God shows no partiality! The centurion Gentile is equally welcome into the fellowship of the faith community as his Jewish companion. Peter now admits the error of his previous thinking.

But there is more to shake up Peter’s sensibilities! Peter affirms that it is the Holy Spirit, not he, that has stirred the faithful, falling upon all who are listening, Jew and Gentile alike. The Jewish converts are astounded to hear the Gentile believers speaking in tongues and glorifying God. This community has now come together in a dynamic, spirit-filled way. This growing fellowship of believers will no longer be an exclusive club.

Peter’s remark early on in this passage is also very telling: “I myself am also a human being.” Lest we get caught up in the dynamism and charisma of our leaders, we need to be reminded of this truth. Leadership guides, inspires and challenges us in the faith. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, however, that moves the hearts and minds of believers, revealing the truths of our faith, calling the unbeliever to new life, growing the church in surprising ways, and ensuring the will of God that all may be one. Important lessons for the new leaders of the church – and for all of us!



The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Transcript Posts Online Article on HCBS

We are grateful to our archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Transcript, for sending reporter Jack Sheedy to our twentieth anniversary celebration. To read the Transcript article online, click here: http://www.catholictranscript.org/homepage/local-news/3881-sister-doretta-d-albero-is-honored-at-biblical-school-celebration.html.

Fr. Christopher Ford and Fr. Christopher M. Tiano with CBS alumna

Twentieth Anniversary Photos Now on Blog Page

Although we've posted a few of the many photos taken at our Anniversary Celebration, I invite you to click on our newest blog page, "PHOTOGRAPHS - CBS ANNIVERSARY 2015." The link is found under "Pages" in the right-hand column, just below the blog archive.

If you have photos you'd like to contribute to our collection, kindly email them to BJ at: catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Amy Ekeh, Fr. John Lavorgna, Msgr. Michael Motta, and other guests

Boadt Medal Awarded - Sr. Doretta D'Albero, ASCJ

In conjunction with our twentieth anniversary celebration last Friday evening (5/1/15), the Catholic Biblical School awarded the 2015 Fr. Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal to Sr. Doretta D'Albero, Class of 2013.

Fr. Boadt was Paulist priest and a great friend to the Hartford Catholic Biblical School. He worked closely with our students and graduates every year, even during his final illness in 2010. He had a gift for making the complexities of OT texts accessible to the minds and hearts of ordinary folks. The Archdiocese of Hartford’s undying respect for Fr. Boadt and his work is commemorated in the annual presentation of the Fr. Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal, which is given to a graduate of the Catholic Biblical School who demonstrates excellence in the study of Scripture and a record of promoting devotion to God's Word in their way of living.

Sr. Doretta lives the gospel message every day through her religious vocation, in her work at Apostles Immigration Services in New Haven, and in providing adult education programs at the Caritas Christi Center in Hamden.

If you know a CBS graduate who has earned your respect as a student of Scripture and a leader in fostering devotion to God's Word (Jesus Christ) in Scripture, contact the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization. We will send you a nomination form for the 2016 Boadt medal, which is scheduled to be awarded at next year's Celebration of Sacred Scripture.

Celebrating 20 Years!

On Friday, May 1st the Catholic Biblical School (CBS) of the Archdiocese of Hartford celebrated its 20th anniversary at a joyous reception with more than 150 people attending.

The celebration began with a prayer service designed and led by Angela Pietrowski Arpino, Class of 2008 and the 2010 Boadt Memorial Medal Recipient.  All 495 graduates of the Catholic Biblical School were remembered in prayer by name, and Biblical School students and alums proclaimed Scripture in word and song.

Hosted by Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, the reception and dinner provided an opportunity for students and alums to reminisce and share the renewed faith that the Catholic Biblical School has continued to provide them, through the years. Fr. Christopher M. Tiano and Ms. BJ Daly Horell paid tribute to Biblical School founders, Msgr. Michael Motta and Sr. Jewel Renna, who were present for the occasion.

For information about CBS and how to enroll, call: 860-242-5573 ext. 2679 or 203-880-4807.

Sr. Jewel Renna, CND; CBS Co-founder, with alums Sanita Gingras and Angela Arpino

Text for the Advanced Year Summer Assignment

FYI: I am in the process of changing the summer reading and writing assignment for students entering years three and four (CBS 400) this fall, so you will not need to purchase the O'Connor text, The Wisdom Literature. It is a wonderful read and a recommended text, but it will not be required this year.

Weekly Bible Study - John 15:1-8

3 May 2015
5th Sunday of Easter   

Time-lapse photography offers us a unique glimpse into the workings of plant

life. We may observe fragile tendrils of a vine as they reach out and wrap themselves around other branches, embracing and holding them tight in the process. It is no coincidence that Jesus uses this image to detail his relationship to the Father and describe his life within us.

Jesus uses an analogy to speak of the relationships between the Father (the “vine grower”) himself (the “vine”) and of his disciples (the “branches”). These are more than just familiar images. The analogy brings our attention to the connections between the vine, the vinegrower and the vine's branches. There are mutual responsibilities within this connectedness. The Father creates and sustains the life of the vine. The Son embraces, cares for and nurtures his own, his branches, sharing the life given by the vine grower with the branches. We not only remain secured to the vine, we draw from the very life of the vine to bear fruit: which is the reason the vine grower (God) planted the vine in the first place.

“Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” The branch cannot survive unless it is firmly attached to the source of its life. There is more to this analogy than a relationship of intimacy between Christ and his followers. This image suggests an integration of the disciple into the very life of Christ with God in the Spirit.

The follower not only draws life from the vine, but must “cultivate” that life and, as Jesus says, allow the Father to prune the branch. We draw from the divine nourishment as we nurture our inner life in communion with the church, through prayer, Scripture study, worship and sacraments. The follower who draws life from the vine must also bear fruit for others.

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul enumerates these fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  The health of the branches is evidenced in the fruit it produces. Bearing fruit is our way of giving glory back to the Father.

It is as simple as the everyday images that Jesus uses to speak of the kingdom of God: We draw our life from God and our nourishment from his Son that the church may bear the fruits of God's Spirit.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.