Summertime and the Livin' Is Easy

In my email inbox yesterday morning:

"It's Wednesday morning and, besides putting out the trash, I can relax and have another cup of coffee. I need not make sure that my homework is complete and printed out, nor make sure that my books, notebook and papers are packed in my messenger bag; nor do I have to be concerned that I have correctly interpreted the readings and homework questions. There is no need to to ponder and wonder if I have researched and answered all of the questions thoroughly enough or remembered to correctly cite all of my references.  But, 'who'd a thunk it,' I miss getting ready for class . . . . 'Go figure!'

"What I miss most, however, is the knowledge that I will be spending my morning with a very rare and precious group of people who have become so very special in my life. Have a great day and know that you are being thought of and prayed for."

--Jim Creed, Class of 2019

CBS 200 Assignment

(But while you're relaxing, don't forget your summer book assignment!)

Bible Study This Summer

For anyone who wants a "taste" of Bible study, or if you simply can't get enough of God's Word, the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis is offering two inexpensive mini-courses in July:

Bible Basics July 6, 7 & 8, 1:00 p.m.— 4:00 p.m. with Sr. Mary Kolbe Heffern, F.S.E. at Sacred Heart High School, 142 South Elm Street, Waterbury

New Testament July 19, 20 & 21,10:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. with Fr. Robert Turner at St. Augustine Church, 30 Caputo Road, North Branford 

Other courses are also being offered in Catholic Beliefs, Christian Social Teaching, Christian Morality and Sacraments.

Click here for more information on the Office of Catholic Schools website.

This event could be an authorized make-up for certain requirements towards archdiocesan and seminary certificates in biblical studies. Register with Sr. Mary Kolbe, as indicated above. Authorization for make up is through BJ Daly Horell in the CBS Office: catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Ray Crawford Memorial Stone

As you are all aware, this year we lost a treasure – our friend, classmate, and fellow student, Ray Crawford.  Ray’s easygoing kindness, unassuming wisdom, and love for God’s Word were a powerful witness to all of us who knew him.

Ray’s Biblical School class is planning to purchase a memorial stone to be placed in the Rosary Garden at St. Thomas Seminary, where Ray attended classes and where we all gather for Scripture Days and CBS events.

We are raising funds for the stone and would like to give everyone who wishes the opportunity to contribute to the stone.  We estimate that the stone will cost around $200. Any extra funds that we raise will be contributed to the Catholic Biblical School’s scholarship fund, a cause we’re certain Ray would support wholeheartedly.

Thank you so much for your interest and your care for Ray and the Biblical School community. Click here to donate: https://www.gofundme.com/236jet4g.

Great New CBS Location!

Less than 10 minutes from Bristol and Thomaston!
Less than 20 minutes from Waterbury and Torrington!

A new Catholic Biblical School first-year class will begin on Monday evenings in Plymouth/Terryville, this September. To find out more and download an application, visit www.orehartford.org, and click on "Our Programs" then "Catholic Biblical School."

Enrollment is by interview, before August 15. Contact us now to set it up: (860) 242-5573, ext. 2670.

         

A joint venture of St. Casimir and Immaculate Conception Churches, the 11,300 square feet social and educational facility was dedicated on Sunday, March 21, 2004 by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell.  This new building is located at 181 Main Street (Route 6) in Terryville, on the site of the original LYCEUM which was built in 1904.  Located across the street fromImmaculate Conception Church and a short walk from St. Casimir Church, this state-of-the-art facility has banquet seating for 250 and 4 classrooms has become yet another piece of the revitalization of Main Street. Click here for more information about the Lyceum.

Not Strictly Biblical, but Interesting!

Second-year student, Maura Stavovy, emailed me recently to remind me of a very interesting opportunity that might interest readers. It's the Yale Youth Ministry Institute. Here are some particulars:

This ​week-long ​course ​is ​designed ​for ​pastors, ​seminarians, ​lay ​leaders, ​and ​youth ​ministers. ​Each night from 6:30 to 9pm, we ​will ​gather ​for ​evening ​fellowship ​dinners, ​lectures, ​and ​workshop ​breakouts ​to ​name and discuss some of the ​adversities our ​youth ​face every day. Throughout the week, we will learn with and from one another some concrete ways to combat these adversities to better ​nurture ​the ​foundations ​of ​joyful, ​flourishing ​lives. ​Yale ​Divinity ​School’s ​standard ​charge ​for ​a ​Summer ​Study ​course ​is ​$450. ​The ​Youth ​Ministry ​Institute ​is ​providing ​each ​registrant ​for ​this ​program ​a ​$400 ​scholarship, ​reducing ​the ​tuition ​for ​each ​registrant ​to ​$50 ​for ​the ​entire ​week-long ​program.

Topics for the Week:

• Social Media: What You Need to Know
• Burnout in the Gap: Youth Ministry in the Midst of Adversity
• Youth on Lockdown: Ministry to Youth on the Pipeline to Prison
• Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts: Using Art to Heal the Effects of Trauma

Click here to Register!

Bible Study "a Delight" in Wethersfield

Living and Leading in God's Word

Fourteen energetic, insightful and inquisitive adults make the Bible Study at Incarnation Parish in Wethersfield a delight, according to Barbara Gawle, Class of 2001. Now in its eleventh year, the group meets for ten sessions each fall and spring. Students typically move line by line or section by section through the Sacred Word, stopping to discuss, reflect and look at daily living through the lens of God’s revealed word. "This year they undertook perhaps the most challenging book yet," mused Gawle, who facilitates the study, "the Book of Jeremiah." After learning of the topic for next year  – the Gospel of Luke – one member remarked, “Compared to Jeremiah, it will be a piece of cake!”