Fourth Years - Save the Dates!

GRADUATION 2017 at St. Thomas Seminary

Graduation 2009

·         Mt. Nebo Day is June 3, 2017

·         Prayer Service is Saturday, June 10, 11:00 am

·         Graduation is Saturday, June 10, 1:00 pm

All fourth year students will need to complete and turn in a graduation form to finalize certificates. These forms will be made available at the beginning of the third unit of study.

Favorite Bible Bits

For a recent homework assignment, first-year students were asked first to read Deuteronomy 30:15-20, then to respond to the question, "What is the message intended by the author of Deuternomy and how is this passage relevant for today." I got some wonderful answers, but here's one in particular I want to share with you this Advent:

In my opinion, the message intended by the author in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 reflects God’s desire for a deeply abiding relationship with the Israelites (“holding fast to him”). For Gpd knows that they can only truly experience his intentions for their well-being by following his ways. He spells it out for them so well: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse,” and “Choose life, then, that you … may live, by loving the Lord, … obeying his voice.” And “if you obey the commandments…loving the Lord…and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments…you will live and grow numerous…God will bless you in the land.”

God desires .. their complete trust, and He shows them how to reach that kind of relationship with Him. But notice that He gives them the choice to freely make. Thus they will be responsible for their choice: His justice (blessing or curse) is that he will give them what they freely choose.”

This Christmas, remember to choose the gift of God's love, who is Christ our Lord. Advent blessings. Merry Christmas.

Favorite Bible Bits

He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."  Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.  (1 Kings 19:11-12) [NRSV]

This particular translation/version of Elijah's encounter on Sinai/Horeb, for me, encapsulates and contains not only the "presence" of God; but the very profound "peace" of God. Have a happy, blessed and anticipatory Advent, Jim Creed, Class of 2019.

If you have a favorite Bible verse and would like to share it, along with a sentence or two about why it is your favorite, please email BJ at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Favorite Bible Bits

Submitted by Linda Ward, Class of 2015

One of my favorite Bible verses is taken from Psalms 25:4-9, a prayer for forgiveness and guidance. (NABRE)

"Make known to me your ways, Lord;
     teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
     for you are God my savior, for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your compassion and your mercy, O Lord, for they are ages old.
Remember no more the sins of my youth;
     remember me according to your mercy, because of your goodness, Lord."

If you have a favorite Bible verse and would like to share it, along with a sentence or two about why it is your favorite, please email BJ at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.