God's Word Comes Alive in Love

This Advent, some students in the advanced class of the Biblical School came together to give of their time and substance to families residing in South Park Inn this Christmas. What a joy to serve God's people! In the words of student Jennifer O'Neill, who organized the effort:

"When we entered the shelter we were warmly greeted by two adorable little boys who were very clearly filled with the joy of this season. It was striking given the environment they seemed to be oblivious to. The staff was incredibly gracious and appreciative of the packs and assured us that the families were all set for the holidays.

"Our simple acts will contribute to making Christmas a little merrier for some of the youngest and most vulnerable members of society that Jesus would have fully embraced.  One of the passages from Busted Halo’s Advent Calendar last week read “Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” from Neal Maxwell. I believe we throw open the doors to the inn when we remind others of their worthiness even in small acts like stuffing a back pack."

The South Park volunteers also reminded us that the homeless need to experience their place in our community all year long. We can connect with them through visits, prayers and support. Christ and his church delights when we generously give of our time, our knowledge, our spirit and our substance throughout the year. Thank you: Anne-Marie, Donna, Elaine, Epi, Jen, Jim, Joan,  Phyllis, Regina, Sandy, Tom, and Tracey.

A Holy and Merry Christmas to all! We invite you each and every one to join us in learning about God's presence in Holy Scripture.

Check us out on www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org, on Twitter at @cbshartford, on Facebook at Hartford Catholic Biblical School. Or contact us at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

CBS Graduation and Award Ceremony Announced!

All CBS students, alums and faculty, along with their family and are invited to attend the Archbishop's Award Ceremony on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's Cathedral.

Students who are receiving a certificate of any kind (most students completing two or four years) will receive those at this event and are expected to attend. Registration and RSVP information will follow this spring.

Advent Day of Reflection: The Spiritual Path of Emptying

12/9/17 Advent Day of Reflection at the Caritas Christi Center, led by BJ Daly Horell. To register, contact Sr. Jeanne Marie Van der Haar at jmvonderhaar@ascjus.org (or call (203) 281.2569) by Wednesday, 12/6. Cost: $20.

God Blessed Granduncle Barney

Fr. Solanus is seated at his mother's left hand;
Grandma is the middle of the three sisters standing.

My grandma, Genevieve Casey, had a famous brother. He is known to most as Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM, Capuchin, and before a crowd of 66,000 witnesses in Detroit on November 18, 2017, Fr. Solanus was declared Blessed. Beatified. The Catholic Church officially bears witness that Fr. Solanus dwells with Jesus in heaven.

But in my childhood imagination (which I can't shake, thanks be to God) he is Granduncle "Barney," a nickname derived from his given name, Bernard Casey. And no, it's not burrNARD, as in the French, but BURRnerd, as the Irish say it. I was oddly pleased when the papal proclamation included Fr. Solanus's baptismal name. I recognized Bernard Casey, even in its Latin form.

Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap.

Since I returned from what was, for me, a profoundly meaningful weekend in Detroit (11/16-19), I have been asked many times to describe my experience. I have found this difficult. For the sake of those who have asked, and out of both a sense of gratitude and an awareness of my unworthiness, here are two ways in which the powerful love of Jesus has been newly manifest to me through the Beatification of Fr. Solanus.

First, I feel I have been stripped of doubts and can dwell more deeply in heavenly peace. These include self-doubts that have sometimes kept me from believing in the possibility of my own salvation.

I also feel as though I know Fr. Solanus on a deeper level than ever before. The depth of his devotion to Our Lord seems to have entered me in a new way. I think it's called inspiration.

I will be on the lookout for any more blessings that come my way through the newly Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap. Feel free to share your own thoughts and blessings as you get to know the new "Blessed" among us. Feel free to email me at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Casey generations at Ford Field, Detroit 2017

Are All Bibles Created Equal?

Because the Bible originates within faith communities, diverse Christian faith communities revere different texts as part of Sacred Scripture. So the answer is no. All Bibles are not exactly the same. The reasons for this are complicated and the story extends over centuries. But here's a simplified version put forward by Bill Hogan, CBS Class of 2018:

On the one hand, the Catholic canon (list of sacred books) for the Old Testament follows the canon as practiced within the early Christian church. On the other hand, the Protestant Bible follows the canon developed by the Jewish community in ancient times.

The early Christian church primarily used the Septuagint of the Hebrew Bible, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, and some additional writings that were primarily written within the Greek-speaking Jewish community of the diaspora (Jews residing outside of the Holy Land). 

The Christian canon was developed and ratified throughout the centuries by several church councils, but sixteenth century Protestant reformers chose to include in their Bibles only the books of the Hebrew Bible (TaNaKh).

The additional books included in the Catholic Bible are called the deuterocanonical (secondary canon) books by Catholics. They are called Apocrypha (hidden) books by most Protestants, and they include: Wisdom of Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Baruch, Tobit, Judith, and some parts that were added in the Greek translations of the canonical books of Daniel and Esther.

The difference in the number or books in the Bible is only found in the Old Testament. All Christians profess the same 27 books of the New Testament. Can you name them? Have fun trying!

Missionary Discipleship Display at St. Thomas Seminary

All week, as part of our National Bible Week celebration, a display will honor missionary disciples in the Archdiocese of Hartford, with honors going to our Biblical School students and alums. Drop by the main foyer of St. Thomas Seminary to check it out.

Bible Giveaway at Seminary Mass

Monday, November 13, the Catholic Biblical School is giving away new copies of the New American Bible, revised in 2010, at the 12:10pm mass in the St. Thomas Seminary Chapel, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Fr. Roland LaPlante, Senior Priest will be celebrating and will bless the Bibles as part of the festivities.

Join us!

Little Rock Scripture Study Wishes You an Enlightening Bible Week!

Make National Bible Week, November 12-18, a time of learning and reflection. Make use of our free resource: Nourished and Strengthened by God’s Word 2017 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Our bishops are urging the American faithful to participate in National Bible Week 2017 by exploring the intimate connection between God’s sacred word and the faith proclaimed by the Catechism. Each day of this week Little Rock Scripture Study invites you to ponder how the Bible nourishes several vital teachings of the Catechism found in sections 101-141. Sunday, November 1 Sections 101 and 102 of the Catechism affirm God’s revelation to humanity through human words, culminating in the ultimate revelation of God in the Word who became one of us. Read More >>

Haz de la Semana Nacional de la Biblia, 12-18 de noviembre, un tiempo de aprendizaje y reflexión. Utiliza nuestro recurso gratuito: Alimentados y Fortalecidos por la Palabra de Dios. El 2017 marca el vigésimo quinto aniversario del Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica. Nuestros obispos están exhortando a los fieles estadounidenses a que participen en la Semana Nacional de la Biblia 2017 explorando el vínculo íntimo entre la palabra sagrada de Dios y la fe proclamada por el Catecismo. Cada día de esta semana el Estudio Bíblico de Little Rock los invita a que reflexionen cómo la Biblia alimenta varias enseñanzas del Catecismo que se encuentran en las secciones 101-141. Domingo, 12 de noviembre Las secciones 101 y 102 del Catecismo afirman la revelación de Dios a la humanidad a través de palabras humanas, culminando en la máxima revelación de Dios en la Palabra que se convirtió en uno de nosotros. Read More >>

Little Rock Scripture Study, 2950 Saint John's Road, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321 Phone: 1.800.858.5434 or 320.363.2213 Buy Online: littlerockscripture.org © Copyright 2017 Little Rock Scripture Study, Little Rock, Arkansas. All rights reserved. A ministry of the Diocese of Little Rock

CBS Recommends

Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop

The Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop teaches praying with sacred scriptures through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. It represents a Christian tradition of prayer that nourishes and deepens our relationship with God through reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the Word of God. Here are the details:

• Holy Family Retreat Center
• November 11, 2017
• 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Presenters: Mike Smoolca, Contemplative Outreach, CT and Nancy Stimac, Catholic Biblical School Boadt Memorial Medal 2013.
• $40 Offering requested

To register, click here: https://www.holyfamilyretreat.org/cce/introductoryworkshop02.

This program is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School (CBS) but is approved as a "make-up" for certain CBS requirements. Contact BJ at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org for more information.

Does Not Wisdom Call? Every Day!

As advanced-year students in the Biblical School near the end of their study of Wisdom, consider this reflection by Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB.*

"A story from folk literature tells of a pilgrim who meets an angel on the road. In one hand the angel is carrying a flaming torch, in the other hand a bucket of water. The pilgrim asks, 'Where are you going?' The angel answers, 'With the flaming torch I am going to burn down all the mansions of heaven; with this bucket of water I'm going to quench all the fires of hell. Then we will discover who really loves God!'

This charming little story sounds like something we could find in the Wisdom literature of the Bible. Instead of trying to figure out how to get to heaven or how to stay out of hell, open your heart to Lady Wisdom daily."

Wiederkehr's story reminds me very much of the wager between God and Ha-satan in the opening chapters of the Book of Job.


*Published in "Romancing the Word," a column in Little Rock Connections monthly online newsletter. To see the entire reflection, access the Little Rock Scripture website by clicking here: http://cdnlrss.blob.core.windows.net/email/2017/sept/connections/default.html 

Wintry Weather Winds Up!

CBS students and auditors are reminded that it is your responsibility to check each week for any cancellation notifications that might be in effect for your class. These notices appear on the official records site for St. Thomas Seminary known as "STSRegistrar."

Test yourself today, to be sure you can access the notifications before you need to on some snowy day. Your CBS student ID is the password you'll need to log in.* Here are several ways to link to the STSRegistrar site you need:

• Go to www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org and click on the link to STSRegistrar found on both the "Beyond the Basics" and "Student Matters" pages. 
• Or go directly to STSRegistrar at: http://www.stsregistrar.org/cgi-bin/CBS/cbsstudentlogin.pl.

Students who do not have access to the internet must either 1) during office hours, contact the OEEC office  (860-242-5573, ext. 2670), or 2) outside office hours, make arrangements with a fellow-student to get the information by email or telephone. OEEC office hours are M-F 8:30-4:30.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: KEEP YOURSELF SAFE! Cancellations will be made based on the locations of classes and the teachers. If conditions differ at your location, use your judgment and err on the side of safety. Later on you can speak to your teacher directly to let them know what happened.

*Login instructions are included with the OEEC website links, as above. Or click on this link. Jennifer McClintock and Kelsey Meczywor can assist you, if you are having trouble logging in (860-242-5573).

Spirituality of the New Testament Book of Hebrews

Register now for the second in our series of Catholic Biblical School continuing education offerings, Tuesday, November 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at St. Thomas Seminary. Fr. Frank Matera, the pastor of St. Mary, Simsbury, and Catholic University New Testament Professor Emeritus. will lead us in exploring the New Testament book of Hebrews.

Online registration is required by November 8 at https://goo.gl/forms/n6P9STaxz0vfFADH2.

All are welcome! Bring a friend. The continuing education series is intended for Biblical School graduates but is open to anyone who wants to engage the Bible more deeply.

This offering could be used as a make-up for certain CBS requirements. Contact BJ Daly Horell to find out more: catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

WANTED: Missionary Disciples

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School wants to know how you are living as a missionary disciple by

Jackie Welgowski, Pat Keck, and Carol Moriarty
CBS alumna and missionary disciples

promoting devotion to God's Word, the Bible, within the Archdiocese of Hartford. We are planning a display for National Bible Week (November 12-18) and invite you to send photos and a brief description of a Bible-based ministry you are involved with for inclusion in a display at St. Thomas Seminary.

Are you a lector? A catechist? Do you lead a prayer group? Are you leading Bible study or RCIA? Bible-based ministries come in many different forms, happen in many different places, and are led by people with a variety of gifts (but the same Spirit inspires each!). Whether or not you are a Biblical School alum, we'd like to hear how you are witnessing to the power of God's Word in your community.

Some examples can be found in this blog under the title, "Living and Leading in God's Word." Here are three examples to start with:

• Nancy Stimac, Class of 2011
• Tom Hynes, Class of 2019
• Leslie Roncari Marconi, Class of 2015

Please submit by November 8, 2017 to: catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org. Electronic submissions preferred. All submissions become the property of the Archdiocese of Hartford and cannot be returned. Sponsored by Catholic Biblical School and Archbishop O'Brien Library, St. Thomas Seminary.

Little Rock Connections ~ Good News for Today

Check out the Liturgical Press/Little Rock Scripture Study blog. This month's post by Dr. Mary Elizabeth Sperry, USCCB Associate Director of Permissions, explains the origins and focus of National Bible Week (Nov. 12-18, 2017).

Click here to find out more: http://cdnlrss.blob.core.windows.net/email/2017/oct/lr_connections/default.html.

USCCB National Bible Week Nov. 12-18, 2017

How will you celebrate God’s Word in your life during the USCCB's National Bible Week? Let us know what you have planned in your faith communities. Here's what you we have planned for you:

• Invite a friend to attend Catholic Biblical School (CBS) open classes (free of charge) during National Bible Week. Registration is required so we can ensure everyone has a seat at the table. Click here to see class dates and locations, and to sign up to attend: https://goo.gl/forms/0L6cAPVcB01yJYpo2.

• Special Event: The Spirituality of the Book of Hebrews, with Fr. Frank Matera, November 14th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Seminary (light refreshments beginning at 6:00 p.m.) Click here to register by November 8: https://goo.gl/forms/KIcxzINM7iLZCbXM2.

• Monday Mass at St. Thomas Seminary Chapel, with Fr. Roland LaPlante, Senior Priest, 12:10 p.m. (Giveaways planned.)

• Check out the Archbishop O'Brien Library exhibit, Missionary Discipleship and God's Word!

Some CBS  2017 graduates: Patty Patrone-Onofrio,
Laura Carnein; Lisa Pelletier; Therese Cuccia

Current Student Reminder: Tuition Due

With the exception of students who are enrolled in a payment plan, all current students in the Hartford Catholic Biblical School are expected to complete their tuition payments in October. Total tuition due is $350 (less any scholarship funds received).

For-credit students are also reminded that your $80 administrative fee is due this month as well, for a total payment of $430.

If you have not already made your final payment, please send a check payable to OEEC for the remaining amount to: Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis, Attn. Jill Costa, Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002.

As Sandy Everett, Year 3 student, reminded me yesterday, tuition in most Catholic Biblical Schools across the country are typically much higher than our tuition! Thanks for responding promptly in this matter.

Hasmonean coins from the era of John Hyrcanus I, 127-104 BC(E).
Not redeemable for CBS tuition!

Added Value! CBS Audio Presentations Online

I'll be the last to suggest that the Hartford Catholic Biblical School (HCBS) rides the cutting edge of technology. We're slow to keep pace, but we do get there eventually.

Take our new initiative this fall. Students currently enrolled in the Catholic Biblical School core courses can now access class lectures online, from the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis website: www.catholicedaohct.org. Three of our teachers are offering recordings of class lectures in CBS 100 (Year One, Alexis Chacchia); CBS 200 (Year Two, Amy Ekeh); and CBS 400 (Advanced Year, Orange Workbook, BJ Daly Horell). Students can now review class lectures in audio form as they prepare their self studies (homework) each week. 

Demonstrations of the system were provided at each of our Opening Scripture Days. If you are a current student and need help gaining access, please contact us in the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis and ask for tech assistance: (860) 242-5573. 

Now, once you've registered and can log in, you'll see a list of sound files that have file names that look like this: 10.04.17 CBS 400 1.5 BJ. That indicates the date of the lecture (October 4, 2017) the course number (CBS 400/Advanced Year, Orange Workbook), the lesson number (Unit 1 Lesson 5) and the initials of the instructor (BJ, for BJ Daly Horell). 

And you'll probably notice that we are still working out some of the kinks, so please bear with us! For example, the sound quality of the CBS 400 recording this week is not what I wished for. We will persevere, however, and we expect eventually to have a library of 120 lectures available online for students in the HCBS core program.

Living and Leading in God's Word

Call me no longer Naomi. Call me Mara,

for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. (Ruth 19:20)

Like Naomi in the book of Ruth, Sheila Clare DeLuca, CBS Class of 2016, seems to have God's poetry within.

Exhibit A: "Call Me Mara"

A contributor to the new Wisdom Commentary series DeLuca writes: "I love Mara.... I understand her sorrow but, even greater, her failure to grasp her God's wisdom as she declares the numerous 'afflictions' she has received at God's hand.... This is the place most difficult to acknowledge for the faithful; where we feel neglected, rejected, or forgotten by the One who matters most to us.... This loss of relationship ... brings the faithful to a crossroads: one made by God." (Wisdom Commentary, Vol. 8, Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2017, p. 48)

The new biblical commentary series from Liturgical Press is currently in process. The Ruth volume is written by scholars Alice Laffey and Mahri Leonard-Fleckman (former CBS faculty member). Each volume in the series intends to invite additional voices, co-authors like Sheila DeLuca, to enter into dialogue with the text in meaningful ways.

I give thanks to God for Sheila, who is living and leading in God's word on an international level, and for all in our communities who are engaging God's Word in fruitful ways as missionary disciples.

How will the Bible inspire you? To find out, Read, Reap and Rise with the Catholic Biblical School.

Living and Leading in God's Word

Tommy Hynes, Catholic Biblical School (CBS) Class of 2019 and member of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Manchester, puts his musical talent at the service of God for the benefit of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

As reported by Andy Krupowies in the Journal Inquirer, Manchester CT:

"Call it divine intervention. Tenor Tom Hynes does.... When people were making New Year’s resolutions in January, he prayed to God to help him tap into his creativity and create music. Months later, he had a song, thanks to his choir director [Jane Peacock] and a fellow choir member, which is now available online. WJMJFM 88.9 has been airing the song as well. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital....

“'This is a divine inspirational song that touches anyone who has lost someone close,' Hynes said."

Through weekly encounters with the Word of God, CBS participants like Tom Hynes are using their creative minds and hearts to make a difference in others' lives for the glory of God's Reign.

The song, "Heaven's Voice" is sung by Tom Hynes and fellow choir member, Pat Holmes.

To hear Tom and Pat sing "Heaven's Voice," click on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fInJ7BXgaI.

To benefit St. Jude Hospital, purchase "Heaven's Voice" for 99 cents at: Cdbaby.com.

New Student Scripture Day September 9th

All first-year students in the Catholic Biblical School are required to attend our Opening Scripture Day (orientation and first lessons) at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, on September 9, 2017, 8:50-3:00 p.m.

Stephen J. Binz, author and independent scholar, will introduce us to the Old Testament and to our first weekly lesson, I.1 Call of Moses.

If you haven't scheduled your enrollment interview yet, what are you waiting for? Call Jill or BJ at 860-242-5573.

Last Call to Enroll in CBS Fall 2017

Read the Bible, Reap Deep Rewards, and Rise to New Life in Christ Jesus!

Bible classes in Waterbury, Milford, Hamden and Bloomfield are starting September 9. We still have a few more spots! Is the Lord calling you to a meaningful encounter with God's Word? Call today to find out more about all that the Hartford Catholic Biblical School has to offer your journey in faith. Ask for Jill or BJ: 860-242-5573.

Read, Reap and Rise to New Life!

God's Word is alive and brings life. The Catholic Biblical School is "on tour" this month throughout the Archdiocese. Our Information Fairs are informal settings to learn more about what we offer and to discern whether the Biblical School is a path to which you might be called at this time in your journey of faith.

If you are interested in learning more about the archdiocesan Biblical School, register and join us for one of the Info Sessions scheduled this month:

• St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield: Aug. 15, 7:00 p.m.

• Christ Redeemer Parish Center, Milford: Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m.

• Caritas Christi Center, Hamden: Aug. 23, 10:00 a.m.

• Our Lady of Loreto Parish Center, Waterbury, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.

At each event you will have an opportunity to enroll for this fall's first-year programs, to be held in the same locations, at the same times as our Info Fairs.

Click this link to let us know you're coming: https://goo.gl/forms/MuNWiAxJf8MKd3uF2.

Or check us out online at: http://catholicedaohct.org/basic-information. What do you have to gain? Life in Christ Jesus our LORD and brother.

Engaging the Bible for Missionary Discipleship

Are you a missionary disciple?

Are you a baptized Christian?

To what extent have you encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus?

Do you experience the urgency of living actively as a disciple of Jesus?

If you are still unsure about how to be a missionary disciple, come to one of our CBS Information Sessions this month:

• St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield: Aug. 15, 7:00 p.m.
• Christ Redeemer Parish Center, Milford: Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m.
• Caritas Christi Center at Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden: August 23, 10:00 a.m.
• Our Lady of Loreto Parish Center, Waterbury, August 24, 2017, 6:30 p.m.

Engaging the Bible in your now and your everyday is a life-giving practice for being a missionary disciple.

Missionary Disciple #3

So what does it mean to be a missionary disciple?

Linda Mickiewicz, an ordinary Catholic
 who excels in missionary discipleship,
receives the Boadt medal from Archbishop Blair.
.

It means that if we truly follow Jesus, truly live with Christ in our hearts, then the love of God overflows into our now and our every day.

The bishops tell us that missionary disciples are Christians who 1) have known Christ and 2) seek to help others share in Christ’s life-giving gift of himself to humankind.

Pope Francis explains it this way, “every baptized Christian is a missionary disciple to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus.”*

That's it. No donning a safari hat or hiking boots. No particular training. (Although lifelong learning, beginning with Sunday mass, is an important part of being a baptized Catholic.)

So, are you baptized? To what extent have you encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus? To exactly that extent, you are equipped to live as a missionary disciple.

*The Joy of the Gospel, No. 120; http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html). 

Missionary Disciple #2

What does it mean to be a missionary disciple?

For an answer, let’s turn to one of the best sources for learning about our faith: prayer. How we pray is often the surest sign of what we believe.

So, how did the US Conference of Catholic Bishops ask us to pray when the Convocation convened in July? They invited all the faithful to implore God to “move us to welcome the word of life in the depths of our hearts and respond to the call of missionary discipleship.”*

So, being a missionary disciple has something to do with welcoming Christ, the word of life, into our hearts, minds and souls. That’s the disciple part.

It also has something to do with being a missionary. Does a missionary disciple have to travel to exotic places or have special schooling to preach the gospel? Our next post will consider that question and more.

*http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/get-involved/meetings-and-events/prayer-for-the-2017-convocation-of-catholic-leaders.cfm

On Being a Missionary Disciple

This summer, the Archdiocese of Hartford joined with dioceses from all over the United States for the first gathering of US Catholic leaders (clergy, lay and religious) in history. Twenty-six delegates of the Archdiocese of Hartford included three members of the OEEC: Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, Provost for Education, Evangelization and Catechesis; Miriam Hidalgo, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry; and Lisa Orchen, Director of Catechetical Initiatives.

The focus of the meeting was to “form leaders who will be equipped and re-energized to share the Gospel as missionary disciples.”*

But what does it actually mean to be a missionary disciple? Is it just for “religious” Catholics, or does that apply to me too?

We will explore these questions in upcoming blog posts.

*USCCB website: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/get-involved/meetings-and-events/usccb-convocation-2017.cfm

Best of Barron 4 July 17

Tuesday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I MT 8:23-27 Bishop Barron writes: Out of the depths, I have cried to you, O Lord. Psalm 130 is "the prayer offered at the darkest times of life, when we feel utterly incapable of helping ourselves. "During the storm, Jesus' disciples cried out to the Lord in desperation: 'O Lord, we are drowning; don't you care?' Perhaps there are some people reading this right now who feel themselves in this precise situation.... "If that's you, then pray as the disciples did. Awaken someone who can help. Jesus sleeping in the midst of the storm" shows that God has supreme power "over even the darkest and most difficult trials that life throws at us."

Teaching Ministry for CBS Alums

Cathy deSimas, Class of 2004

Would you like to be considered for a new teaching ministry in the Archdiocese of Hartford? Are you a Catholic Biblical School (CBS) graduate?

You may have heard that CBS has a new, introductory program called Making Sense of the Bible. This six-week introduction to reading the Bible was piloted in five parishes throughout the Archdiocese in 2016-17 and has met with enthusiastic success. An updated version will be ready for wider use beginning in Fall 2017.

The program is modeled on the CBS core program and was designed by two Hartford Biblical School faculty members, Amy Ekeh and BJ Daly Horell. This short course is less intense than the four-year program, but it contains most of the educational practices of the CBS Core Program. Homework is minimal and, though strongly encouraged, is not mandatory.

The next teacher training is scheduled for Thursday, August 17, 1:00-4:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield in Conference Room C (second floor). Interested CBS graduates should contact BJ Daly Horell in the OEEC at (860) 242-5573, ext. 2679, to get more information and to indicate your desire to become a candidate in this ministry. At that time, we can talk at more length to discern mutually whether this might be a good “fit” for you at this time.

CBS 2017 Grads and Basic Certificate Holders at Cathedral

CBS Registration for Continuing Students

All CBS students who anticipate continuing with their studies in the Fall of 2017 must submit a registration form this week. If you are unable to register at this time, you need to email BJ by Monday to let her know your intention to continue. Email: Catholic.Biblical.School@aohct.org.

Registration materials can be downloaded online at http://catholicedaohct.org/beyond-the-basics/registering-for-years-2-3-and-4.

If you've already registered, thank you! Have a relaxing and refreshing summer, enjoy your summer reading (http://catholicedaohct.org/beyond-the-basics/student-matters), and I'll see you at your Opening Scripture Day (OSD) on August 26! For OSD details check the online calendar at www.catholicedaohct.org.

Leslie Roncari Marconi, CBS Class of 2015

"Do no harm ever to the earth, to the air, to the water, to the soil" says Leslie Marconi on  Talk of Connecticut, the Dan and Brad Show yesterday.

Leslie is a woman of deep faith and a parishioner of the (newly renamed) Catholic community in Windsor Locks: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She owns DiRonco Lawn and Garden Care, and has made it her mission "to always treat out soils, air and waterways with reverence and nurturing care."

Listen to the podcast about creating an ecosystem in your lawn, and learn how to give true worship to God (my words) by caring for Creation http://www.talkofconnecticut.com/the-brad-dan-show/2017/05/31/brad-dan-podcast--may-31-2017-marconi-says-organic-is-the-answer. Then check out Laudato Si, for the connection between care of the earth, care of neighbor, and the love of God for all of us.

A "shout out" to Leslie's classmates, Barbara Kaminsky and Beth Polio, for alerting us to Leslie's wonderful, unique "lawn and garden" ministry!

Summer Assignments!

Year 2

Summer is a time for fun in the sun and catching up on your reading--or both at once! Okay, so I'm a book nerd (and proud of it).

This year's summer reading assignments for CBS students are paperback classics that easily go with you on day trips and on vacation. When you're finished, six reflective questions will help deepen your understanding. (Answers are, of course, due at Opening Scripture Days.)

Here's where you can find the details online: CBS Summer Assignments.

Advanced Years

Year 1

Best of Barron

6th Week of Easter, Year I
John 16:12-15

Bishop Barron writes:

"Friends, the theme of today’s Gospel declares that when the Spirit comes, he will guide us into all truth. There is a story I’ve heard about Jean-Luc Marion.... A student asked a pointed question about God. Marion looked at her and said, 'Go to Sunday Mass for a year and then return and ask me that question again.'

"Marion’s response was not just a clever one-liner. If true knowledge of God depends upon immersion in the Holy Spirit, then that knowledge is a function of an entire form of life.
...

"[Understanding] the divine mystery flows from life in the Holy Spirit. And so today we pray, 'Come, Holy Spirit, come!'"

For Bishop Barron's reflection in its entirety, click here: http://dailycatholicgospel.com/get-reflections.

Returning Students: Register by June 15th

Everything needed to register for the Catholic Biblical School Years 2, 3 and 4 can be downloaded at this online address: http://catholicedaohct.org/beyond-the-basics/registering-for-years-2-3-and-4.

Summer reading assignments and questions can be found on another page of that same site. Once you are on the "Registering for Years 2, 3 and 4" page, click on "Student Matters" in the menu (on the right-hand side of the page). There you'll find a link to the Advanced Year Summer Assignment.

NOTE that the new CBS webpages have been moved to the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis site at www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org.

And remember: Scripture Day is August 26! Details can be found on the CBS online calendar (also to be found at www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org.) Reserve the date now! Two renowned scripture scholars will be with us from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Updated Class Schedule

Catholic Biblical School first-year classes will meet at the following times and locations in 2017-18:

CBS 100 Year One (Blue Workbook) Weekly Class Schedule*:

Christ Redeemer, Milford

Mondays 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Begins September 11, 2017

St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Begins September 12, 2017

Caritas Christi Center, Hamden, CT
Wednesdays, 10:00 am-noon
Begins September 13, 2017

Our Lady of Loreto, Waterbury
Thursdays 6:30-8:30
Begins September 14, 2017

For details, go to www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org and click on Catholic Biblical School in the main menu.

Please also note: The required Opening Scripture Day (orientation) for first-year students will be on Saturday, September 9, 2017, 8:50-3:00 p.m. ("Coffee and" available at 8:30)

*NOTE: All CBS classes are subject to adequate enrollment. No news is good news. You will be notified only if changes need to be made. 

First-Year Classes Announced

Three of the four class sites for Catholic Biblical School first-year classes can now be confirmed. The fourth is listed as tentative below, awaiting confirmation.

Here's what's planned for school year 2017-18:

Confirmed Locations:

Mondays 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Christ Redeemer Parish Center, Milford
Begins September 11, 2017

Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield
Begins September 12, 2017

Wednesdays, 10:00 am-noon
Caritas Christi Center, Hamden, CT
Begins September 13, 2017

Location to be determined:

Thursdays 6:30-8:30
(Most likely: Plantsville or Waterbury area)

New HCBS Website

Updated information about the Hartford Catholic Biblical School is now located on the Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis (OEEC) website, the new site contains not only CBS materials but also many other educational information and opportunities.

Here's the URL: www.CatholicEdAOHCT.org. It looks like this:

When you get to the site, click where it says, Catholic Biblical School. A number of pages will open, listed under two categories: Basic Information and Beyond the Basics.

Basic Information: Click on this menu option if you want an overview of Biblical School programs or would like access to the "nuts and bolts" of how the Hartford Catholic Biblical School operates. Other pages listed under this header have more details for folks who are new to our School:

Beyond the Basics: Click on this menu option if you are enrolled in the program and want quick access to the Student Portal (for course outcomes, class notifications, etc.). Other pages listed under this header provide information and ongoing support to current students, alumnae/i, and others who seek biblical tools and materials:

If you have any trouble navigating the new website, give us a call, and one of our Administrative Assistants will gladly walk you through the process.

Archbishop O'Brien Library Privileges

Karen Lesiak, Catholic Biblical School (CBS) Class of 2008 and Library Director at St. Thomas Seminary, announces that library privileges at the seminary will now be provided free of charge to CBS students. All CBS materials are available for use in the library and to check out.

Beginning June 1, the library will be open 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m, Monday through Friday. (Evening hours are available September through May on Tuesdays until 6:30 p.m.)

The Archbishop O'Brien Library is located on the main floor of St. Thomas Seminary and Archdiocesan Center at 467 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002. For directions, click on this link: http://www.stseminary.org/directions.html.