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