Our Bible Blog is Moving!

2016-present

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School blog has moved to  http://catholicedaohct.org/blog/catholic-biblical-school. Please continue to follow us there!

Archived Bible-related news, humor and spiritual reflection dating from as far back as 2009 will continue to be stored on this site, including some old favorites:

It's in there... NOT

If God Texted Moses

Living and Leading in God's Word - CBS Alumni Ministries

Weekly Bible Study by Barbara Gawle, CBS Class of 2001

Thank you all for 93,773 pageviews from countries all over the world! Stay with us! There is so much more to come!

2010-2016

1995-2010

Weather Notifications - You Know the Drill!

But here it is again, with this week's timing of notifications...

In light of... well, you know... students in Wednesday classes are reminded to check the online notification system for class cancellations on a class-by-class basis. Definitive notifications for morning classes will appear by 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Evening class information should be available by 3:00 p.m. at latest.

Here is the link to "Student Matters" page of our website:
http://catholicedaohct.org/beyond-the-basics/study-matters.

If you can't access the internet, contact a fellow-student or your teacher for information. (If St. Thomas Seminary is closed, you won't be able to get in touch with us at the OEEC by phone.)

Remember, conditions at the class location may differ from your own, so check the notification each week before you attend class.

Use your best judgment. If road conditions are bad where you are, do not attempt to come to class--even if your class is not cancelled.

CBS Classes March 13-14

On Tuesday, March 13, 2018 ALL CBS classes are cancelled for the day.

We will post re: Wednesday classes as soon as reliable information is available regarding weather and road conditions.

But please use common sense and do not be distressed if for any reason we are unable to post notifications (i.e., if power fails). In that case, please check to see whether schools are closed in the town where your class is located. In that case morning classes in those towns will not meet. Evening classes might be held, but in all cases your safety is our number one priority. Do not travel if conditions are in any way unsafe.

If we are blessed to hold classes on Wednesday:
Wednesday Lesson 3.2 Make-Up Plans
CBS 400 in Manchester (morning class) will meet from 9:30-12:30 on Wednesday, March 14.
CBS 100 in Hamden will determine make-up plans when classes meet this Wednesday, March 14.
CBS 400 in Waterbury will determine make-up plans when classes meet this Wednesday, March 14.
CBS 400 in Hamden will have a "double" lecture on Wednesday, March 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Stay safe, warm and snug, and help your neighbors as you are able.

More Questionable Weather

Tuesday classes are "up for grabs" this week, with a Nor'easter on its way. We at the Hartford Catholic Biblical School are tracking conditions statewide and will post individual notifications regarding any cancellations on STSRegistrar before 1:00 p.m. tomorrow (March 13, 2018).

To get instructions for accessing CBS notifications, click the following link: Student Matters.

Note that if the OEEC is closed tomorrow, you will not be able to phone in for instructions. Contact a fellow-student or your teacher, if you cannot access the internet.

And remember, road conditions where you are may differ from conditions at your class site. Please do not travel if you consider it unsafe in any way.

Living and Leading in God's Word

Hartford Catholic Biblical School alums are teaching and witnessing to God's Word all over the Archdiocese of Hartford and beyond! Here are just a few examples of what  I'm talking about:

Ken Foisie and Deborah Kellogg, both of the CBS Class of 2010, have begun leading Great Adventure Bible studies in Our Lady of Hope Parish in New Hartford, CT. Ken and his wife Jean are also organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for October of this year, featuring Fr. Michael Ruminski. More information to come!

Jill Costa, Class of 2010, with the guidance of Chaplain Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan, ASCJ, Class of 2020, meets weekly with inmates at the Hartford Correctional Center to offer biblical education and Catholic social justice ministry. Last summer, Jill made the new, six-week CBS course, Making Sense of the Bible, available to "her guys," awaiting trial there.

Maura Pauli, Class of 2012 has been guiding her fellow parishioners at St. Francis Xavier parish in New Milford for five years.

Not sure how to start? Contact BJ Daly Horell, Director of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School to explore possibilities: 860-242-5573 or catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Maura Pauli, Jill Costa, Ken Foisie describe their ministries at
Mt. Nebo Day of Reflection for graduating students in 2017

CBS Times SEVEN this Spring

We know seven is the "perfect" biblical number. So I'm happy to announce that, so far this spring, CBS 075 Making Sense of the Bible in the Catholic Tradition will be offered in at least seven locations: Bloomfield (two), Hartford, Middlebury, Prospect, West Simsbury and Bradenton, Florida. (That last one might be a little hard to get to.)

Some of these classes are open to any individual who wants to enroll. Here are three possibilities you might check out:

Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Mother Parish of the Archdiocese began with Suzanne Berwick, CBS Class of 2016, on Saturday, February 17 and will continue through all the Saturdays of Lent. Call the Cathedral and ask Sr. Ann Marie Strileckis, CND to find out if you can still join: 860-249-8431.

St. John of the Cross, Middlebury will start bi-weekly sessions with instructor Mary Ann Kelly, CBS Class of 2016, on Tuesday, March 6, 6:30-8:30 at 1263 West St., Middlebury. Call the parish for details: 203-758-2659. 

St. Anthony, Prospect will start weekly sessions with instructor Pat Wilkin, CBS Class of 2016, on March 7 in the "Hope" Room of the parish center. Contact Katie Blinstrubas, Parish Catechetical Leader, at stanthonyre@comcast.net for more information or to find out about joining the class.

Some parishes are adapting the course to meet the needs of specific audiences, such as parents of children in religious education and catechists.

CBS 075 is adaptable to your needs and  follows the proven methods of the Catholic Biblical School. It is also an effective process for empowering adults to read the Bible with intelligence and reverence. Contact BJ to get some ideas about how you might run Making Sense of the Bible in your faith community: catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

PS: Class of 2016, stand tall!

Changes to Class Schedules This Week

The following classes only will meet this week to make up for missed classes this Unit:

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

CBS 100 will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Caritas Christi Center in Hamden.

CBS 400 will meet at 6:30 p.m. St. Pio of Petrielcina parish rectory at Our Lady of Pompeii Campus. (Note the change in location.)

(No CBS 400 classes will meet in Manchester or Waterbury that day.)

Prepare to Be Inspired by God's Word!

Our annual Celebration of Sacred Scripture is free of charge and open to the public. On Saturday, March 3, 12:30-4:30 pm at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Dr. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman of Providence College will lead us through Matthew's legitimization of Jesus as Messiah, making connections between the Old and New Testaments. Here's what to expect:

• Bible study at its best, led by a top-tier teacher and scholar
• Lively conversation and refreshments
• Bible-based prayer
• Premiere of the CBS promotional video (God willing and the tech complies)
• Information about many Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis adult formation opportunities.
• Survey to determine course scheduling for the Advanced Year
• Registration information for students entering CBS 200 (Year 2)
• Announcement of the 2018 Boadt Memorial Medal Winner from CBS Class of 2010

Bring your Bible!

Important Notes: We have a new registration system that can be tricky to navigate, at first. Click here for in-depth instructions.

To go directly to the online registration page, click here: www.bit.ly/CBSCSS18.

Please register by February 28th (deadline extended) to ensure we have seating and refreshments for all. If you need assistance do not hesitate to call us in the OEEC, and ask for technical help getting signed up for the Celebration of Sacred Scripture on March 3rd.

A Celebration of Sacred Scripture

A day of prayer, Bible study and fellowship free of charge and open to the public, March 3, 2018 at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, CT.

The Gospel of Matthew opens with a long genealogy of Jesus that we stumble over once a year at the Christmas Vigil Mass. This genealogy serves as the link between the Hebrew Scriptures and the legitimation of Jesus the Messiah. There is perhaps no better time to enter into this genealogy than during the Lenten season, as we reflect upon the cycle of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Session 1 (12:30-2:15) will explore the background to Matthew’s Gospel and examine Matthew’s genealogy, focusing in particular on the theological value of four women included in the line of Jesus.

Session 2 (2:45-4:30) will engage deeply with the story of one of these women, Ruth, as told in the story that bears her name.

Our presenter is Dr. Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, an assistant professor of Hebrew Bible in the Theology Department at Providence College (Providence, RI). Previously a member of the faculty at the University of Scranton, Dr. Leonard-Fleckman has also been a favorite instructor in the Hartford Catholic Biblical School. She is the author of two books, including the recent Book of Ruth for the Wisdom Biblical Commentary Series (Liturgical Press), and a regular contributor for Give Us This Day: Daily Prayer for Today’s Catholic (Liturgical Press).

To register, click here. For more information contact the Catholic Biblical School at 860-242-5573 or email us at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

How Will I Know if My CBS Class Is Cancelled?

At this time of year, all Biblical School (CBS) students need to remember to check online notifications every week before heading to class. The Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis (OEEC) is very cautious about holding any programs when and where there might be a safety hazard. CBS, as part of the OEEC, posts cancellation notifications a minimum of two hours before each class is scheduled to begin. Please check this site each week, regardless of how the weather may appear in your location.

If for any reason you cannot access the internet, you can contact our office during work hours (8:30 am-4:30 pm weekdays only) or by phone at (860) 242-5573, extension 2670. If you might need the information outside regular office hours, we recommend that you arrange to phone another student in your class to find out whether class is being held.

Regardless of whether class is being held or not, never travel to class if you don't think you can do so safely! We want you always to stay safe. Contact your teacher directly to let him or her know about such circumstances.

There are at least two ways to access CBS official notifications.

Your first choice is to go directly to the STSRegistrar website (http://www.stsregistrar.org/cgi-bin/CBS/cbsstudentlogin.pl) and enter your password* to access your records. Here is a photo of the correct page:

Once you've logged in, select the "Notifications" button, and a notice will appear for any classes cancelled. If you are on the correct site but it is more than two hours before your scheduled class time, check again two hours before class, to be sure you catch any notices pending.

Your second choice is to go to the OEEC website at www.catholicedaohct.org and to click on "Catholic Biblical School" in the main menu near the top of the page. A drop down menu of all CBS pages will appear. Click on "Student Matters," and then scroll down the page to where it reads, "Student Portal." Instructions are given for signing in with your (required) password, so read those instructions carefully to determine your individualized password. Then click on the link that appears at the top of that section (http://www.stsregistrar.org/cgi-bin/CBS/cbsstudentlogin.pl) . Here is a picture of what you're looking for:

The red arrow does not appear on the page itself. It's placed in this image to show you where to look.

*Note: To get password instructions click here and scroll down to where it reads, "Student Portal." Or contact the OEEC office during regular office hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30.

Wednesday Classes Rescheduled to Feb 21st

On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, Hartford Catholic Biblical School classes are cancelled in all locations today, due to imminent snow and the likelihood of icy conditions. We will resume classes as usual next week and will plan to make up today's classes during our snow make-up week, on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, in the usual times and locations. (God willing.) The assignments that were due today should be submitted next Wednesday.

If you have questions, email us at catholic.biblical.school@aohct.org.

Please be cautious and safe today.

Happy Valentines Day - Remember Your Ashes!

This year Ash Wednesday falls on St. Valentine’s Day, February 14th.

Unlike a Friday in Lent, when a dispensation is sometimes given from fast and abstinence on St. Patrick’s Day, Ash Wednesday is a more solemn and universal day of prayer and penance for Catholics and many other Christians as well. So there is no dispensation from fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, February 14, in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Catholics may wish to anticipate the Feast of St. Valentine on the day before, on February 13.

 – Archbishop Leonard P. Blair

Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop

Opportunity for Praying the Bible

Reading and praying Scripture is sacramental. It fills us with grace and conforms us to Christ. Jesus gave his life proclaiming the Word and explaining Scripture before revealing the Word by offering his body and blood. Just as the Lord incarnate made his dwelling place among us, our hearts are restless until we make our dwelling place in his Word. This is the what the Holy Spirit teaches us in lectio divina.

Where: Mary Gate of Heaven Parish, Windsor Locks, St. Robert Hall

When: February 17, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

By: Commissioned Presenters of Contemplative Outreach, Mike Smoolca and Nancy Stimac, CBS Class of 2011, Boadt Medal Recipient

Free will offering. Light breakfast available at 9:30 a.m. check-in. Bring your own brown bag lunch.

To register contact Nancy at 860-683-4490, or text 860-967-7833, or email prayereventswl@aol.com, or log-on and register at: http://www.co-ct.org/ldintro.html.

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School (CBS) but is an approved substitute for certain requirements in the CBS curriculum.

Holy Families

One of my favorite “days of Christmas” is the Feast of the Holy Family. My three children were all baptized on the Feast of the Holy Family. Every year we celebrate with gifts and special foods, lifting up the holy family as our model for the new year. Of course, we walk in holiness no more, and maybe no less, than most Catholic families of our generation. But we have been gifted with one special grace. We were raised in a kind of “heart-knowing” of one who is unequivocally holy: my granduncle, Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM, Capuchin.

Fr. Solanus died five years before my birth, so there are many who speak with more authority about Fr. Solanus than I: my cousin Sr. Anne Herkenrath, SNJM, for example. She is a Casey of my own generation, and unlike me, she was privileged to have met Fr. Solanus face-to-face, as God spoke to Moses. I am more like one of the crowd of underlings in the Book of Exodus, struggling with brazen calves but still hoping some of God's holiness will trickle-down on me.

Migration Week 2018

Please watch Archbishop Blair's eloquent and important video. The Bible must come to infuse every part of our lives in a communion of faith.

Updated Registration Processes

Registration for Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis (OEEC) events and programs is moving to an online format, accessed through the OEEC website at www.catholicedaohct.org. You will notice that the new system is designed as an online purchasing site. Think of it this way: you are "purchasing" (sometimes at no cost) a seat for an event. If a particular class or event does require a fee, only then will you be asked to provide credit card information to cover the cost.

The Catholic Biblical School is using the new process beginning now, with the Celebration of Sacred Scripture (CSS) on March 3. Please use the following step-by-step instructions to register for CSS and to learn the process for upcoming classes and events.

Remember to call us in real time at 860-242-5573 if you are having trouble navigating the new system. Please do not email us, as it is difficult to help you navigate unless you can see each step on the screen in front of you! When you call, ask the receptionist for the OEEC. Any of our staff can assist you.

Step-by-step Instructions:

1. Online, go to www.catholicedaohct.org.

2. Click on the words Catholic Biblical School that appear in the blue menu bar at the top of the page.

3. Under the heading, "Beyond the Basics," choose the link "CBS Events."

4. You may have to scroll down to find the event or class you want to register for. When you've located the event or class you want, follow the instructions printed there. In this case, the link to register reads, "Register by February 23rd. Click here." (See the text circled in red in the image below.) 

5. That link will take you to the login page for all current OEEC registrations. On that page you will do one of two things:

• If this is your first time using the new OEEC registration page, there are two steps to the process. First, you will need to create an "account" by completing three fields. See the blue arrow in the image below.  Create your account, taking note of the password you create. We recommend writing it on the inside cover of your study Bible or your workbook. Once you've created your account, wait 24 hours for the system to set up your account. Second, once the system has set up your account, you can register for the event by clicking "Login." See the red circle below. 
• If this is not your first time using the new OEEC registration page, simply click on the "Login" button near the bottom of the page. See the red circle in the image below.

6. Next, a screen will appear with a description of the event or class for which you are trying to register. For example, to register for CSS, scroll down and choose "one" registration at $0.00 cost. Click "Add to Cart." See the red arrow in the image below. 

7. In the "Shopping Cart" that appears (see below), click "Checkout" to complete registration, and follow the prompts that follow to complete your "order."