CBS Recommends—“Hearing the Lord’s Gospel ...

... Hearing the Gospel’s Lord,” A Day of Reflection at St. Thomas Seminary
 
Romans 10:17 says, “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” With this biblical writing in mind, the Pastoral Department of Small Christian Communities (SCC) of the Archdiocese of Hartford is sponsoring a day of reflection called, “Hearing the Lord’s Gospel, Hearing the Gospel’s Lord.” It will be held on Saturday, October 29, at the Archdiocesan Center at Saint Thomas Seminary, 467 Bloomfield Ave, in Bloomfield from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Brother Robert K. Moriarty, S.M., will lead the conference in prayer, reflection and conversation.

Year Two Class Scheduling Alert

If you are in Year Two of the Biblical School, please note that Fr. Donahue's class in Cheshire (Epiphany Parish) will NOT be meeting on November 28, as previously scheduled.

Instead the class will meet on November 21 (the Monday before Thanksgiving). The material covered in all other CBS classes during the week of 11-28 through 12-2 (Year 2 Unit 2 Lesson 2) will be covered (for Fr. Donahue's class in Cheshire only) on 11-21.

If you have questions, please call Jill Costa at 860-243-9465, ext. 2670.

Post Your Own Proverbs!

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School wants to post your original proverbs.

Successful entries will be written in the biblical style of the Book of Proverbs but will incorporate contemporary elements that address lived spirituality for today.

Within the limits of the editor's time and imagination, all suitable entries will be posted in this blog with a by-line (so please include your full name, as you prefer it to appear, with your proverb). Entries will not be returned or acknowledged, but successful proverbs will be posted on this blog.

Inspired by CBS Year Four Optional Challenge #1.3. Have fun with it!

And here's an example, by third-year student (and CBS resident rapper--see April 2010), Margaret (Marj) Hurley:

Better than glib promises are commitments honorably kept.

Email yours to: cbs@orehartford.org. Contemporary (and of course "clean") imagery and language encouraged!

Echoes of Canaanite Concepts in Biblical Language

Biblical School graduates, their guests, and other leaders in parish and archdiocesan ministries are welcome to register (by October 7, please!) for this seminar exploring the mythological background of our biblical texts:

Ruins at Ras Shamra

When: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 9:30-noon

(Sign in and "coffee and" begins at 9:00)

Where: St. Thomas Seminary, Room 2A

(Click here for directions.)

Presenter: Mr. Paul Sansone, life-long biblical educator

Since 1929 when the first Canaanite (Ugaritic) texts were found at Tel Ras Shamra in northern Syria, a steady stream of publications has made us aware of the religious beliefs of the people who wrote these texts. The people of Canaan shared a common culture with the people of Israel. These writings shed light on the religious language of the Old Testament (and indirectly on some important New Testament imagery).


During this session, we will discuss examples that illustrate how the biblical authors drew on their cultural background to forge a rich and textured language about God (including various divine titles used in the Old Testament) and God's interaction with human beings. We will also consider how these cultural forms of expression influenced Israelite worship and look at some of the theological debates presented in the Old Testament through the lens that this language provides us in order to gain a better understanding of the biblical authors' meaning and message.