Urgent Notice for ALL CBS Students

All CBS classes have been cancelled for the week of October 31-November 4, 2011.

Several Catholic Biblical School campuses, including the St. Thomas Seminary home campus, are without power, and downed power lines continue to make travel unsafe for most Connecticut residents.

"Snow relays" for all CBS classes have been activated, but bear in mind that many telephones (including the CBS office phone) are not in service. Students and grads should make every reasonable effort to contact their small-group members. If a phone number is out of service, please skip ahead on the phone tree, calling the next person on the list--but please also continue, at intervals, to try to contact the individual you've skipped.

In preparation for classes next week (November 7-11, 2011), all students need to prepare Lessons 1.8 and 1.9 in their student workbooks, and should bring both these homework assignments with them to class next week.

Faculty members have agreed to cover both the missed lesson (1.9) and conduct a review of the Unit material next week. Unit "memory exercises" will take place as previously scheduled, November 14-18, 2011.

As indicated on the CBS calendar (online at http://www.orehartford.org/), no classes are scheduled during the Thanksgiving holiday week, with the exception of the Year 2 class on Monday, November 21, at Epiphany Parish in Cheshire. Classes will then resume November 28, 2011. (God willing.)

St. Thomas Seminary                        Archdiocese of Hartford

Certificate in Biblical Studies           Catholic Biblical School

Ten books on the shelf ...

Bookshelf, by Colin Thompson

CBS students and grads are always asking me to provide book recommendations. Although I can't seem to find time to blog on the subject, I found this excellent listing of "Ten Books on the Shelf" of Walter Brueggemann in  Sojourners magazine.

To see Brueggemann's review of each book,click here:

And here's the "short" version:

1. Job, part of the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series (Smyth & Helwys, 2006), by Samuel E. Balentine

2. The Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder (Oxford University Press, 2010), by William P. Brown

3. The Arrogance of Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire (Fortress Press, 2008), by Neil Elliott

4. The Ten Commandments (Interpretation commentary series; Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), Patrick D. Miller

5  In Apocalypse against Empire: Theologies of Resistance in Early Judaism (Eerdmans, 2011) Anathea E. Portier-Young

ORE Leader to Receive Award

The Biblical School has been profoundly blessed by the ministry of Patricia A. Keck, M.A., Assistant Director in the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Hartford. "Behind the scenes," Pat has smoothed the way for developments that have enhanced the experience of students and graduates in the Biblical School, including our recent accreditation and the addition of new continuing education programs for CBS grads.

Thank you, Pat, and congratulations on receiving Fordham University’s Sapientia et Doctrina Award (Fordham’s motto for wisdom and knowledge) for Service to the Renewal of the Church.

The ORE staff will be joining Pat's family and friends to honor her at Fordham this Friday evening, October 21.

"Keck’s path to receiving this award is rather unexpected," as Maria Zone, Communications Director for the Archdiocese, writes. "For twenty years, Keck worked in the corporate world as a director of management information at Aetna Life & Casualty, where she developed impeccable organizational skills and the ability to set goals and get things done. She never contemplated a career in religious education. As it turns out, the same skill set has served her well as Assistant Director in the Office of Religious Education. She supervises a large staff of professional religious educators, including RCIA, Catholic Biblical School, Adult Lay Ministry Formation, Catechist Formation, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Catholic Scouting, and Catechesis for Hispanics.

"Keck says working in religious education has fulfilled her life. When she worked in corporate America,

New Series: HCBS Grads Living and Leading in God's Word

Hundreds of graduates and students of the Biblical School are involved in ongoing ministries in their faith communities throughout Connecticut and even around the world. If you are, or someone you know is, a CBS graduate who--by their lives and activities--helps others to encounter God's Living Word, we want to hear about it! Send a descriptive paragraph to BJ at cbs@orehartford.org.

Living and Leading in God's Word #1

Nancy Stimac (Class of 2011)
Mary and Lawrence Galarneau (Class of 2010)
St. Mary, Windsor Locks

For the past couple of years, Nancy, Mary and Larry have facilitated a Centering Prayer group at their parish. During this time, they've been fortunate to have the pastor, Fr. O'Grady, sponsor several contemplative prayer workshops offered by the renowned retreat master, Fr. William Sheehan, OMI, who was recently at St. Mary Parish to introduce the ancient prayer practice called Lectio Divina.

One of the principal ways to develop receptivity to God's Word in the Bible, Lectio DIvina teaches us to deeply listen and hear; to spontaneously respond; and then to consent and surrender to the indwelling of Christ, God's Word, within us. St. Mary parish was blessed with 40 attendees at this workshop, a number of whom were CBS grads and students. 

The Hartford Catholic Biblical School encourages Lectio DIvina as a way of praying in conjunction with formal Bible study.