Mercy Blooms in the Bible Where You Least Expect It

Recently I got a note from a student in her second year of the Biblical School. It shows how our faith blossoms within us and beyond us, showing God's mercy in unexpected places, when we study and pray with the God's Word:

"I teach grades 5 & 6 religious education at our parish. Yesterday, we discussed Cain and Abel.

"What a difference the Catholic Biblical School has made for me. I had always thought of this story pretty much as a story of fratricide, of things going from bad to worse. Humankind goes from paradise to hell in a hand basket - in four easy chapters. But the class I taught yesterday was so different! Because of my studies, I instead emphasized the themes of sacrifice and mercy.

"Yes, Cain is murderous, deceitful, cowardly, no remorse, not even an admission of guilt. But instead of punishing Cain, God protects him. God even marks Cain so that everyone knows that this is the man whom God is protecting!  Weird.  Truly God’s ways are not our ways.  

"I thank you all. My teaching this year will be quite different from past years."

Bible Studies Rock in Poquonock!

Living and Leading in God's Word

Alums of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School have been leading Bible studies at St. Joseph in Poquonock for 16 years straight! Diane Caron and Peggy Nolan began leading Bible studies at St. Joseph in 1999, when Diane--a member of the Biblical School's "Pioneer" Class--graduated from CBS and Peggy was in her final CBS year. More recently, Bill and Pat Minford, Class of 2009, also took a turn facilitating the group for a few years while Diane's mother was terminally ill.

"We are now extending invitations to the members of our recently linked parish, St. Gabriel," Peggy explains. The hope is that the two parishes will build stronger ties through Bible study.

Click Here for LRSS Info

Diane and Peggy recommend Little Rock Scripture Study for parish Bible study. So far they have worked with LRSS through most of the New Testament and the OT Books of Exodus & Genesis. "In September we are planning on studying the Gospel of Matthew to connect with the readings for Year A. The Little Rock series produces an excellent DVD to go with each lesson, and Fr. Vargo graciously purchases it for our class each year," says Peggy.

What's going on in Bible study in your parish? We love hearing how the gospel is spreading in every neighborhood of the Archdiocese!

April 30: From Creation to the Cross

From the self-inflicted wounds of Adam and Eve to the redemptive wounds of Christ, Scripture opens to us an inner world of human questions and enduring truths. Together we will explore the lasting impact of sin, the agonizing search for answers, the challenge of authentic surrender, and at the heart of it all, the abiding love of God. Join us for an informative, thought-provoking and personally meaningful day of study and reflection. All are welcome.

April 15 is the deadline to let us know you're attending.

CBS Classes Cancelled

The snow and sub-freezing temperatures make it impractical to hold class this evening. Therefore all CBS classes will be canceled tonight, April 4, 2016. 

Students should prepare for next week's class both the homework that is due this week and the homework that is due next week.