Change of Schedule for Passion Narratives Opening Class

The September 3, 2014 class introduction for new students has been cancelled by Dr. Gray. All students will instead begin together on September 10, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Sufficient numbers have been reached for the class to move forward, so we will be processing your payment checks at this time. But because of the change in start date, we can extend the deadline for enrolling to this Friday, August 29. If you have not yet registered but wish to do so, please contact Jill Costa right away at 860-242-5573, ext. 2670 or jill.costa@aohct.org.

 

Catholic Biblical School

Alumni Continuing Education Course:

“The Passion Narratives in the Gospels”

St. Peter Claver Parish Center,* West Hartford
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm Beginning Sept. 10, 2014
Open to All Graduates of the Catholic Biblical School

 

The text for class will be Donald Senior's Jesus: A Gospel Portrait. This was your summer reading in CBS Year 2, so you should all have a copy. (Time to dig through your bookshelves!)

 

Jill Costa will be there that night (9/10/14) to answer questions or help with anything that's needed, but you can contact her in advance if you wish.

 Remember: No news is good news! If you have registered, please plan to attend on Sept. 10.

*Class will meet in what they call the "Choir Room," of the Parish Center.

Weekly Bible Study - Romans 11:33-36

24 August 2014

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time  

The opening verse of today’s passage from Romans should stop us right in our tracks as it did Paul.

Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

The Apostle to the Gentiles has been frustrated in his efforts to convince fellow Jews of God’s plan of salvation fulfilled in Christ. They’re just not buying it. But God’s mysterious ways are hard at work among the Gentile community which will provide a rich harvest for Paul's mission. Paul realizes that he must abandon his efforts at logic and reason to explain God’s ways and surrender himself to the wisdom of the divine plan. A lesson for us all!

When our own minds and hearts are weary of trying to figure out God’s ways, can we not simply turn to acknowledging that God is God and we are not? When we are frustrated that answers don’t come as we would like them, can we not trust that God knows what it best for us? When we find it difficult to wait for God to work in our lives, can we not acknowledge that God’s plan for us is unfolding in ways more wonderful than we can imagine?

Oh, the depth of the riches of God. Look around with eyes wide open to the wonders of God in our midst: the miracle of life, the beauty of creation, the desires of the human heart, the life of God that pulsates within our being, the blessings we realize each day, the gift of Eucharist. 

Oh, the depth of the wisdom of God. Be humbled by His wondrous plan of salvation unfolded for all humanity. Behold the Cross, the pinnacle of that plan, and realize God’s limitless love poured out.

Oh, the depth of the knowledge of God.  Marvel at his unfathomable ways made known to us in the Scripture. Seek this knowledge in God’s Sacred Word. Allow these truths to reveal to your heart the mysterious plan God has in mind for you.

Can we be content to put aside our own logic and reason and simply trust in the providence of our loving God?

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Weekly Bible Study - Matthew 15:21-28

17 August 2014

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What in the heck is Jesus doing in today's gospel? His actions in today’s Gospel seem very much out of character!

As the story unfolds, Jesus has traveled to “Gentile” territory.  He is met by a Canaanite who boldly calls out to him to heal her daughter. At first, Jesus is silent. Is he ignoring the woman? What is he thinking, feeling, plotting? The disciples, eager as always to protect Jesus (or their own interests), want her sent away. Perhaps they are thinking, “There is enough ministering to be done among our own! Jesus shouldn't waste time with foreigners!” The disciples do not seem to understand that God includes everyone, but the woman understands, as we see when her encounter with Jesus continues.

The foreign woman insists on being heard. Jesus’ first response is puzzling and somewhat insulting: “It is not right to take the food of children and throw it to the dogs.” The woman counters with cleverness and spunk. She knows she is worthy of his consideration. Whether through self-confidence or desperation, she persists. And Jesus recognizes and rewards her for her faith.

The woman who hoped for only a discarded crumb receives from Jesus the hidden treasure of his storehouse: salvation is for all. At this moment, she understands Christ far better than his disciples do.

But what about us? Do we see others as “foreign,” and keep them at a distance? What about immigrants, the poor, the uneducated? Did the pagan inclinations of the woman “from the other side of the tracks” matter to Jesus?

What do you think?

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Put your biblical knowledge to work for our future!

Faith communities in the Archdiocese offer many opportunities to witness to the power of God’s Word by working with Youth and Young Adults. For instance:

• Religious Education volunteering
• Leading a Youth Bible Study
• Attending OREE's Word Y Vino

Contact us in the Office of Religious Education and Evangelization for guidance or to explore more options.