How/When does the Catholic Church teach the Bible?

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I joined the Church Easter Vigil 2006. Prior to that I had no religious education. I’m desperately trying to find a church-based Bible study group. Scott Hahn’s course and Little Rock seem to be the only courses available. My parish has nothing of qualitly. Scott Hahn’s course is in the morning and I work, therefore I’m left to go to another parish. On the flip side, there seems to be no adult religious education other than RCIA.

No one seems to care. I never considered a religion other than Catholicism and never will, but I’m very frustrated that the Church isn’t anymore interested in educating their flock.

I’ve spent over $1,000 on comentary books, etc., but really miss the fellowship if found when I was in RCIA. I really don’t want to sit at home alone and study the Bible alone. I was hoping to find fellowship again in a Bible study group. The “social” groups in my parish don’t really fit my lifestyle. I don’t have a husband and kids to chat about and I hate to cook. I just want to LEARN!

Any suggestions.
 
First of all, Congratulations!!!

A) Why don’t you start one. You’d be surprised to find how many people at your parish are like you, but just unwilling to “jump start” the process. That’s what happened at our parish.

Also, you’ll find you may be the most knowledgable at your parish since your a convert. Sad, but often true.

B) Why don’t you check with your diocese to find some in your area. I’m offered several in my diocese!
 
If you pursue starting up a study, I know the Jeff Cavins’s staff person would be very willing to guide you through the process. I have been participating in Jeff Cavins Great Adverture studies at the Church of St. Paul in Ham Lake for a number of years now. They are always well organized and well attended. See jeffcavins.com/jc/?page_id=138 for contact information.
 
call your diocesan office of catechesis because there are also ongoing courses for catechists and Catholic school teachers, and they are also the ones that promote a lot of bible studies, and will know what parishes have them going on. You might also call the parish office of parishes near your home or workplace.
 
At this stage in my Catholic career, I’m very reluctant to start a Bible study class myself. I just don’t have the background.

I guess my question is “Do Catholics teach the Bible?” I assume they’re teaching the CCC to the kids in CCD and adults in RCIA, but is that it?

The University of Dallas offers a 4 or 5 year course at about $450/yr. I’m sure the level of that course is going to be way over my head initially. Currently, my plan is to find another parish who is teaching Scott Hahn or Little Rock beginning in the fall and stick with them. It just irritates me that I feel I belong to an exceptional parish, but this issue is being completely overlooked.

I’ve written to the pastor and he differs to DRE and he doesn’t respond. I could really become a pest about it. I’m an expert in that area.
 
I am the DRE and although we offer bible study in various formats related to CCD: for catechists, for parents, for post-confirmation students, and at various grade levels, and the whole parish is invited to all of these, I don’t have bible study per se for adults, because it does not come under my job description, and I am under a lot of pressure to stay within my job description. We have somebody in charge of that, they have offered bible studies twice a year for several years, getting about 12 to sign up, 8 begin, and 3-4 stick it out to the end, albeit with lousy attendance. She probably is sick and tired of expending energy and resources on programs that people ask for but do not support. No one in this diocese however, needs to drive more than 5 miles to find any of a number of good bible studies: little rock, Our Fathers Plan, Great Bible Adventure, classes based on lectio divina, faith sharing groups based on the gospels, etc.
 
LeahInancsi said:
I joined the Church Easter Vigil 2006. Prior to that I had no religious education. I’m desperately trying to find a church-based Bible study group. Scott Hahn’s course and Little Rock seem to be the only courses available. My parish has nothing of qualitly. Scott Hahn’s course is in the morning and I work, therefore I’m left to go to another parish. On the flip side, there seems to be no adult religious education other than RCIA.

No one seems to care. I never considered a religion other than Catholicism and never will, but I’m very frustrated that the Church isn’t anymore interested in educating their flock.

I’ve spent over $1,000 on comentary books, etc., but really miss the fellowship if found when I was in RCIA. I really don’t want to sit at home alone and study the Bible alone. I was hoping to find fellowship again in a Bible study group. The “social” groups in my parish don’t really fit my lifestyle. I don’t have a husband and kids to chat about and I hate to cook. I just want to LEARN!

Any suggestions.
Click to expand...
Another idea would be for you to sponsor someone who is in RCIA, which means you go through it again (and again and again). Surely you didn’t learn EVERYTHING your first time through. 😃 I know a cradle Catholic who learned a TON about her faith by sponsoring someone else. 👍
 
But doesn’t the Catholic church teach anything itself?

What are the Cradle Catholic/CCD kids taught prior to comfirmation?

I have my great grandparents well-worn Catholic Bible. From what I see these days, I’m not sure why it was well-worn. I wish my grandmother were still here to ask these questions of.

Do Catholics have to learn about the Bible on their own outside the Church?
 
There is a mentality in many Catholic churches that once you are confirmed you don’t need to learn anything else. You just need to show up. This is part of the reason so many Catholics are woefully unprepared to answer challenges to the faith.

If your priest is not interested in starting a bible study group, call around to the other Catholic churches. There may be one nearby with an established Bible Study. Scott Hahn’s study at www.salvationhistory.com is good, though you would be alone. It is free, though. Perhaps the Spirit is leading you to start a group up.
 
Until you find a LIVE group to study with, you might try the on-line study recently started by Fidelis - one of the members of this forum. It would be nice to get a few more participants.The study is based on the Sunday gospel.

azehr.com/CathScriptureStudy/forum/

Vince puts up the weekly readings and posts the questions. We share our answers forum style.

I also miss a live Bible Study - and have started one here 3 or 4 times. Part of the problem was finding good materials and getting people who were willing to do the homework. Have since located better materials but now we’re gone too often. Was really delighted to find the online study - the laptop can travel with us!

Hope you can find a live one - but until then, join us online.

Nita
 
puzzleannie said:
I am the DRE and although we offer bible study in various formats related to CCD: for catechists, for parents, for post-confirmation students, and at various grade levels, and the whole parish is invited to all of these, I don’t have bible study per se for adults, because it does not come under my job description, and I am under a lot of pressure to stay within my job description. We have somebody in charge of that, they have offered bible studies twice a year for several years, getting about 12 to sign up, 8 begin, and 3-4 stick it out to the end, albeit with lousy attendance. She probably is sick and tired of expending energy and resources on programs that people ask for but do not support. No one in this diocese however, needs to drive more than 5 miles to find any of a number of good bible studies: little rock, Our Fathers Plan, Great Bible Adventure, classes based on lectio divina, faith sharing groups based on the gospels, etc.
Click to expand...
This senario sounds very similar to my parish. While I thought it was the study course they were using, Catholic Scripture Study which was started by Sr. Marie Therese Wright, SSMN. I believe she may have been affiliated with the Diocese of Fort Worth before her death. It may simply be the people.

In Arlington, were fortunate to have two large parish within two or three miles from each other on the same street. There’s also a third small Episcopal converted church between the two larger ones. I think I’ll focus my enegies on the newer, large parish up the street.

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I know I can always depend on your suggestions.
 
The Church teaches the “Catechism,” not just the class but the text. Any number of classes could be organized around this.

If you are afraid of heading up a group, you can organize it and ask a priest or deacon or other expert to run it.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is that saint you can ask to pray for you in this case. He used to ask St. Paul and St. Peter and Mary to shed light on his bible readings.

I seriously suggest:

1)You ask the saints to accompany you in reading the bible
2) You read “the Catechism of the Catholic Church” and look up the bible references and doctrinal references
3) You do everything everyone is telling you here so far (it’s the best way…)

God bless,
Aaron Magnan
 
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