Question for ya

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Ever since Christmas I’ve had this feeling, which was confirmed by my aunt praying for me and telling me the same thing, that I should start some sort of Bible study in the local area. I approached my priest about it and the answer was that there was too much trouble getting people to just attend mass that a bible study would not work.

So being in the NYC area there’s a parish every mile, I went to a different priest at another church and talked to him about it, he seemed all about it but we were supposed to have our first meeting on March 4th or March 15th with some of the other leaders in that parish. That meeting got pushed, then he didn’t get back to me another time I asked about it and now the newest meeting for May 17th just got pushed again to he doesn’t know when…

Should I go it alone? Or wait to see how this pans out?
 
You could put an add in your parish newsletter or local suburban newspaper ,
Letting people know about your idea , and see if you get any responses ,
 
It is my understanding that anything such as notices/leaflets/flyers that are posted to a church bulletin board, left in or around the vestibule area, or published in the parish newsletter must first be brought to the pastor of the parish for his review and approval.
 
With certain specific exceptions (none of which apply in this scenario), I don’t recommend going around the pastor of any parish. I also don’t think the OP should have to wait indefinitely. Since the meeting keeps getting postponed, I suggest asking why and persisting until you get a concrete response. Note that I said “persisting” and not “pestering.”

Spring tends to be a busy time for a parish. (In my experience, the best time to launch the planning process for something like this is during the part of the summer when Father isn’t on vacation, between mid-October and the First Sunday of Advent, or between Christmas Day and Ash Wednesday.) Be patient with the priest, yes, but you don’t need to give him so wide a berth that he may forget - priests have a lot on their plates.

I assume, OP, that you’re speaking with the pastor of the parish…?
anonymous_in_fl said:
It is my understanding that anything such as notices/leaflets/flyers that are posted to a church bulletin board, left in or around the vestibule area, or published in the parish newsletter must first be brought to the pastor of the parish for his review and approval.
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Generally, yes, but it can vary from parish to parish. This sort of thing is handled differently in my parish, for example.
 
Two segments here. Are you looking to start a church sponsored Bible Study, or a Bible Study? Either are ok.

Church members, and particularly Catholic members, tend to think hierarchically. Natural in a hierarchical system. If that is the route you want to go, be pleasantly persistent. Your Priest has many items on his daily list and the only way to keep in front of him is to keep in front of him.

Plan B: listen to this…AS A BAPTISED CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE FULLY AUTHORIZED BY CHRIST TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. Ask a friend or two if they want to try a Bible Study each week. Read, research and learn. Check the discussion against the Catechism and drive on. One of the most successful weekly Bible Studies in my area started in just such a way (Catholic btw).

Good luck!
 
You’ll have more luck if you present the priest with a PLAN. Something concrete, not just
“I think I feel called to do this”.

Catholic Scripture Study is very doable, complete, and spot on. Get a copy of their new, Gospel of Luke" devour it, and show it to him. He’s likely already familiar with their products. But you can fascilitate a good method such as this, and everyone can get their own copy, unless it’s a wealthy parish and they want to provide the materials fro those who sign up., I recommend the students pay at least half of the cost. Skin in the game, you know. 😉

Good luck, I voted wait for the priest to give you the go-ahead.
Easier for him to do when he’s confident you are qualified and have good materials. 😊
 
ChurchSoldier said:
Two segments here. Are you looking to start a church sponsored Bible Study, or a Bible Study? Either are ok.

Church members, and particularly Catholic members, tend to think hierarchically. Natural in a hierarchical system. If that is the route you want to go, be pleasantly persistent. Your Priest has many items on his daily list and the only way to keep in front of him is to keep in front of him.

Plan B: listen to this…AS A BAPTISED CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE FULLY AUTHORIZED BY CHRIST TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. Ask a friend or two if they want to try a Bible Study each week. Read, research and learn. Check the discussion against the Catechism and drive on. One of the most successful weekly Bible Studies in my area started in just such a way (Catholic btw).

Good luck!
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Oh yes, missed this part. :o. Nothing stops the OP from organizing a Bible study without ties to a parish. My advice assumes he seeks to start a parish-affiliated Bible study.
 
What is it with Catholics and Bible study? For years I have searched and wanted a Catholic Bible study and nothing. Our parish has a few ex-protestants who do a Bible study, BUT ITS NOT CATHOLIC. They use something online written by a Protestant denomination, not bad in itself but they also cling to the commentary. :ouch:

I think I am going to form my own group using Scott Hahn’s materials.

I voted to try to connect with pastor one more time, then go for it. We should all study God’s word.
 
Casilda said:
What is it with Catholics and Bible study? For years I have searched and wanted a Catholic Bible study and nothing. Our parish has a few ex-protestants who do a Bible study, BUT ITS NOT CATHOLIC. They use something online written by a Protestant denomination, not bad in itself but they also cling to the commentary. :ouch:

I think I am going to form my own group using Scott Hahn’s materials.

I voted to try to connect with pastor one more time, then go for it. We should all study God’s word.
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There’s plenty of good Catholic Bible study classes everywhere. I can think of at least 6 programs off the top of my head.
I don’t think any pastor allows non-Catholic programs in his parish. :rolleyes:
 
Our Parish has a continual Bible Study Program led by a Priest all year long. No problem with finding participants.
 
Certainly, we are all called to spread God’s Word and study the Bible. But I think it’s best to work within the structure of the Church (i.e. parishes) rather than circumventing it. For one thing, it is helpful for the priest to know what is going on within his parish boundaries. For another thing, it will help you grow an audience if it is something advertised to the whole parish.

I agree with Clare’s idea of coming up with a concrete plan. If you can approach the pastor with an idea that’s ready to go and all he has to do is give a thumbs up, that’s probably going to go more smoothly than if you wait on him to plan it himself. Most priests are great, holy men, but they cannot do everything themselves. Nor should they have to. A little initiative goes a long way.

That said, be open to listening to him and going back to the drawing board if he doesn’t like your proposal.

I think being concrete in terms of a program is also helpful because it gives defined start and end dates. Rather than an ambiguous, “Let’s start a Bible study group” that will meet on Thursday evenings in perpetuity, you can pitch a 6 week St. Paul Center Bible Study or an 8 week Great Adventure Bible Study that starts in October and ends before Thanksgiving. It’s easier to get people to commit to something if they see an end in sight. Of course, the hope is that it is so enriching that they immediately want to start another study. But having a defined timeline and structure often makes it easier to recruit attendees.

I think UpUpandAway is right about the timing. Lent and Easter are very busy times in any parish. You’ll probably have more luck meeting with the priest in the summer months. Maybe plan for a fall or spring study.
 
Joe_5859 said:
Certainly, we are all called to spread God’s Word and study the Bible. But I think it’s best to work within the structure of the Church (i.e. parishes) rather than circumventing it. For one thing, it is helpful for the priest to know what is going on within his parish boundaries. For another thing, it will help you grow an audience if it is something advertised to the whole parish.

I agree with Clare’s idea of coming up with a concrete plan. If you can approach the pastor with an idea that’s ready to go and all he has to do is give a thumbs up, that’s probably going to go more smoothly than if you wait on him to plan it himself. Most priests are great, holy men, but they cannot do everything themselves. Nor should they have to. A little initiative goes a long way.

That said, be open to listening to him and going back to the drawing board if he doesn’t like your proposal.

I think being concrete in terms of a program is also helpful because it gives defined start and end dates. Rather than an ambiguous, “Let’s start a Bible study group” that will meet on Thursday evenings in perpetuity, you can pitch a 6 week St. Paul Center Bible Study or an 8 week Great Adventure Bible Study that starts in October and ends before Thanksgiving. It’s easier to get people to commit to something if they see an end in sight. Of course, the hope is that it is so enriching that they immediately want to start another study. But having a defined timeline and structure often makes it easier to recruit attendees.

I think UpUpandAway is right about the timing. Lent and Easter are very busy times in any parish. You’ll probably have more luck meeting with the priest in the summer months. Maybe plan for a fall or spring study.
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Excellent ideas.
I will add though, that a big complaint about parishes around here is that we seem to :close up shop" for the summer. Once Sunday school is down, everyone doesn’t even think about what they could do around the parish.
We made a concerted effort to offer a Coffee and Bible verses group on weekday mornings, Bible and dessert in evenings, (watermelon from the garden sometimes!)
Biblical movies on the grass for families in the summer, Catholic trivia, you get the idea.
Summer is a time when some families don’t have a lot to do Vacations cost so much anymore. How cool to have mom and dad in class and the kids playing croquet or horseshoes on the lawn.
So summer*** could*** be an excellent time to start small.
 
pianistclare said:
Excellent ideas.
I will add though, that a big complaint about parishes around here is that we seem to :close up shop" for the summer. Once Sunday school is down, everyone doesn’t even think about what they could do around the parish.
We made a concerted effort to offer a Coffee and Bible verses group on weekday mornings, Bible and dessert in evenings, (watermelon from the garden sometimes!)
Biblical movies on the grass for families in the summer, Catholic trivia, you get the idea.
Summer is a time when some families don’t have a lot to do Vacations cost so much anymore. How cool to have mom and dad in class and the kids playing croquet or horseshoes on the lawn.
So summer*** could*** be an excellent time to start small.
Click to expand...
Good ideas! I may have to steal some of those. 😉
 
Thank you all for your responses, I did not mention that I did come up with a plan and presented it to him in the beginning but I specifically told him that I wanted his (name removed by moderator)ut, his experience, his help because while Christ tells us to go spread the word, I want to make sure I’m doing it consistent with all the Catholic teachings!

I love the Catholic Church but I was a Protestant for a long time before I converted…lol. So I don’t want to say or do anything that is outside of the Church.

Im gonna have to give this some serious prayer and see what path God has laid out for me, thanks for all the advice, ya’ll have giving me a lot to think about!
 
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