Category: Evangelization

What’s This? A variety of stand-alone bulletin articles/columns that can be used anytime through/including Labor Day weekend

Having Breakthroughs in Bible Reading

As Catholics we believe that the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and meant to be living–a source of fuel and power for our daily lives. Yet for most of us, this is easier said than done! Things get in the way, we experience a lack of time to read the Scriptures, we open up to an Old Testament reading we heard at Mass and it seems hopelessly confusing or boring, we have an insight while pondering the Scriptures alone, but nobody to discuss it with. The barriers in our lives are real. This is where the Bible Foundations course from the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan helps us take steps forward as disciples.

It’s a Thursday 6:00-7:30 pm weekly class at St. Mary Cause of Our Joy (Westland) starting on Sept 21st running for two years (summers off!) with expert, live teacher Cathryn Torgerson MA to guide us through the Old and New Testaments. By combining dynamic presentations, small group discussion, and prayer, together we’ll grow as the missionary disciples the Lord is calling us to be–able to understand, share, and live out the inspired Word of God, in every part of life. Find out more and sign-up by Sept 6th at cbsmich.org.

Looking for new energy in your prayer life? Let the Bible fuel you!

Prayer is essential to the life of a missionary disciple–it’s how we grow in friendship with the Lord and discern how God desires us to live and serve in our world! And yet, we all need fuel for our prayer life, the energy, insight, and motivation to keep going through life’s ups and downs. Without continual renewal, our prayers can seem dry, dull, stagnant, boring, or ineffectual. The Scriptures are fuel and renewal for our prayer lives, and yet we often let this fuel go untapped. As Archbishop Vigneron wrote in an Unleash the Gospel Pastoral Note, “When we read Scripture prayerfully, it becomes a dialogue of love. We listen to God’s heart through his word and we respond from our heart in prayer.”

How can we learn to do this, together? Bible Foundations is a weekly course starting September 21st on Thursdays 6:00-7:30 pm at St. Mary Cause of Our Joy in Westland. With engaging Catholic Biblical School of Michigan teachers, it allows the Holy Spirit to transform the lives of participants. Here’s what people are saying:

“Instead of prayer being an occasional thing I do, it’s now an integral part of my life. I find myself talking to our Lord throughout the course of the day. Instead of being an associate of our Lord, I find myself developing a relationship with our Lord.” -Participant from St. Fabian, Farmington Hills

“Now, I feel like I have a personal relationship with God…Now getting up in the morning and reading the Bible, it’s like brushing my teeth and combing my hair…if I don’t do it, I feel like I left something out. it’s a part of my life.” -Participant from Ss. Peter and Paul, North Branch

“My prayer has really deepened… in the past when I used to pray I’d pray to God–God’s up there and I’m down here. But, what I’ve come to is that this is more of a reciprocal relationship in that I am praying with God and we’re facing each other, and I’m talking to Him.” -Participant from St. Clare of Montefalco, Grosse Pointe Park

Find out more and register for class at cbsmich.org

The Bible: It’s Transformative, Not Just Informative
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures hold a unique place in our Catholic faith. Through the Holy Spirit, the Bible is not merely information or history, but transformative, action-producing wisdom for all those who seek and listen.

Taking time each week to study the Bible in the Thursday 6:00-7:30 PM Bible Foundations course from the Catholic Biblical School ministry fills our lives with new opportunities to be transformed. As a past Biblical School ministry participant says, “this has been one of the best things I’ve ever done with my life!” Why? “I’ve learned how loving and forgiving God is…and I’ve learned to be more forgiving, understanding, and loving, even to those who are hurtful to me. It’s easier to live a life being forgiving and loving than to be angry and hateful.”

Take a leap of faith this year and seek transformation. Learn more and register at cbsmich.org