Adult Faith Formation
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AFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
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AFF PROGRAM OFFERINGS
* SCRIPTURE STUDY
Recently completed:
"The Book of Revelation"
Thank you Participants & Facilitators!
“Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”
Rev. 22:20
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Information regarding
our next AFF Scripture Study program
to be offered will appear here soon
(Spring 2019).
Please check back for details
and registration information.
ℹ️
Questions about our programs?
Please contact:
Catherine Cetera
AFF Program Director
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Colleen Konopatzke
Office Manager
(406) 892.5142.
* CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
TBA (Spring 2019)
* CCC | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
TBA
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For further study
SUGGESTIONS
FOR
ONGOING PERSONAL
INTERIM SCRIPTURE STUDY
Spring 2019
USCCB COMMENTARY:
The Apocalypse
or
Book of Revelation
This online commentary from the USCCB takes
the reader on a return-journey through the
Book of Revelation.
Although a somewhat lengthy read, this commentary provides a general overview, as well as detailed, informative material.
While Group Study of this book was recently completed, further reading and study of this commentary on the individual level can only yield new insights to aid one’s comprehension of this most mesmerizing, mystifying, yet transformative Scripture book.
Clicking the next chapter links enables one to move through the entire Book of Revelation chapter-by-chapter, which is highly recommended.Due to the depth and complexity of this particular book of Scripture, repeated reading/study, meditation, and prayer are the keys to assimilating its mysteries, and ultimately it's life-lessons.
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USCCB COMMENTARY: REVELATION
http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/0
(If clicking on link does not result in automatically being redirected, simply
copy & paste link into your browser) ------------ +++ ------------
REMINDER: As you read, it would be well to pay particular attention to the various types you will encounter. Recall what you've learned regarding typology-- the foreshadowing & prefigurement in the Old/New Testaments-- and of their fulfillment.
What is the importance of the ongoing study of typology?As St. Augustine said:
"The Old Testament
is the New concealed,
but the New Testament
is the Old revealed."
(Catechizing of the Uninstructed, 4:8)
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Recommended for Further Reading
Any good Catholic Bible Commentary will prove invaluable in your understanding of The Book of Revelation. Here are but a few suggestions:POPULAR
* REVELATION Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS)
by Peter Williamson
* The Navarre Bible: Revelation
by University of Navarre Faculty
* REVELATION
New Collegeville Bible Commentary Series
by Catherine Ann Cory
ACADEMIC
* THE. APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary
by Rev.George Leo Haydock
(Written in the older turn-of-the century English style)
* Book of REVELATION: a Shorter Commentary
by G.K. Beale
(Although considered a "Protestant" work, based on his comprehensive 1300+ page
New International Greek Testament Commentary, this title has received endorsements from many Catholic Bible scholars including popular author Scott Hahn, PhD. It is nonetheless a hefty volume both in weight and content, and in no way a popular, "light" read.)
NB: While some may find the cost of Bible commentaries prohibitive, especially those of the Academic level, the majority of these titles are approximately that of a comparable trade paperba.ck. -
The LIBRARY: LENT 2019
GOOD READS & RESOURCES
TO ASSIST ADULTS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR FAITH.
NEW BIBLE | LENTEN READING
"LENT is like a long 'retreat' during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God, in order to defeat the temptations of the Evil One. It is a period of spiritual 'warfare' which we must experience alongside Jesus... using the arms of faith: prayer, the Word of God, and penance." -Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Spiritual Warfare Bible RSV-CE
translation
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Perfect for your LENTEN Scripture reading
Saint Benedict Press | TAN Books
About this BibleThere is a battle waging for your soul.
But you can arm yourself, and this Spiritual Warfare Bible is the perfect weapon against Satan. There is no better way to Our Lord than by reflecting on His own words and actions in Scripture.
Newly published in 2017, the Spiritual Warfare Bible (RSV-CE) includes nine special Spiritual Warfare inserts written by Paul Thigpen, PhD, author of the acclaimed Manual for Spiritual Warfare, including:
* Scripture for the Battle
* Know Your Enemy
* Know Your Commander and Comrades
* Know Your Weapons
* Church Teaching About Spiritual Warfare
* Words from the Saints about Spiritual Warfare* Prayers for the Battle* Topical Index
Product Details:* Grey, pebbled Vegan Leather
* Silver gilt page edges
* 7 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
* 1668 pages
Also by Paul Thigpen, PhD:
The Manual for Spiritual Warfare
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL
Remember Your Death - Memento MoriLenten Devotional
by Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSPFREE DOWNLOAD! Sr. Theresa has graciously provided a link to sample this book. Download a 2-day sample here:UNDATED. Includes Daily Readings for Years A, B, & C. May be repeatedly used/re-read.
About this Book:In his Rule, St. Benedict urged his monks to “keep death daily before your eyes.” Benedict urged the remembrance of death so that his monks would live better in this life and keep their eyes on Jesus.Benedict also knew that the practice of remembering death is most effective when observed daily.This new Lenten devotional will help you to begin the practice of remembering death daily.But Lent will eventually end. For this reason, each meditation in this devotional includes an examen, a time-honored practice that can be used to incorporate memento mori into your daily life throughout the year.When Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP, began keeping a ceramic skull on her desk and tweeting about it, she had no idea she'd be starting a movement. Her daily tweets about memento mori - Latin for " remember your death" -contained quotes and insights that have inspired others to remember death daily. Many have found this ancient practice to provide an important perspective on their lives in view of Jesus' call to repentance, conversion, and the hope of resurrection.And now Sr. Theresa Aletheia's series of tweets has led to a memento mori -inspired Lenten devotional.Each day contains a reflection written by Sr. Theresa Aletheia based on the liturgy of the day for all of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. The devotional also includes a memento mori examen or review of the day, a daily moment of intercessory prayer, and daily reflections on death from their tradition, including the Church Fathers and many of the saints.Prompts are provided for journaling that can be used along with the Remember Your Death: Memento Mori Journal, also available from Pauline Books.Lent is a time when we remember the death of Christ and the sacrifice he made to give us eternal life. This devotional will help you to meditate on your own mortality and the incredible gift of salvation in preparation for Easter. Whether you get a skull for your desk, a memento mori journal, or a Lenten devotional, it is vitally important to the Christian life to remember the fragility of your life on earth-because... one day you will die.
Features & Benefits:- written and compiled by a trusted religious sister
- includes reflections for each day of Lent
- includes inspirational writings from the Church Fathers and the saints
- introduces a unique memento mori daily examen
- challenges readers to remember their death in the hope of the resurrection
About the Author:Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP is a former atheist who is now a religious sister with the Daughters of St. Paul. She lives in Boston, where she is an editor for Pauline Books and Media.
She is the author of The Prodigal You Love: Inviting Loved Ones Back to the Church and Remember Your Death: Memento Mori Journal and Remember Your Death: Memento Mori Lenten Devotional.
You can find her on social media @pursuedbytruth and at pursuedbytruth.com.
Product Details:
Trade Paperback
Published: Jan 2019
Size: 8 x 5 x 0.7 in.
Pages: 224 $16.95
(Amazon: $15.25 - Feb 2019)Available for purchase online at: pursuedbytruth.com/books
or your preferred retailer.NB: This title, along with the Memento Mori Journal,is my personal choice for aLenten devotional this year. -“CC”
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AFF PHOTO Album
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AFF PHOTO ALBUM
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ADULT FAITH FORMATION (AFF)
THE catechetical mission of the Church is for the faithful of all ages to grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. Every disciple of the Lord Jesus shares in this mission. To do their part, adult Catholics must be mature in faith and well equipped to share the Gospel.
The Adult Faith Formation (AFF) ministry serves to engage the particular needs and interests of adults in our community.
It will, over the course of time, offer a comprehensive, systematic presentation and exploration of the core elements of Catholic faith and practice.
To achieve this, the AFF ministry incorporates all the faith dimensions of an adult’s life including the experience of family life, relationships, public service, and concern for the common good. It does so in a way that is accessible to adults and relates to their life experiences— integrating actual life experience, and the diverse learning styles of adults; through the study of Scripture, and the teaching of the Church's traditions.
Adult Faith Formation is an ongoing process.
AFF employs prayer, liturgy, group Scripture study, catechetical-based programs, creative workshops, and fellowship to deepen one’s relationship with God, and to nurture ourselves and one another.“My child, do not forget my teachings,
and let your heart keep my commandments.
For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and peace.”
-Proverbs 3:1-2
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POCKET OF PEARLS
Inspiration. Guidance. Gems to Ponder.
"CHRIST made my soul beautiful with the jewels of Grace and Virtue."-St. Agnes of Rome
The PEARL
St. Ephram of Syria"On a certain day a pearl did I take up, my brethren; I saw in it mysteries
pertaining to the Kingdom; semblances and types of the Majesty; it became a fountain, and I drank out of it mysteries of the Son.I put it, my brethren, upon the palm of my hand, that I might examine it: I went to look at it on one side, and it proved faces on all sides. I found out that the Son was incomprehensible, since He is wholly Light.
In its brightness I beheld the Bright One Who cannot be clouded, and in its pureness a great mystery, even the Body of our Lord which is well-refined: in its undividedness I saw the Truth which is undivided.
It was so that I saw there its pure conception — the Church, and the Son within her. The cloud was the likeness of her that bare Him, and her type the heaven, since there shone forth from her His gracious Shining."
"Nothing Great is ever achieved without enduring much."
-St. Catherine of Siena
PROPER DISPOSAL of BIBLES & SACRAMENTALS
What is the proper disposal method of an old, damaged Bible? What do you do with sacred objects like a broken or cracked statue that is no longer wanted?Does one unceremoniously toss them into the recycling bin? NO!
So how are we to properly, respectfully do away with books and other items that have a sacramental* nature?
*As Catholics we respect sacramentals, understanding that their distinction is from the grace of God, and from the sacraments themselves.
Canon law states, “Sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons” (Can. 1171).
Customarily, when a sacramental object is intentionally destroyed — technically it is returned to it's basic element(s), such as earth, air, water etc. — and is no longer recognizable in it's constructed form as a book, rosary, etc., it can then be disposed of as you would other groups of basic elements.
Burning and/or burying have been the preferred methods of disposal of old Bibles. "
This method entails simply burning the book(s) —separately, not with other common materials— then gathering and burying the remaining ashes.
The Sacristy Manual, states the following about traditional methods of disposal of sacramentals: "The longtime tradition of burning and burial respects the sacred role once played by the items, and prevents them from being used for trivial purposes. Other methods are open to us, but whatever method is used, it must be respectful, sensitive and discreet” (p. 168).
Disposal Customs
Other possibilities include this Irish custom of collecting old sacramentals — including Bibles, missals, prayer books — during the year, then burning them in a bonfire on June 23, the vigil of the birth of St. John the Baptist, followed by the burial of the ashes.
Another tradition is to gather and save broken, damaged, no longer wanted rosaries, Bibles and other sacred books -- then tucking them in a casket alongside a loved one-- thereby returning the sacramentals to the earth.
It is well to remember that these objects once held sacred significance-- the devotion and faith of the person using them, in conjunction with the ongoing prayer of the church.
Therefore simply throwing away a worn-out sacramental may be seen as an act of desecration (de-sacredness).
Transfinalization
Whichever method you choose, it should serve to render the constructed form of the sacramental unrecognizable.
Known technically as “transfinalization,” or altering the
object’s purpose, when completed, the remains — such as ashes — can then be disposed of.For items such as statues or rosaries-- these may be wrapped in a towel, slipped into a bag and then buried.
When the disposal of no longer serviceable sacramentals is done with good intention and care, there is no irreverence.
Sources: The Catholic Encyclopedia; The Sacristy Manual; Code of Canon Law (1983ed.)
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Approved bible TRANSLATIONS
USCCB Approved Translations of the Sacred scriptures for Private Use and Study by Catholics
1983 - Present
The 1983 Code of Canon Law entrusts to the Apostolic See and the episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church (c. 825, §1). Prior to 1983, Scriptural translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary within a diocese.
What follows is a complete list of the translations of the Sacred Scriptures that have received the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1983.
• Books of the New Testament, Alba House
• Contemporary English Version - New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society
• Contemporary English Version - Book of Psalms, American Bible Society
• Contemporary English Version - Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society
• The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version), G.I.A. Publications
• New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
• New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches
• The Psalms, Alba House
• The Psalms (New International Version) - St. Joseph Catholic Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Company
• The Psalms - St. Joseph New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Company
• Revised Psalms of the New American Bible (1991)
• So You May Believe, A Translation of the Four Gospels, Alba House
• Good News Translation (Today's English Version, Second Edition), American Bible Society
• Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society
Don't see your particular Bible listed?
In addition to the translations listed above, any translation of the Sacred Scriptures that has received proper ecclesiastical approval ‒ namely, by the Apostolic See or a local ordinary prior to 1983, or by the Apostolic See or an episcopal conference following 1983 ‒ may be used by the Catholic faithful for private prayer and study.
A few examples of the most popular, widely-used translations:- Douay-Rheims (1582/1609/1899)
- RSV-2CE (2005)
- NABRE (2011)
- Jerusalem Bible (1966)
- Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)- New Testament
(aka: “Confraternity Edition” or “Challoner version”) (1941)
It is preferable that any Bible you choose have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. The imprimatur/nihil obstat indicates that the book is free from errors in Catholic doctrine.
Source: USCCB