Catholic Biblical School St. Thomas Certificate in Biblical Studies Application Process
Applications for the Class of 2016 are available online
here. To apply to the Catholic Biblical School you must complete an application form, and then set up an interview with the Chair of Biblical Studies Program, BJ Daly Horell. Interviews can be scheduled May 15 through August 15, 2012 by calling Jill Costa in the Office of Religious Education.
Tuition for year one is $300. Tuition does not include
books. There is an additional $80 administration fee for those who wish to enroll as a "for-credit" student at St. Thomas Seminary.
If you would like to see the book list, click
here.
For details, please download our
brochure, call BJ Daly Horell or Jill Costa (860-243-9465) or email
cbs@orehartford.org
To apply for enrollment, please download our
application form. Do NOT send in this form. Bring it with you to your scheduled interview. Contact Ms. Jill Costa to schedule an enrollment interview: (860) 243-9465 or jcosta@adh-ore.org. Interviews begin May 15.
Frequently Asked Questions Click
here for in-depth answers to common questions about the Catholic Biblical School and the St. Thomas Seminary Certificate in Biblical Studies program.
Registration: Classes of 2013, 2014, 2015
Returning
students in the Classes of 2013 and 2014 will begin the Advanced Year (Green
Curriculum) in Fall 2012. Students in the Class of 2015 will begin the Year
Two (Red Curriculum) in Fall 2012.
·
MAY 1
is the registration deadline for all returning students. To download
an Advanced Year registration form, click
AdvRegistrationLink.
To download a Year 2 registration form, click
Yr2RegistrationLink.
·
JUNE 1
is the deadline for scholarship applications, tuition deposits, and St.
Thomas Seminary fees.
To download a scholarship application form, click
ScholarshipLink.
·
Textbooks,
including Summer Reading Texts are available at the Catholic Bookstore and
the Office of Religious Education at the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas
Seminary. For a complete list of text books, click
here.
·
Summer Reading and Writing Assignments are due at your
Opening Scripture Day in August or September. To download the writing
assignment for Advanced Year, click
AdvLectioDivinaLink. To download the writing assignment for Year
2, click
Yr2JesusPortraitLink.
Class Schedules 2012-2013 Classes meet weekly for a total of 30 weeks in three 10-week units, with breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, mid-winter break and Holy Week. Classes begin the week of September 10 and conclude by mid-May. No classes are held in the summer. For a complete list of current class locations, click
here. For driving directions to most of our classes, click on the campus listed below:
Directions to the Caritas Christi Center at 295 Benham St., Hamden, CT: From the Wilbur Cross Parkway, take Exit 60 and turn toward Hamden, Southwest on Connecticut Route 10/Dixwell Avenue. Take the third right to Benham Street. 295 Benham Street is at the second light, on your right. Turn onto the property of Mount Sacred Heart and follow the drive straight back, all the way to the rear of the last building. Park in the lot at the end, and enter through the doors under the car portico.
Purpose
The Catholic Biblical School has several related objectives: -
Bringing the student into closer relationship with God’s revealed word;
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Helping unleash the power of God’s Word throughout the Archdiocese;
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Integrating Bible study with prayer and Christian living;
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Responding to the call of the United States Bishops for opportunities for more thorough scriptural studies on the part of all Catholics (as expressed in Go and Make Disciples, the Bishops’ National Plan for Evangelization);
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Preparing lay people to lead others in Bible studies;
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Avoiding confusion among Catholics resulting from interpretation of the Bible contrary to Church teaching and biblical scholarship.
Who should apply? The program is intended for adults who are willing to make a commitment to complete all course requirements for at least two years. No particular educational background is required. It is recommended especially for religious education teachers, deacons, lectors, leaders of Bible study groups, and those wishing to meet the Lord in a deeper way through Scripture.
The Program The Catholic Biblical School is a four year program of intensive study covering the entire Bible. It consists of two phases: Basic Biblical Studies– The first two years focus on methods of study and praying with Scripture, and a comprehensive study of major books of both the Old and New Testaments in the following order: -
First Year– Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Genesis, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings.
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Second Year– Mark, Luke, Acts, Pauline Letters, John, Revelation.
Students completing the requirements of the first two years of the program will receive a Certificate of Basic Biblical Studies from the Archdiocese. Advanced Biblical Studies– The remaining two years cover all other books of the Old and New Testaments. Students who successfully complete this phase as a not-for-credit student will be awarded a Certificate of Advanced Biblical Studies awarded by the Archdiocese of Hartford. St. Thomas Seminary Certificate in Biblical Studies–Those who complete all requirements in the St. Thomas Seminary program will receive the 18-credit Certificate in Biblical Studies. Graduates– Continuing enrichment opportunities are offered for all graduates.
Methods of Instruction The Biblical School provides an integrated learning experience involving both the head and the heart. A variety of methods of instruction appropriate to adult learning will be used. These include: -
Weekly reading and writing assignments, including Scripture passages and biblical commentaries. Student can expect to spend four to five hours on each assignment;
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A communal prayer at the start of each class;
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Small group discussion on the weekly assignment;
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Input from a professionally trained teacher;
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Tests to evaluate and consolidate learning;
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Participation in two days of Scripture reflection, one in the Fall and another in the Spring (held on weekends);
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A summer reading assignment and written report to be submitted at the opening day each year.
Financial Aid
Please don’t allow financial considerations to keep you from studying with us in the Catholic Biblical School. The Office of Religious Education makes available, through the Sr. Jewel Renna, CND Scholarship Fund, a limited number of scholarships every year for students who demonstrate financial need.
Applications will be accepted beginning May 1. Download scholarship applications by clicking here. Application Deadlines: First-year students must complete and return the scholarship application form by Aug. 15 each year and will be notified of awards by Sept. 1. Continuing students must complete and return the scholarship application form by June 15 each year and will be notified of awards by Aug. 1. Scholarship award recipients must reapply for scholarships each year and are not assured of receiving scholarship assistance in subsequent years.
For details, please contact BJ Daly Horell at (860-243-9465) or cbs@orehartford.org
Catholic Biblical School Calendar Online
The complete Catholic Biblical School is now available from every page of the ORE website!
Three easy steps will take you there:
Click on the “Calendar” link, located at the top of this page in the center of the grey-colored, horizontal menu bar.
Click on the words “ORE Hartford” that will appear on the white, horizontal menu bar (located between the dark red title bar and the days of the week).
Scroll down to choose “Catholic Biblical School.”
That’s it! The CBS calendar will appear. To scroll from month to month, click on the blue arrows in the left-hand corner of the white, horizontal menu bar. | 
