Catholic Bible Institute
The Catholic Bible Institute is a three-year program which entails a comprehensive study of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures focusing on methods of study, sharing and praying with Scripture. The purpose of the Institute is to provide for the training and formation of leadership at the local parish. To further this purpose, the fourfold goal of the Institute is to enable participants to grow in appreciation of God's revealed word, to foster a Catholic understanding of the study of Sacred Scripture, to integrate bible study with prayer and Christian living, and to provide formation and training in basic Catholic bible-study principles.
The program of studies for the Catholic Bible Institute is cyclical, starting with a year of studies focusing on the Old Testament, then a year of studies on the New Testament and a final year of both studies and practicum focusing on particular skills for working with adults and running a parish-based bible study program. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded a certificate in Bible Study Leadership.
Who Should Participate
Those who are in ministry, education, or simply seek to foster their own spiritual growth and broaden their own understanding of Scripture, will find participation in the Catholic Bible Institute to be a richly rewarding experience.
While priority is given to those seeking the certificate in Bible Study Leadership, we also encourage and welcome participants who seek personal enrichment and education. The Catholic Bible Institute of Los Angeles is faciliated by the
Office for Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For information and registration, contact the Office directly at 213.637.7654 or visit www.la-archdiocese.org online.
Program Benefits
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Appreciate and understand Scripture as a historical and revelatory text.
- Properly integrate bible study with prayer and Christian living.
- Develop and facilitate parish and community-based Scripture programs.
Credit from this program may be applicable to catechist certification at the discretion
of the certifying diocese. Please be sure to check with the appropriate diocesan
office to confirm that this program qualifies for credit towards certification or recertification.
General Information
| Program |
Location |
Units |
Courses |
Tuition |
Prerequisite |
Los Angeles
3 Years |
St. Paul the Apostle Church
10750 Ohio St.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Via Videoconference:
St. Louis de Montfort Parish
1190 E. Clark Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93455 |
12.5 |
RELX 951
RELX 952
RELX 953 |
$750
|
A letter of
recommendation
from your pastor
is required for
admission. |
San Bernardino
3 Years |
San Bernardino Pastoral Ctr.
1201 E. Highland Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92404
Christ the Redeemer Parish
12745 Oriole Ave.
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 |
12.5 |
RELX 954
RELX 955
RELX 956
RELX 957
RELX 958 |
$975 |
|
Course and program requirements, schedules and tuition are subject to change; and additional fees may be incurred for books and materials. Please check the Web site or contact LMU Extension for updated information.
Registration differs for the two programs. Those in Los Angeles register with the Archdiocesan Office for Religious Education. Those in San Bernardino may contact the San Bernardino Ministry Formation Institute or register with LMU Extension directly.
Certificate Requirements
This program meets once a month on Saturdays during the Fall and Spring terms for one year. Students must complete a total of 12.5 units of course work with a letter grade of ‘B-’ or higher in each course to receive a certificate of completion.
The Institutes are experiential learning opportunities. A team of facilitators utilizes a variety of instruction methods appropriate to adult learning. These methods include presentations by qualified biblical studies instructors, small group discussion on themes, communal praying of Scripture, monthly reading assignments including Scripture passages and biblical commentaries, monthly reflection papers and additional written assignments.
Year One includes an introduction to the Old Testament and an overview of the following themes: Exodus, Covenant, Primeval History, Patriarchs, Prophets, Historical Writings, Deuterocanonical Writings, Exile and Rebuilding, Wisdom Literature and Hebrew theology.
Year Two includes an introduction to the New Testament, and an overview of the following: Mark, Matthew, Luke, Acts, John, Pauline theology, Pastoral letters, the Book of Revelation, and New Testament theology.
Year Three is a practicum year for those in the certificate program. The focus is on developing skills for working with Scripture in group situations at a parish level, with particular attention devoted to adult learning styles and skills. Students demonstrate their leadership skills through a supervised presentation of a Scripture program using the knowledge, skills, and tools acquired in the Institute.
Schedule
| 2012 Year I |
2012 Year III |
| Spring |
Fall |
Spring |
Fall |
Los Angeles
January 21
February 18
March 17
April 21
May 19 |
Los Angeles
September 22
October 20
November 17
December 8 |
Los Angeles
|
Los Angeles |
San Bernardino
January 21
February 18
March 10
April 14
May 12 |
San Bernardino
September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8 |
San Bernardino
Field Work |
San Bernardino
|
Year One (Y1) includes an introduction to the Old Testament and an overview of the following themes: Exodus, Covenant, Primeval History, Patriarchs, Prophets, Historical Writings, Deuterocanonical Writings, Exile and Rebuilding, Wisdom Literature and Hebrew theology.
Year Two (Y2) includes an introduction to the New Testament, and an overview of the following: Mark, Matthew, Luke, Acts, John, Pauline theology, Pastoral letters, the Book of Revelation, and New Testament theology.
Year Three (Y3) is a practicum year for those in the certificate program. The focus is on developing skills for working with scripture in group situations at a parish level, with particular attention devoted to adult learning styles and skills. Participants demonstrate their leadership skills through a supervised presentation of a scripture program using the knowledge, skills, and tools acquired in the Bible Institute.
What Students Say
"This class has enriched my faith and understanding beyond anything I expected or have experienced before. It has made me hungry for more."
-Joyce Figurski, St. Vincent Ferrer, Sun City.
"Taking an historical walk through the Hebrew Scriptures has been most inspiring. a fantastic journey."
-Ann Lawlor, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Temecula
"I cannot explaine all of the things I learned, but Jesus' roots were explained so well. I understood what it meant to be raised in the Jewish Tradition."
-Maureen Smith, Christ the Redeemer, Grand Terrace
"This class in New Testament has appealed to our scholarship, our faith and our understanding of the message of Jesus."
-Rita Rocha, St. Adelaide, Highland
"Thanks to the CBI program, the Old Testament is no longer intimidating and foreign territory. It has been a fascinating story of our spiritual ancestors who recorded for us a treasure of revelation of God's presence in their lives."
-Emma Mejico, Holy Name of Jesus, Redlands
"This course takes you beyond the boundaries of traditional Bible larning. It challenges you to go deeper into the scripture and understand how it developed."
-Monica Robles, St. Frances Cabrini, Yucaipa
Instructors: San Bernardino
Reverend Felix Just, S.J., PhD, Director of Biblical Education at the Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, Calif., received an STL in Scripture from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and a PhD in New Testament Studies from Yale University. He is also the academic director of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry and Deacon Formation programs of the Diocese of Las Vegas. He gives many retreats, workshops, and public lectures on biblical and liturgical topics, is an instructor in the Catholic Bible Institute, and maintains an extensive website devoted to the New Testament and the Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass: Catholic-Resources.org.
Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, DPhil, Professor of Theological Studies, has taught Old Testament at Loyola Marymount University since 1989. A frequent teacher and speaker in Adult Education in many Ecumenical contexts, he is the author of dozens of scholarly articles and nine major books, including his most recent, Jonah, Jesus, and Other Good Coyotes (Abingdon Press, 2007). Smith-Christopher, raised a Quaker, completed his BA at George Fox University in his native Oregon, and then studied at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (MDiv). He completed his PhD at Oxford University in England before living in Israel/Palestine for two years as a volunteer Peace Worker with the British Quakers.
Instructors: Los Angeles
Rev. Bill Adams, C.Ss.R. is the Spiritual director of Follow Me Ministries, a television production ministry in Huntington Beach, California. In the past he served as the Provincial of the Redemptorist Order, Western Province. He served as president of the Southern California Renewal Communities in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Father Adams completed his scripture studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
Carol J. Dempsey, O.P., PhD is Associate Professor of Theology (Biblical Studies) with particular expertise in Old Testament and Prophets at the University of Portland, Oregon.
Dorothy Jonaitis, O.P., DMin holds a D.Min. in Preaching from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO. She is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Religious and Pastoral Studies at the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas.
Rev. J. Patrick Mullen, S.T.L., PhD is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California. A frequent exegetical contributor to Weekday Homily Helps (St. Anthony Messenger Press), he has also most recently contributed to Liturgical Ministry and is the author of Dining with Pharisees (2004). He is a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature.
Kay Murdy, MA is a founding member of the Catholic Bible Institute, and is a member of the coordinating and teaching staff of CBI. She has a Masters in Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary's College. Kay teaches in parishes and archdiocesan programs. She writes a monthly column for Ministry and Liturgy magazine, and is the author of four books on spirituality and the Bible.
Barbara Murphy, MA holds a Masters Degree from Loyola Marymount University with a concentration in scripture. She is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association.
Rev. Donald Senior, C.P., STD is Professor of New Testament Studies and President of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illionois. He is particularly interested in the connection between the theological and literary characteristics of each Gospel and the pastoral and missionary contexts of the early church. A member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, he is general editor of the Catholic Study Bible and author of the four-volume The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John.
William Shaules, PhD holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles. He teaches at St. John’s Seminary and Loyola Marymount University, and is currently teaching and coordinating the Diaconate Formation Program for the Archdiocese.
Jeffrey S. Siker, PhD is Professor of Theological Studies at LMU. Siker teaches in the area of New Testament theology and early Christianity, the history of biblical interpretation, and the use of the Bible in theological debate. He is the author of Disinheriting the Jews: Abraham in Early Christianity Controversy; Scripture and Ethics: 20th Century Portraits; and editor of Homosexuality in the Church: Both Sides of the Debate.
Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, DPhil, Professor of Theological Studies, has taught Old Testament at Loyola Marymount University since 1989. A frequent teacher and speaker in Adult Education in many Ecumenical contexts, he is the author of dozens of scholarly articles and nine major books, including his most recent, Jonah, Jesus, and Other Good Coyotes (Abingdon Press, 2007). Smith-Christopher, raised a Quaker, completed his B.A. at George Fox University in his native Oregon, and then studied at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (M.Div.). He completed his Ph.D. at Oxford University in England before living in Israel/Palestine for two years as a volunteer Peace Worker with the British Quakers.