Acclaimed author and teacher Dr. Brant Pitre digs down to the biblical roots of the Eucharist, through its foreshadowing in the miraculous events of the Old Testament, the Gospels, and Apostolic teaching.
"The Lamb of God," "The Bread of Life," "The Body and the Blood of Christ"... these are phrases we know from the Mass. But do we understand what they mean in the greater and deeper context of Scripture and Church teaching? We'll discover firsthand how Christ's Body and Blood are an integral and wondrous part of God's plan for our salvation.
Tuesdays 9:00-11:00 am in Room 115 – Starts September 12th, 2023.
Thursdays 6:30-7:45 pm in Room 113 – Starts September 14th, 2023.
Misconceptions about God abound, even among Christians, and these misconceptions can become obstacles in our relationship with God. Join Augustine Institute Assistant Professor Dr. Elizabeth Klein for a careful study of Scripture that will lead you to a deeper and clearer awareness of who God is, equipping you to share this truth with others.
Starting in the Old Testament, Dr. Klein presents what God says about himself at various points in salvation history, and how he revels to Israel that “the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Moving to the New Testament, Dr. Klein shows how this one God then reveals himself as three. Along the way you’ll get answers to questions such as, How can God be transcendent and personal? If God is one, how can Jesus be God? What does it mean that “God is love” (1 John 4:8)? Why is the doctrine of the trinity the central mystery of our faith when the word “Trinity” never appears in the Bible?
8 Sessions:
Sundays 11:15 am in Room 113 – Starts September 24th, 2023.
Tuesdays 7:00 pm – meets virtually via Zoom – Starts September 26th, 2023.
At St. Francis, our goal is to help parishioners journey along the Path of Discipleship. One of the best ways you can become a missionary disciple is by growing in your relationship with Christ and his Church through ongoing catechesis, including the various bible studies, presentations and workshops, and small groups offered here.
It is especially sobering to learn that when Pew surveyors asked the question, “Which comes closest to your view of God: God is a person with whom people can have a relationship, or God is an impersonal force?” only 48 percent of Catholics were absolutely certain that the God they believed in was a God with whom they could have a personal relationship.
So it should be clear that retaining a Catholic identity does not mean that someone necessarily believes in God at the heart of Catholicism. How much of our faith can make sense to millions of Catholics when the bedrock foundation – belief in a personal God who loves us – is not in place?
Where does all this leave us? Certainly one of the most fundamental challenges facing our Church is this: The majority of adult Catholics are not even certain that a personal relationship with God is possible.
In order to help our community have and grow in this, THE most essential and important relationship, we have created a Faith Enrichment program to help and share with all of our parishioners. You are welcome to come, even if the series already started, and discover how great and amazing this relationship can be for your life and your family.