St. Sabina Adult Faith Formation Sessions 2011-2012
Fall 2011
The Qur’an and the Bible: Relatives or Enemies?
What does the Qur’an have to do with the Bible?
Monday Evenings – Sept 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 2011 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Wednesday Mornings – Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26, 2011 – 10 AM-Noon
The Qur’an, God’s revelation to Muslims through the prophet Muhammad, shares many similarities with the Bible in terms of stories and persons. Yet they are two completely different books in terms of composition, literary style and purpose. Ultimately they both intend the believer to draw closer to God, alerting them to God’s mind set, wishes, desire and intention for all humanity.
These sessions will explore the similarities and the differences between the Bible and the Qur’an. Stories and persons that appear in both texts will be examined, pointing out both similarities and differences in tone, perspectives and details. Handouts of the Qur’anic text dealing with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Mary and Jesus will be examined both in small and large group exercises, correlating them to their parallel Biblical story and perspective. Copies of the Qur’an will be available for examination and purchase.
Come to deepen your knowledge of Islam, Muslims, the Qur’an and the Bible. All faith traditions are most welcome. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
More Twisted Stories? – Jesus’ Parables Continued
Tuesday Evenings – Sept 27, Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, 2011 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Thursday Mornings – Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, 2011 – 10 AM-Noon
To understand the parables of Jesus, it is necessary to understand the nature of parables in general and how Jews, both at the time of Jesus and today, use them to teach and engage listeners. Knowing the cultural world of Jesus, along with the customs and idioms of his day is essential in grasping the effect that Jesus intended his parables to have. The listener is invited to enter the parable so as to engage and actively respond.
These sessions will continue examining the nature of parables, situating them within the cultural world of Jesus, and how his audience would have heard and reacted to them. Having analyzed some of Jesus’ parables in the Spring of this year, we will select other parables from the gospels to be analyzed for their meaning and significance for Jesus’ audience as well as for today’s listeners. Ready yourself to be confronted by Jesus’ words in a way that will both delight and challenge, that will engage and demand a response.
Bring a bible, a friend and come learn together from Jesus, the master storyteller. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
January 2012
The Other Gospels: What wisdom do they offer?
Tuesday evenings – January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2012 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Wednesday Mornings – Jan 4, 11, 18, 25, 2012 – 10 AM-Noon
Many other gospels, called apocryphal or hidden gospels, have been discovered over the years. Because they were not considered canonical or inspired by God they were not included in the final collection that we now know as the Bible. However, many biblical scholars have begun paying close attention to them to discover insights and wisdom into the thinking, reflection, prayer and communal dimensions of the early followers of Christ. Often, these gospels present different perspectives on Jesus and his followers, exploring different Jesus sayings, as well as providing information about Jesus that is lacking in the canonical gospels.
These sessions will explore four of these gospels: the Gnostic gospels of Thomas and Mary and the Infancy gospels of James and Thomas. We will examine the texts to gather the wisdom of the communities who produced these gospels, to discern what these gospels contribute to our understanding of Jesus, and to learn their perspective on what is involved in desiring to be a disciple of Jesus.
Bring a bible, a friend and come learn together the wisdom these “other” gospels can still offer us today. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
Lenten Season Adult Faith Formation Offerings – Spring 2012
Lenten Sunday Readings
Mondays Evenings – Feb 27, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2012 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Wednesday Mornings – Feb 29, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012 – 10 AM-Noon
These sessions will explore the four lectionary readings for each of the five Lenten Sundays. An overview of Lent and the Lenten Year B lectionary readings will be examined in the first session. Each subsequent session will be devoted to the Sunday readings, exploring the various Lenten themes that surface and paying attention to the elements of the catechumenal journey. Even though Lectionary Year B is centered around the Gospel according to Mark, passages from John’s gospel are used frequently as well. The third, fourth and fifth Sundays are referred to as “Scrutiny” Sundays using passages from John’s gospel that highlight the baptismal paschal mystery themes of dying and rising. Both the baptismal preparation as well as the penitential aspect of Lent will be examined to see how it can deepen our Lenten journey to Easter.
Join us for a more conscious and effective involvement in this year’s Lenten journey. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
Vatican II Actually Said What?
A Trio of the Most Controversial Themes of Vatican II:
Religious Freedom
Ecumenical Relationships
Relations with Non-Christian Religions
Tuesdays Evenings – Feb 28, March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Thursday Mornings – March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2012 – 10 AM-Noon
Are people free to choose their own path to God?
Are Protestants going to heaven?
Do Muslims worship the same God and will they be saved?
October 11, 2012 we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the most significant Catholic event of the 20th Century, if not of all time. The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, renewed and reformed the pilgrim people of God with new vision, attitudes, and perspectives of who the Church is and what its mission involves. When the council closed on December 8, 1965, it had produced sixteen revolutionary documents that dramatically changed the church forever. Three of these documents, those on Religious Freedom, Ecumenical Relationships and Relations with Non-Christian Religions, proved to be rather controversial then, and still are so today.
These sessions will examine the themes that surface out of these three documents, and how they continue to cause controversy even today. We will reflect on the pre-Vatican II attitudes toward these topics, and the reasons which led the council to view those areas of Church life from new and different perspectives.
Come to reflect, examine and learn how we have all been affected by the Spirit speaking through the Second Vatican Council on these important areas of Church life. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
Month of May, 2012
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
Tuesday Evenings – May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2012 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Wednesday Mornings – May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012 – 10 AM-Noon
Corinth was a major Mediterranean crossroad port city of Ancient Greece. Like any big port city its population was socially, ethnically and economically diverse. The apostle Paul spent a great deal of time in Corinth creating a community committed to the values and life style of Christ Jesus. Once Paul moves on, the Corinthian community faces a variety of crises resulting from their attempt be faithful to Christ Jesus in the midst of theirs surrounding wider culture and influences. They contact Paul for advice and Paul responds to their concerns with his Corinthian correspondence. Those concerns, along with Paul’s guidance, are as real for us today as they were then. Paul addresses issues of Christ’s wisdom versus the world’s wisdom, of how to live in a culture or society that does not value Christ’s wisdom or lifestyle, and how to live in community with unity, justice and concern for one another.
These sessions will examine Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, so as to gain wisdom and guidance for living the Christian life in today’s world. Paul and the Corinthian cultural world will be explored so as to better understand what Paul is addressing in his letter. We will focus on Paul’s key image of the Christian community as the Body of Christ, a body gifted by the Spirit with a variety of spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up the community of Christ.
Bring a bible, a friend and come learn together what Paul and the Corinthian community can still teach about living the Christian life in today’s world. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.
Helpmates, Harlots and Heroes: Women Stories in the Hebrew Bible
Wednesday Evenings – May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012 – 7-9 PM
Repeated Thursday Mornings– May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2012 – 10 AM-Noon
Women in the Hebrew Scriptures, commonly known as the Old Testament, have consistently been unknown or ignored. The significance of their presence and stories is often devalued in light of the patriarchal bias of the biblical books. Yet biblical women play a vital role in the narrative of humanity’s response to God’s desire to be in constant loving relationship with us. Modern biblical scholars, especially women biblical scholars, have begun to examine and explore the role of women in the scriptures, surfacing stories of women who teach us courage, wisdom and how to act in our relationship with God and others.
These sessions will explore stories of women from the Hebrew Scriptures. We will meet mothers and queens, harlots and heroes, prophets and warriors, powerful women and victims. Using the work of modern biblical scholars, especially studies of women biblical scholars, we will highlight both the benefits and the problems that these stories surface for contemporary women and men.
Bring a bible, a friend and come learn together what biblical women and their stories can teach us about God and ourselves. All faith traditions and denominations are most welcomed. The sessions will be facilitated by Biagio Mazza, Pastoral Associate at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Belton, MO. To register, call Kris or Biagio at the parish office, 816-331-4713.