Fa l l am - 10 am. * The only exception is Thursday, September 5th, the Feast Day of Blessed Mother Teresa.

Transcription

1 T h e B l e s s e d E d m u n d R i c e S c h o o l F o r P a s t o r a l M i n i s t r y A d u l t F a i t h F o r m a t i o n W e d n e s d a y M o r n i n g s * 9 am - 10 am Offered live via video teleconferencing at selected locations throughout the Diocese of Venice. Fa l l * The only exception is Thursday, September 5th, the Feast Day of Blessed Mother Teresa.

2 Wednesday Morning Adult Faith Formation Offerings through the Rice School Fall 2013 Schedule All classes (EXCEPT the Thursday, September 5th class on Mother Teresa) are offered on Wednesday mornings from 9:00-10:00 am. Please be aware that these classes are recorded and then posted (usually by the NEXT day) for public viewing on the Diocese of Venice in Florida Website: (In order to find our videos, please look under News & Media, then click on Video Library, then Adult Faith Formation [Rice School]). Under each video the professors and instructors post their PowerPoints, notes, etc. for the public to use for their own spiritual study. The classes are offered via the Diocesan video teleconferencing (DOVNET) network. For anyone not familiar with THIS technology, this means that the classes will be taught from one location and broadcast LIVE to the other sites. Participants in any location can communicate with the teachers and other students at other locations in real time. Locations where classes may be attended: the Anne Nevins Library at the Rice School in Port Charlotte; St. Agnes, Naples; St. Leo Parish, Bonita Springs; St. Martha Parish, Sarasota; Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park; Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers; and Our Lady of Mercy, Boca Grande. The classes are offered FREE of charge. Any donations are gladly accepted and all donations will go to the Rice School Scholarship Fund, which helps ensure that no student who wishes to study the Catholic faith will ever be turned away. Page 2

3 W e d n e s d ay M o r n i n g A d u l t F a i t h F o r m a t i o n M e e t t h e P r e s e n t e r s Andrea Lorenzo Molinari is the President of Blessed Edmund Rice School for Pastoral Ministry, which is part of the Education Department of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Molinari received his Ph.D. from Marquette University (New Testament and Early Christianity, 1996). He has authored four books, ranging in topics such as ancient legends about the apostles, early Christian women, and martyrdom and persecution in early Christianity. His most recent projects include two audio courses: Legends of the First Apostles and Arrayed in Crimson : Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church, both through Now You Know Media, a Roman Catholic audio/visual media company. In addition, he has published a variety of scholarly and popular articles related to early Christianity. Matthew A. Caes is a Ph.D. candidate in Theology at Ave Maria University where he has taught Sacred Scripture and tutored Latin. He holds an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and taught theology in a Catholic high school in Peoria, Illinois for four years. For over two years Caes has been an instructor for the Rice School. He is married and has five children. Eric Sammons has an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Venice in Florida. In this capacity, he has organized parish missions, door-to-door evangelization campaigns, and public forums on the Catholic faith. He is the author of two books Holiness for Everyone and Who is Jesus Christ? Unlocking the Mystery in the Gospel of Matthew, published by Our Sunday Visitor. A convert to Catholicism from Evangelical Protestantism, Sammons was received into the Catholic Church in He has appeared on EWTN and is a frequent guest on Catholic radio, including, "The Son Rise Morning Show," "Kresta in the Afternoon," and "Catholic Answers Live." He was also the co-host of the Washington, D.C., radio show "Catholic Matters." His articles have appeared in OSV Newsweekly, Homiletic & Pastoral Review, Catholic Online and Catholic Exchange. Sammons lives in Venice with his wife, Suzan, and their six children. Natalia Juzyn is completing her M.A. in Pastoral Theology through Barry University at the Blessed Edmund Rice School for Pastoral Ministry. She has presented at the Famous Women in the Church Conference at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice in October She has been a speaker for adult faith formation at St. Mary s Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, where she is also a catechist. Page 33

4 W e d n e s d a y M o r n i n g A d u l t f a i t h f o r m a t i o n 5 Mother Teresa - A Light in the Darkness While we are all familiar with Blessed Mother Teresa s corporal works of mercy, until recently, most people were unaware of her spiritual struggles. While her exterior life was replete with visible acts of charity, her interior life was marked by aridity and darkness, a state which paradoxically fueled her work and her personal holiness. In this class we will look not only at what Mother Teresa did for God, but we will also consider the work that God did in her. Her feast day is September 5th. (Note: This class is held on THURSDAY. All OTHER classes will be held on Wednesdays.) 11 The Other St. Peter - The Life and Times of St. Peter Claver This class will provide a brief examination of St. Peter Claver s life, his heroic work on behalf of New World slaves, and his place in the Church s response to New World slavery. His feast day is September 9th. 18- St. Matthew: Apostle, Evangelist, and Martyr St. Matthew is the only person the Church titles an apostle, an evangelist, and a martyr. We will include a look at his call by Christ, the Gospel that bears his name, and the traditions surrounding his missionary work and martyrdom. His feast day is September 21st. 25- St. Jerome: Saint, Biblical Scholar, and Doctor of the Church Most Catholics today have heard of St. Jerome, but usually only two words come to mind, Bible and cranky. Join us as we go deeper, uncovering what makes this Father and Doctor of the Church such a towering figure in Church history. We will discover St. Jerome s continuing relevance for today guided by Pope Benedict XVI s encyclical on the 1500th anniversary of the Saint s death (Spiritus Paraclitus). His feast day is September 30th.

5 W e d n e s d ay m o r n i n g A d u l t f a i t h f o r m a t i o n 2-St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as The Little Flower, is one of the most beloved saints in the Church. Her spiritual autobiography, The Story of a Soul, outlined a path to holiness which she called The Little Way. Flowery imagery and diminutive language, however, have obscured the strength and perseverance of this saint. In this class we will look more deeply into St. Thérèse and her spirituality, and discover why she was named one of the three women Doctors of the Church. Her feast day is October 1st. 9-Our Lady of the Rosary, general of the church militant Discover the martial origin of the feast (October 7th) and why St. Pio and Pope Leo XIII called the rosary a weapon. We also will find practical helps to praying the rosary in Bl. John Paul II s encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae. 16-North American Martyrs: Seed of the Catholic Church in America Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions heroically spread the Catholic Faith on these shores during the 17th century. They faced incredible hardships and eventually death for their efforts. Discover how their missionary activities became the seed of the Catholic Church in America today. Their feast day is October 19th. 23-Michael the Archangel: commander of the lord s host This class will describe and discuss the Testament of Abraham, a Jewish writing dating from the 1st or 2nd century of our era, and also one of the earliest narratives in which the activities of Michael are highlighted. In this deeply poignant legend, Michael comes to earth at God s command to alert Abraham to his impending death and to bring his soul to God. The results of Michael s mission are entertaining, thoughtprovoking, and inspirational. 30-God is My Strenth-The Archangel Gabriel Gabriel announced the most joyous news in human history: that the Virgin Mary would conceive and bear the Savior of the world. Learn about this important figure in salvation history who appears in both the Old and New Testaments through a study of the Scriptures, Tradition, and art. Page 5

6 W e d n e s d ay m o r n i n g a d u l t f a i t h f o r m a t i o n 6 - St. Martin of Tours This course relates the life of a 4th century son of a Roman Army officer who converted to Jesus Christ. He later became a monk and bishop of Tours in Gaul (modern France), well-known for his miracles as well as for his aggressive attempts to reach out to those living in the countryside who had never heard the Gospel. Learn why St. Martin is one of the patron saints of Europe, about his connection with World War I, and how we can benefit from his intercession and example. His feast day is November 11th. 13 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini: Missionary to Immigrants Mother Cabrini is the first United States citizen to be canonized. Initially rejected by several religious orders because of poor health, Mother Cabrini would later travel the globe as a religious, establishing schools, hospitals, and orphanages in eight countries on three continents. As an immigrant on mission to immigrants, what can Mother Cabrini say to us about immigration issues in the U.S. today? We will look at her example in light of what the Church is saying about immigration. Her feast day is November 13th. Page 6 20-The presentation of the blessed virgin mary (November 21) and the Protoevangelium of James The most significant ancient source for traditions about Mary is a late 2nd century text entitled, the Protoevangelium of James. Here we encounter the story of Mary s parents, Joachim and Anna, who are tragically childless, despite their personal holiness. Divine intervention comes in the form of an angel of the Lord who appears to Anna, prophesying that she will give birth to a child who will be talked about all over the world. The text goes on to relate traditions about Mary s birth, infancy, childhood, eventual association with Joseph, and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. This is a must read for anyone who has a lively Marian devotion.

7 W e d n e s d ay m o r n i n g A d u l t f a i t h f o r m a t i o n 4 St. Ambrose: student of scripture, doctor of the church He never intended to be a churchman, much less a saint. The son of a Roman Praetorian prefect, he was trained as a lawyer and eventually rose to the rank of Governor. He was elected bishop against his objections he was not even baptized! His election set in motion a massive conversion and he became an eloquent preacher and advocate for the poor. Among his claims to fame is the fact that it was his preaching that converted St. Augustine! His feast day is December 7th. 11-Advent, the forgotten season, part 1 What happens between Thanksgiving and Christmas? The New Year the new Liturgical Year arrives. What is Advent all about? It is a time of preparation and waiting, but if Christ has already come... what are we waiting for? In a two-part series, we will unearth something of the history of Advent, the theological purpose of the season, and rediscover some of the rich traditions associated with it, such as the O Antiphons and the Lessons and Carols custom. 18-Advent, the forgotten season, part 2 Page 7

8 T h e B l e s s e d E d m u n d R i c e S c h o o l F o r P a s t o r a l M i n i s t r y I n S e r v i c e t o t h e D i o c e s e o f V e n i c e i n F l o r i d a F o s t e r i n g T h e o l o g i c a l E d u c a t i o n I n S e r v i c e o f C h r i s t s c h u r c h to register for classes, Contact the Registrar, Natalia juyzn, Extension 17, SW Peace River Street Arcadia, FL (941) /Fax (941) Riceschool@daystar.net Website: Classes may be attended at the following locations: the Anne Nevins Diocesan Library St. Martha Parish, Sarasota St. Leo Parish, Bonita Springs Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park Classes are provided as a service to the Diocese of Venice. Free will donations to the Rice School Scholarship Fund are greatly appreciated. N e w l o c a t i o n s c o m i n g s o o n!