Scripture/Religious Studies provide opportunities to learn about the Bible and/or Church teachings in a welcoming environment. Scripture and Religious study groups meet weekly to learn about and discuss various Scripture passages, Church teachings, Church history, and more. Different topical studies are offered throughout the year. See below for information about current and upcoming series. All adults are welcome to join any group at any time. If a particular group has materials that can be purchased for a study, but you don't have the funds available to do so, please join anyway and we can get those materials for you.

How to Participate:

Scripture and religious study groups usually meet in the St. Joseph Room, and we encourage you to join any or all that fit your schedule. In addition, new studies are ongoing, so checking back often to see what the next study will be.
     
Monday: Lectio Divina 6:00 to 6:30 PM. Lectio Divina is Latin for "Divine Reading". These Scripture prayer group meetings will be every Monday through November 19th and will be led by Sean McVeigh. 
Lectio Divina is a form of praying with the Scriptures. You focus on a small passage and allow it to really sink into your soul through several slow readings. After hearing/reading, praying, and contemplating the Word of God, you form an action plan to implement what you have heard from God. Thus, Divine Reading can be a very powerful way to grow in holiness and grow closer to God.

Monday: Scripture Study 6:45 to 7:30 PM - Gospel of Mark beginning September 10th. This is a 4-week series, led by Sean McVeigh. Each meeting will cover four chapters and will focus on understanding the context in which the book was written based on research and study from contemporary scholarship. This is a great opportunity to grow in faith with a minimal time investment. No registration is required for this study. Just show up with your bible and a notepad and pen. Also, please read the first 4 chapters of the Gospel of Mark before the first session.

Monday: Scripture Study 7:45 to 8:45 PM - Fulfilled Part II beginning September 10th. (See below for details) Led by Sean McVeigh. (Please note that this meeting will be followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 9:00 PM in the Church unless otherwise stated. Attendance at Benediction is encouraged but not required to be part of the study). 

Wednesday: Scripture Study 9:30 to 11:30 AM - Fulfilled Part II beginning September 12th. Led by Sean McVeigh.

Thursday: Religious Study - RCIA meets 6:30 to 8:30 PM beginning September 6th - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is designed for people seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, but anyone who simply wants to learn more about what the Catholic Church teaches is welcome to attend. In the program this year, we will be going through the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as well as supplemental materials. This is a GREAT opportunity to grow in your faith and feel part of the community of others seeking to grow closer to God and enhance their understanding of Church teaching. RCIA is led by Sean McVeigh and the RCIA Team.

Fridays: “Explore the Saving Power of the Cross,” led by Karen Swindler. Meetings will be held on designated Fridays at 1:00 to 2:00 PM. For a detailed outline of classes and topics, see this document /documents/2018/10/The%20Paschal%20Mystery.pdf

• Karen Swindler and her husband are lifelong residents of this area and have recently joined St. Joseph parish. Karen has served in a number of parishes in the area and has a BA in Religious Studies and a Masters in Ministry. She is particularly excited to be a member at St. Joe's because it is a vibrant community, and she hopes you will join this group on Friday afternoons to grow deeper in your faith with her and the rest of those who attend. 

The Fulfilled series that the Monday and Wednesday groups will be looking at explores the biblical roots of Catholicism. It uncovers God’s consistent design for our worship of him and his relationship with us. Learn where the blueprint for the Catholic Faith was laid in the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfilled it in the New Testament.
This program will help participants:

• Explain how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in the New

• Become equipped to share their faith concisely

• Acquire a thorough knowledge of the tabernacle’s design, facilities, and function as the skeleton for true faith

• Learn how to answer incomplete, and non-Catholic interpretations of the Bible
  
  The workbook and textbook are not required for this study but are recommended.

For more information regarding any of the above programming, please contact our Adult Faith Formation Director, Sean McVeigh, at s.mcveigh@dbqarch.org or 319.377.4869.