Upcoming Studies

Magnify 90 Using Magnify: Pursuing Virtue as a Feminine Genius by Kaylene Brown

  • Magnify is a book of reflections on virtues geared to deepen a woman’s interior spiritual life, so that her exterior life magnifies the Lord. Each day begins with passages from scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or the writings of female saints; then readers meditate upon a guided reflection. Women are asked to prayerfully take up an ascetic way of life for 3 months, to give more room to silence for listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we live a simpler life, we can more easily practice the virtues. The introduction offers particular mortifications to root out vices that so frequently blur our pursuit of holiness. This book is for all adult women, no matter her state in life, and may be read independently of the ascetic components.Virtues discussed are: humility, affability, gratitude, magnanimity, prayerfulness, docility, industriousness, zeal, modesty, moderation, foresight, and perseverance. Magnify was initially a response to Exodus 90, a valuable and worthy masculine spirituality endeavor, because women shouldn't do Exodus 90. But it’s actually so much more than just that. It’s a pursuit of virtue by meditating on the genius of women. God calls us all to be Saints. We women are invited in a particular way to Magnify the Lord like Mary! Prior knowledge of Exodus 90 is not at all relevant for a woman reading Magnify.

     

    "Women who commit to the daily discipline, prayer, and reflections found in “Magnify: Pursuing Virtue as a Feminine Genius” will find great spiritual refreshment and opportunities to grow in their friendship with Jesus. I think the 90-day program found in this book would be a good spiritual project for a parish women’s group or for any individual desiring to discover her own “feminine genius.” I heartily recommend this book for such use in the Archdiocese.”— MOST REV. JOSEPH F. NAUMANN, ARCHBISHOP OF KANSAS CITY, KS
    imprimatur granted 2/22/2023

  • Two weekly check-in opportunities to pray, discuss, and reflect:

    Saturday mornings: Jan. 3-Mar 28 9:45-10:30am (Tentative) Location TBD

    Tuesday evenings: Jan 6-Mar 31 8:00-8:45pm (Tentative) Location TBD

  • Cost of book:

    • $12 Early bird pricing while supplies last!

    • $20 Once supplies are gone

    To register: https://forms.gle/FP7dvv6oQHDBk3CW6 or you may email Cathy Casto m.cathy.casto@gmail.com or Jo Zink jzink@saint-max.org

33 Days to Morning Glory Marian Consecration

  • “From Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality:

    St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II. Fr. Michael masterfully summarizes their teaching, making it easy to grasp and simple enough to put into practice. More specifically, he weaves their thought into a user-friendly, do-it-yourself retreat that will bless even the busiest of people. So, if you've been thinking about entrusting yourself to Mary for the first time or if you're simply looking to deepen and renew your devotion to her, 33 Days to Morning Glory is the right book to read and the perfect retreat to make.” -Excerpt taken from Amazon.com

  • Beginning Monday, November 3 through Monday, December 8

    We will meet weekly on Mondays, after morning Mass (about 9:15 AM) to 10:30 AM in the St. Patrick’s Conference Room.

  • Marlene Doughman

    Registration is not required. This study is free to attend.

Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance

  • Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance examines many important themes that are still relevant in today’s Christian culture and society—the nature of marriage, the purpose and role of the Church, the preeminence of grace in God’s plan, and the reality of spiritual warfare.

    Presenter Jeff Cavins explores what Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us about the nature of the Church­—as a body, a household, a mystery, a communion, a bride, and an army. Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance shows the treasures that await us as adopted sons and daughters in the family of God

  • Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30 AM, room St. Pat’s; Jan 6-Feb 24

  • Leader:  Lamis Hajar, lalsaieg@hotmail.com , text: 740-463-1081

    Registration Link: https://forms.gle/MMVAMmgqpjjWHYN8A

    Suggested Donation: $30

The Bible Timeline

  • The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you on a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Using a unique color-coded chart, you will learn the major people, places, and events of the Bible and discover how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our Faith.

     

    The Study Set includes:
    • The Full-Color Bible Timeline Workbook – Provides session overviews, home reading assignments, engaging study questions, responses, and talk notes for the video presentations.
    • The Bible Timeline Chart – A fascinating, color-coded overview of the twelve Bible Timeline periods, the historical context for each book of the Bible, and the family tree of Jesus Christ.
    • The Bible Timeline Bookmark – A handy color-coded bookmark with a summary of the twelve Bible Timeline periods and a list of the scriptural books that tell the stories in each period.

     

    The Bible Timeline® is a powerful and immersive journey through Scripture from Creation to the establishment of the Church. With all-new videos in breathtaking locations across the Holy Land, Egypt, Rome, and beyond, this updated edition brings God’s Word to life like never before.

    Using the groundbreaking color-coded Bible Timeline system, you’ll follow the major people, places, and events of the Bible through twelve distinct time periods

    Whether you're new to the Bible or looking to go deeper, The Bible Timeline will equip you to read and comprehend the entire biblical story—and discover your place within it.

  • Meets: Two Wednesdays per month starting December 3, 2025, through December 2, 2026. Click here to view the full schedule.

  • Leaders: Cathy Casto m.cathy.casto@gmail.com and Kathryn Gruver kathryn.gruver@hotmail.com

    Suggested Donation: $40

    Registration: email the leaders or use link to registration page: https://forms.gle/AW8EbPxFy8AR6R2C7

    St. Max will place the book order on Nov. 10.  After that people may order from Ascension Press: https://ascensionpress.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop32RscRDjljobZhuXfZzV5sH7uDGhpcxCZkO7Dfbvjn3jtkdPG

Ongoing Studies

Anyone is welcome to join at anytime!

St. Benedict Study

  • St. Benedict Bible Study is a faith sharing and bible study group that focuses primarily on preparing for the Sunday readings, to help each other more deeply understand scripture and how it can relate to personal faith journeys. The group is composed of adult men and women and open to all adults of the parish. For more information, contact Paul Groh at StBenedictBible@saint-max.org or 513-324-2937.

  • Saturdays, 9:30 - 11:00 AM

  • Paul Groh

    StBenedictBible@saint-max.org

Why We’re Catholic by Trent Horn

  • “Wouldn’t it be great to have a book to give non-Catholic or ex-Catholic friends and family to explain exactly why we believe what we believe?

    The good news is that now there is!

    Why We’re Catholic is the groundbreaking resource by apologist Trent Horn – that one, general book you can hand to anyone as a starting point for helping them find their way into, or back to, the practice of the Catholic Faith.

    In a series of short, easy to read chapters, Trent covers the whole range of common topics, starting with why we believe in anything at all and answering all the common objections to the Catholic Faith—both doctrinal and moral.

    Don’t miss out on the most important, life-changing book to come along in years!” - Excerpt from Catholic Answers

  • Beginning Thursday, September 11

    Meets: Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 PM in Room 15

  • Leader: Jim Rausch, james_rausch@yahoo.com

    Register online at: https://forms.gle/8z79xvGXthidQWTDA

    Suggested Donation: $5 (Can be dropped off at the office. Please mark your name, contact information, and name of Study "Early Church")

Women in the Old Testament Part 1

  • Women in the Old Testament (Part One) takes participants on a journey through Israel's beginnings, Israel's captivity and freedom, and Israel's tribal period from the perspective of the earliest women of salvation history. This 5 lesson study covers Old Testament women such as Sarah, Deborah, Ruth and many more .

  • Beginning September 9

    Meets: Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30am in Room 7.

  • Leader: Maureen Savage, mtsavage002@gmail.com

    Register online at: https://forms.gle/g4A2GermZ7JTKjAN6

    Suggested Donation: $16 (Can be dropped off at the office. Please mark your name, contact information, and name of Study "Early Church")

When you Pray: Trust, Surrender, and the Transformation of Your Soul by Edward Sri

  •  “Do you ever hear Catholics talk about prayer but feel like you can’t relate?

    You know prayer is important, but you still find it challenging. Perhaps it’s hard to find time to pray, or you’re unsure what to do when you do pray. Or maybe you feel restless and distracted and don’t feel close to God.

    You might struggle to trust God and surrender to his will. Or maybe you feel discouraged by your many weaknesses and your inability to overcome them. Ultimately, you worry that what you’re doing in prayer isn’t “working,” because you aren’t seeing major changes in your life.

    If you have any of these feelings, you are not alone. Many of the saints had similar ones. Even the saints struggled in prayer, had complicated problems, and made mistakes. They were like us. But each time they fell, they got up again and learned to rely more on God’s grace. And eventually they were changed.

    What God did in countless saints, he wants to do in ordinary people like us. And that’s what this book is about: the journey God wants to take us on in our prayer life.

    Inspired by the real example of the saints, we will learn how to pray with the same consistency, trust, peace, and passion that led to deep transformation in their souls. When You Pray: Surrender, and the Transformation of Your Soul will help you begin your journey of prayer, rejuvenate your prayer life, and strengthen your relationship with God so that you can give God your entire heart.” -Excerpt from Ascension Presents

  • Starts Wednesday, August 6

    Meets: Wednesdays evenings from 7:00-8:30 PM

  • Text Kathryn at 513-266-1221 or email Kathryn.gruver@hotmail.com

    OR Register online here.

Psalms: The School of Prayer

  • “The Holy Spirit inspired them. Israel sang them. Christ himself prayed them, as did our Blessed Mother. At the heart of the Bible are the Psalms, prayers from God that help us to pray. In the Psalms: The School of Prayer, discover how these sacred hymns become our heartfelt response to God’s loving and wondrous deeds for us.

    In this 11-session Bible study, presenters Jeff Cavins, Tim Gray, and Sarah Christmyer show you how to establish a deeply personal dialogue with God through the Psalms. Learn how to meditate fruitfully on the captivating words of the Psalms using lectio divina and study the many ways the Psalms foretell the life and mission of Jesus.” - Excerpt from Ascension Presents

  • Beginning Tuesday, September 16 - November 25

    Meets: Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:30 AM

    Room: St. Patrick’s Conference Room

  • Leader:  Lamis Hajar, lalsaieg@hotmail.com , text: 740-463-1081

    Register online at: https://forms.gle/uUxaqe73QsNsFw6u6

    Suggested Donation: $30 (Can be dropped off at the office. Please mark your name, contact information, and name of Study)

Opening the Holy Door: Hope-filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter’s Basilica

  • “Every twenty-five years, pilgrims from all over the world flock to Rome for a jubilee year to witness the opening of a special door on the north side of St. Peter’s Basilica—the Holy Door—and to receive a special blessing by passing through it. This bronze Holy Door uniquely depicts the salvation story, from the dawn of creation to the present, through sixteen panels that inspire the faithful to connect their lives to the timeless story of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

    In Opening the Holy Door, scripture teacher and veteran tour guide Joan Watson examines these sixteen panels of the jubilee Holy Door, guiding readers to pray and reflect upon the deeper meaning of these images by contemplating them through the lens of scripture. With a unique combination of an attentive gaze and imaginative prayer, Watson guides you to experience, panel by panel, each image as a focal point in the scripture narratives.

    Meet the angelic messengers—first in the Garden of Eden, where hope is lost, and then at the Annunciation, where God’s promise of the Messiah is fulfilled.

    Return to key moments in the life of Christ, from his Incarnation and Baptism to his Passion and Death.

    Place yourself in the scene of Christ’s earthly ministry, and witness the healing of the paralyzed man and the witness of the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet.

    Identify with the weaknesses and foibles of Jesus’s closest followers, from denying Peter to doubting Thomas and the miraculous conversion of Saul.

    Meditate on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Hope, who invites us to a living encounter with the God who loves us.

    Whether you’re preparing for a visit to the Holy Door or embarking on an armchair pilgrimage from home, these reflections provide a meaningful way to celebrate the Year of Hope by exploring the people and holy moments that have been revered for centuries by Christians all over the world. Each reflection will help you to cross the spiritual threshold of this iconic door—located in the heart of the Church—as you enliven and enrich your faith by contemplating their timeless beauty.

    This book is more than a guide for the jubilee year; it’s a spiritual companion for anyone seeking answers and hope in a fractured world.” -Excerpt from Amazon

  • Beginning Wednesday, September 10

    Meets: Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:30 AM

  • Leader: Faith Lessons for Women, Mary Graf, marygraf@fuse.net

    Register online at: https://forms.gle/CdCXD697PpPyvrVq8

    Suggested Donation: $17 (Can be dropped off at the office. Please mark your name, contact information, and name of Study)

1st Corinthians: The Church and the Christian Community

  • “How Do I Live as a Christian in the Midst of a Pagan Culture?

    If you page through Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, you will see that he addresses many of the same topics that appear in the news headlines today: scandals, promiscuity, debates and controversies, and issues related to prosperity versus poverty. Clearly, the struggles faced by the early Christians are in many ways similar to our own. Paul’s messages to the Corinthians about divisions, immorality, persecution, and other trials offer much-needed wisdom for our own times.

    First Corinthians: The Church and the Christian Community explores the key elements of the gospel message that Paul introduced to a new and growing Church. Presenter Tim Gray examines Paul’s advice for living an authentic Christian life in a pagan culture as well as his teachings about the nature of grace, the Church as the body of Christ, and the most powerful gift of all—the Eucharist.” - Excerpt from Ascension Presents

  • Meets: Wednesday evenings starting September 17 (eleven sessions) from 7-8:30pm in Room 4.

  • Suggested Donation: $30

    To Register: email Donald Dunbar at sarge9411@cinci.rr.com or register online at https://forms.gle/78JfrKWXFA8Y1D3m6

Exodus by Scott Hahn & Mark Shea

  • In-depth look at the Old Testament Book of Exodus using Tan Publishing’s workbook by Scott Hahn and Mark Shea

    Exodus is a gripping 1,200+ verse narrative, and one of the most famous ever told. Many of us have heard it since we were little children, but how often have we taken the time to study its chapters as our guiding light, the Church, understands them?  In the Christian life, everyone is a pilgrim. What God told Moses thousands of years ago still applies to us today: God will fit us for our tasks. He will never ask us to do anything beyond our strength.  Learn how the Israelites mirror our own struggles to accept this, and draw courage from God’s infinite faithfulness to all His children.

  • Beginning Thursday, September 11 (20-week study, covering 2-3 chapters per week)

    Meets: Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:30 AM in Room 2/3

  • Text Kathy McGill at 513-708-1475 or email kathymcgill1964@gmail.com

    OR Register online here.

    Suggested Donation: $47 (Can be dropped off at the office. Please mark your name, contact information, and name of Study)

    Deadline to register through the office for book order: Aug. 21

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