Upcoming Studies

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 6:00-7:30 PM

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

  • Beginning this September

    Meets: TBD

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

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

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

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

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

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