By Joanne Ward
The Diocese of Metuchen will offer a seven-session faith formation series entitled, “The Bible: Root of our Catholic Faith.” Sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Catechesis, the program is designed to help Catholics better understand their biblical foundations and to explore Catholic beliefs, as found in – or as “rooted in” – Scripture.
Msgr. William Benwell, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, will present the series’ first session on Sept. 16. His talk is titled, The Bible — Word of God: What Does that Mean for Catholics Today?
The program will run through May 2011. Sessions will take place once a month on Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane in Piscataway. There will be no sessions in April or November. Participants are not required to attend all sessions.
With a different topic each month, Diocesan priests will serve as presenters in their individual areas of expertise.
Topics include: What the Bible Says About Moral Living, What the Bible Says About the Sacraments, What the Bible Says About Preferential Option for the Poor and Social Justice, What the Bible Says About Suffering and Death, and What the Bible Says About Women.
The series will end with an experience of different ways to pray with scripture.
The program is free and is open to all who want to know more about biblical tradition as it relates to Bible Scripture, and especially is intended as a resource for those who are involved in their parish ministries including: deacons, RCIA candidates and sponsors, evangelization and adult faith formation teams, catechists and parish catechetical leaders, Catholic school teachers, young adults, youth ministers, pastoral council members and liturgical ministers.
For more information, visit www.diometuchen.org or call (732) 562-1990, ext. 1310 or [email protected].

