Diocese of Metuchen hosts talk about Mary

By Erin Friedlander
PISCATAWAY – The Diocese of Metuchen will continue its adult faith formation series with a talk on What the Bible Says About Mary. It’s the second topic of an eight-part program entitled, “The Bible: Root of our Catholic Faith,” designed to help Catholics better understand their biblical foundations and to explore Catholic beliefs, as found in – or as “rooted in” – Scripture.
Rev. Damian Breen, Parochial Vicar at St. Bernard Parish, Bridgewater, will present the session on Oct. 20. In his talk, Fr. Breen will explore the scriptural references and themes associated with Mary’s exemplary discipleship of her Son as a strong woman of faith and her role as mother, guide and model of all Christians and the Church.
Fr. Breen attended Vincentian High School Seminary in Princeton and St. John’s University in New York, NY where he earned a B.A. in English with a double-minor in Theology and Philosophy. He continued his studies at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA, where he earned an M.A. in Sacred Scripture and an M.Div in 1998. He taught English and Religion at Delbarton School, Morristown, and served in many parishes in New Jersey before his current assignment at St. Bernard.
Sponsored by the Diocesan Office for Catechesis, the Bible series will run through May 2012, with the exception of November. Sessions will take place once a month on Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway. 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. Last month’s topic was What the Bible Says About Stewardship. Upcoming topics include: What the Bible Says About the Birth of Christ, What the Bible Says About the Marginalized, What the Bible Says About Creation/Science, What the Bible Says About Following Christ, What the Bible Says About Music, What the Bible Says About Peace.
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 contact the Office for Catechesis at (732) 562-1990, ext. 1310 or [email protected].