Bible Studies - Connecting Scripture to Life Today

Angels show up at some of the most important events in the Bible. Why is that? Do you really have your own personal Guardian Angel? What is the purpose of Angels? What does the Bible and Catechism say about the Angels? Should we be afraid of ghosts? Fr. Dave explains everything in this easy-to-understand session on these remarkable creatures.

What does the Church teach about the Bible, and how has that teaching evolved over time? Who were the primary influencers on Catholic Biblical thought? How does Catholic theology inform practical approaches for reading and studying the Bible in small groups?

Why does a Catholic Bible have 7 more books than a Protestant Bible? What roles did God, and people like Jerome, Athanasius, Martin Luther, and King James play? Why are there so many different translations and how does one find a good Catholic translation? What Biblical books should we read first, next, last, and why?

This will be a really deep dive into Luke’s story of two sinners’ powerful encounter with Jesus. No shallow, surface readings of the Bible allowed here. If you like Bible stories, this is for you.

Our spiritual growth as Christians needs to be guided by Jesus, who does some puzzling things, and whose greatest deeds are sometimes misunderstood. This careful look at the beginning and end of Jesus public ministry is all about understanding him and learning to love him more.

The Bible is the living Word of God which can be a daily source of consolation and guidance in your life. This presentation will explore how Bible study can become a first step in approaching the scriptures in a way that can help you recognize how the voice of God surrounds your life, giving assurance of God's love and care for you.

When a lawyer asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asked him "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” Jesus' questions point to the fact that the Bible does not interpret itself. There are different ways to interpret it. In this presentation, we will review some of the main points from Pope Benedict XVI's Verbum Domini, exploring the rules of how to read the Bible well.  We will discuss the four levels of meaning of Scripture, the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and the "dark passages" of human sin--among many others.   (The Seminary is located at 5012 Seminary Rd, Camarillo, CA 93012)

Did God really ask Abraham to kill his Son? Did God intend to wipe out all humanity on the earth in Noah’s Flood? Did God side with the Israelites in their bloody conquest of Canaan? Does God ever side with anyone who uses violence? Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? How can we understand these two widely different presentations of God? Fr. Dave will explain how.

2025 is a “Jubilee Year", with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope”, and also the “Year of St. Luke”, since portions of Luke’s Gospel are read at most Sunday Masses throughout Lectionary Year C. But do you realize how very different it is from the other Gospels? Luke is often called the “Social-Justice Gospel”, but it is also the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit” and the “Gospel of Prayer” and the “Gospel of Mercy”. This evening will explore the principal themes, literary features, and distinctive theology of Luke: how Jesus is portrayed as a Spirit-filled prophet and savior, and how we are challenged to live in joy and hope, loving all people and imitating Jesus as his faithful disciples.

As Catholics, we believe the whole Bible is true, but also need to recognize that it contains a variety of wide literary styles and genres. Some biblical books are more directly "historical", while others contain hymns, prayers, legends, and other kinds of stories. Yet even these non-just-historical books were influenced by the concrete historical circumstances of the Jewish people and the early Christian communities. This evening will provide a broad stroke of the various types of books in the Old and New Testaments, along with some principles of properly Catholic interpretation of the Bible, to help us hear and understand God's Word, speaking to us today.

We probably know well what was done to Jesus on the cross. The greater question, though, is: what was Jesus doing on the cross? Was the cross necessary? Why not some other way? Come explore the biblical images that reveal the saving meaning and power of the crucifixion of Jesus.