The wildly popular and successful “Denver Catholic Biblical School” program is now in Virginia! The Catholic Biblical School was founded almost 40 years ago in the Archdiocese of Denver in response to the Second Vatican Council’s call for a renewal of Scripture study among the people of God. It has made the inspired Word of God come alive for thousands of adult students across the State of Colorado and in sister schools in various dioceses in the country. For the first time, classes were launched in Virginia, at Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Winchester, in the fall of 2020. A morning and an evening session were offered on Tuesdays for adult students to attend based on their schedules. An astonishing 200 students enrolled, breaking all records! The goal is to serve other parishes within the Arlington diocese in the near future.
The Catholic Biblical School is a four-year journey through every book of the Bible (see topics below) taught live and in-person by an engaging, qualified instructor who holds at least a MA in theology or scripture. Students meet for two hours, once a week for 30 weeks from September to May, to hear a lecture on the material and meet in small groups to discuss their weekly assignments. Students pay $600 a year in tuition, plus a registration fee. Various scholarships are offered to students, especially for those working in any capacity for the Catholic Church.
- Year 1, “From Eden to Exile,” covers the Old Testament Salvation history from Genesis to Maccabees.
- Year 2, “Proclaiming the Kingdom,” covers the Synoptics, Acts, and Epistles of Paul.
- Year 3, “A Future and a Hope,” covers the Prophets.
- Year 4, “Wisdom and the Word,” cover the Wisdom Literature, Catholic Epistles, and St. John’s writings.
Dr. Nicholas Lebish, the former Director of the Denver Catholic Biblical and Catechetical Schools (which comprised the Lay Division of St. John Vianney Theology Seminary), was hired to launch the program at Sacred Heart of Jesus. In his position leading the Denver program Nicholas grew the Biblical School 125% in five years to serve 2,500 students in 75 parishes throughout Colorado. He is teaching the First Year courses and building a team of instructors to teach subsequent years of the program. God willing, the program will be offered in Spanish as well once the Denver team is finished translating the program.