ACES Classes for Men and Women

Join Jack and Karen Henz – our parish’s husband and wife catechist team: Certified Catechist Trainers and Graduates of Kino Catechetical Institute. Learn the truth about your faith from an adult perspective, where your questions are discussed and answered. A mature adult Catholic faith is a blend of both ‘head and heart’ knowledge.

The classes focused, two-hour Bible and/or other studies, held over weekly sessions, which typically include a video lecture presentation from a Catholic-based organization such as Ascension Press, Word on Fire, the Augustine Institute and others. All of the video and Study Guide content carry a review and approval by Catholic Bishops or their representatives.

Class time includes an overall, group discussion of the video with prepared questions; individual questions and reflections are encouraged so everyone can learn from each other.

On-line registration is required for all of those attending the sessions even if you decide not to purchase a Study Guide. No fee is required to join the class if you already have the books, want to share a set with someone else, or simply want to listen to the video and discussion. 

A Study Guide, and sometimes other books are included in the Registration cost. The parish provides beverages, refreshments and handout materials without charge. Class registration and payment is completed on-line; the instructors may not take cash or checks in payment for the registration. If you are not able to pay on-line, please email the instructors to arrange payment through the Parish Office. 

All classes meet on Thursdays, 9:15-11:30am or 6:15-8:30pm, in the Blessed Carlos Center (next to the Faith Formation Office).

Starting in January 2025…Two different classes will be offered on Thursdays, in the morning and evening, for men and women.

THE THURSDAY MORNING CLASS

“The Case for Jesus: the Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ”, with Brant Pitre PhD, from the Augustine Institute

10 Sessions on Thursdays, from 9:15-11:30 am, starting January 23 to April 3, in the Blessed Carlo Acutis Center (next to the Faith Formation Offices).

REGISTER HERE

For well over a hundred years, many scholars have questioned the historical truth of the Gospels, claiming that they were originally anonymous. Others have even argued that Jesus of Nazareth did not think he was God and never claimed to be divine. Some have even denied the reality of an historical Jesus claiming He was only a myth.

In The Case for Jesus, Dr. Brant Pitre, will examine the historical sources justifying not only the authenticity of the authorship of the Gospels, but the reality of the events and the truths included in the writings by going back to the sources—the biblical and historical evidence for Christ—in order to answer several key questions among many others, including:

• Are the Gospels folklore? Or, are they biographies?
• Were the four Gospels written too late to be reliable?
• What about the so-called “Lost Gospels,” such as “Q” and the Gospel of Thomas?
• Did Jesus claim to be God? Is Jesus divine in all four Gospels? Or only in John?
• Did Jesus fulfill the Jewish prophecies of the Messiah?
• Why was Jesus crucified? What is the evidence for the Resurrection?

As The Case for Jesus will show, recent discoveries in New Testament scholarship, as well as neglected evidence from ancient manuscripts and the Early Church Fathers, together have the potential to pull the rug out from under a century of skepticism toward the traditional Gospels. Above all, Pitre shows how the divine claims of Jesus of Nazareth can only be understood by putting them in their ancient Jewish context.

In order to get the most out of the class and discussion, some home study is required. This includes reading pages from the Study Guide and Paperback, the Bible, and paragraphs from the Catechism in order to answer study questions.

Registration Cost: $27 for a Study Kit which includes a Study Guide from the Augustine Institute, and a paperback titled The Case for Christ. There is no cost to just attend the class, watch the videos and listen to the discussion, but on-line registration is still required before class. 

The Study Kits can be purchased directly from Corpus Christi online, using the registration form above. Books will be handed out in the first class on Thu, Jan 23. Please reserve your copies in advance by registering early. Please note, the instructors cannot take cash or a check in the class for the books. Email one of them if this is a problem.

THE THURSDAY EVENING CLASS

The PM fall class, The Bible and The Sacraments: A Journey through Scripture will continue through the end of January, 2025. 

• The class meets from 6:15-8:30pm, starting Thu, Jan 9, in the Blessed Carlo Acutis Center (next to the Faith Formation offices). Topics will include Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders and ‘Sacramentals’.
• Everyone is invited to attend the remaining classes of this series in January in order to watch the videos and listen to the discussion. There is no charge.

Starting in February, 2025: the video, The Book of Hebrews with Andrew Swafford PhD, Theology and Jeff Cavins, Biblical Scholar, from Ascension Press will be offered, along with a ‘to be determined’ study guide.

• More information will be posted on this page in late January and with bulletin announcements, and a flyer.
• On-line registration and the cost for study guides will also be posted near the end of January.