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By Erika Anderson
Staff Writer
ATLANTA-They gather every Monday. They come with open hands for prayer, an
open shoulder to support their friends and an open heart to receive God's word
in a new way.
Over 100 women participate in the Cathedral of Christ the King's Catholic
Bible Study for Women. Because of a current lack of space at the Cathedral, the
women gather each Monday morning at the Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.
Made up largely of stay-at-home mothers or women who do not work during the
day, CBSW has been growing steadily since it began three years ago.
Keri Allen, director of OCIA and adult education at the Cathedral, leads the
Bible study, which began as a small Catholic group in a Protestant Bible study
held at Peachtree Presbyterian Church.
"We knew that eventually God would bring us back to the
Cathedral," she said.
And so God did. By forming a Catholic Bible study, the Cathedral's program
gives many women, who had been attending Bible studies at Protestant Churches,
the chance to share their faith as it is based in Scripture.
"I think Catholic women really want to get together and study
Scripture," Allen said. "They are ready to get deeply involved in the
word."
The group meets each Monday morning from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Refreshments are
served. Many women drink coffee, sharing stories about their children and their
lives, and enjoying the fellowship of their peers. As they gather in a large
room, many women of varying ages and races raise their hands in praise as Mary
Rogers leads the group in song. After an opening prayer, Allen or another
leader gives a commentary, and the women break into small groups for more
intimate Scripture sharing.
This year, CBSW began by studying Galatians, then moved onto Romans and will
begin the Book of James in late March. Using the Collegeville Commentary
Series, facilitators for the groups meet each Friday to pray and prepare for
Monday's gathering, where they guide their groups into deep discussion.
Though participants may at first be hesitant to share with other group
members, many groups experience a strong bond by the end of the year.
Jane Brown, a facilitator for CBSW, has experienced that bond with her group
members.
"Last year I had a really quiet group, but (during the year) it was
like a flower opening up as we began to share more and more of our lives with
each other," she said. "The more we interrelate with each other, the
deeper it grows."
Helen Young has also seen the group she facilitates grow.
"You have a bunch of women who don't know each other. It isn't a social
friendship, because it's not based on anything but love of God ...," she
said. "Seeing that friendship grow is tremendous."
Marci Maurer-Nunnery has participated in the Bible study since it began. She
said that though all the groups have been different, she loves each one of
them, especially the honesty and accountability shared in the group.
"It's like when you look at your windows at night and you think 'boy
they look great,' but during the day when you see them in the light, they are
filthy. Things in your life are exposed in that way during Bible study,"
she said. "Different things are revealed to different people and we are
lucky because we have a group that's close enough that we're truly able to talk
about it."
The group meets during the school year. Allen said that a lot of women come
because a nursery is offered for young children, giving the participants peace
of mind while they take bigger steps in their walks of faith.
Young, a convert to the Catholic Church, said that CBSW is a unique trend in
the church.
"Traditionally, they had not had Bible study in the Catholic
Church," she said. "But I think we're finding that there is a real
desire to know the word."
Young said that many of the women have a strong desire for fellowship, but
that CBSW has not only given birth to new friendships, but also to miracles.
Last year, the son of one of the participants was very sick. The woman's
small group members each chose a day and fasted for the young boy, who later
experienced a miraculous healing.
"It's things like that that just blow me away," Brown said.
"When we get to know each other, there is definitely bonding and that's
when you really start praying for each other."
The Bible study has drawn women from other faiths as well. Brown and Young
both said that though facilitators and leaders always teach from a Catholic
standpoint, it is done in a non-judgmental manner.
"The truth is spoken in that room and it's done lovingly," Brown
said. "Other people's opinions are respected."
Young believes that the facilitators are a "special group" of
women and looks forward to her Friday meetings.
"I think that the facilitators inspire each other and that in turn
inspires everyone else in the Bible study," she said.
Brown said she is inspired by many of the women whose faith brings them
weekly to CBSW.
"I think that (CBSW) challenges us to be very open about our faith
walk," she said. "The different challenges the women bring and share
expand my horizons. It's a real inspiration."
In January, CBSW was interrupted by the ice storm that hit Atlanta.
Participants missed several weeks, and many were anxious to return.
"I didn't care if we didn't have power, by the third week I was
desperate to get back to Bible study. I said 'I don't care if we have to do it
by candlelight. I have to be with these women,'" Young said. "That's
how centering it is in my life. I think it's that way for everyone in Bible
study."
Young believes the Bible study has encouraged her on her faith journey,
especially studying Romans.
"It's called me to action," she said. "It's made me want to
live (the way Christ calls us to) even more and it holds me accountable."
Maurer-Nunnery, a mother of two children, said that the biggest blessing of
the Bible study is knowing she is "not alone in a world so filled with the
wrong things."
"There are a lot of positive things about the Bible study, but the
first and foremost is that we all admit that we are sinners and that's why
we're here. We accept the fact that we are working on it and that God is
working on us."
A mother of two, with another child on the way, Young is grateful to begin
her week with CBSW.
"It's a great way to start the week-centered in Christ," she said.
"You really carry that throughout the week."
Maurer-Nunnery knows that she is fortunate to be able to attend Bible study
each week.
"My husband loves the fact that he is able to work so I can do
this," she said. "It's an awesome opportunity. It's an opportunity
that many people don't get."
Allen said the Bible study continues to grow and that it is encouraging to
hear the stories of faith that participants share at the end of the year.
"It's been wonderful to hear the changes that have happened not only in
the women's lives, but in the lives of their husbands and families," she
said. "My hope is that we as Catholics will continue to develop or deepen
our relationship with God through the word."
CBSW will begin the Book of James on March 20. For more information, call
the Cathedral at (404) 233-2145.
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