Reading and studying the Bible is a crucial part of the faith formation of Catholics, according to the founders of Perth’s Biblical Foundation, Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey and Dr Michelle Jones.
The Foundation was established in 2012 to help address the growing “hunger to know God” present among the people of the Archdiocese.
Its purpose is two-fold; firstly, to help Catholics to know and understand the Bible better and, secondly, to offer scholarships for lay Catholics to undertake biblical studies.
Dr Jones told The Record there is a growing number of parishes studying the Bible around Perth.
“I know of four or five new groups that have started this year… so it does seem that it’s something that people are wanting to do,” she said.
While some people are still daunted by the prospect of reading or studying the Bible, Dr Jones said the Foundation’s resources were helping to make it seem less formidable.
“We’re finding that… [our resources] are helping people to overcome their Biblio-phobia and come to know the Bible more, and even to ask the big questions,” she said.
Dr Jones, who has a doctorate in theology, said there is an infinite supply of questions about the Bible.
She said one of the most challenging things for Catholics is “coming to understand that everything in the Bible is true… but not everything is necessarily factual”.
While she admits there are many parts of the Bible she doesn’t understand, Dr Jones said she’s passionate about studying Scripture.
“There’s a deepening conviction that the Bible’s all about God’s relationship with us and with me personally,” she said.
“I’m passionate about sharing that with others so that they’re able to experience the same richness.”
Archbishop Emeritus Hickey, whose desire it was to establish the Biblical Foundation, said he always regretted he didn’t know enough about the Bible as he would have liked.
He said after studying the Bible during his preparation for the priesthood, he had no opportunity to update his studies until 2007.
“I went to Jerusalem and came back full of enthusiasm for Holy Scripture, with the desire to promote it,” he explained, “not just at the academic level – that was quite healthy – but at the level of the ordinary people of the diocese, especially at family level and school level.”
He said it is essential that Catholics make time to read and study the Bible.
“It’s important that we all hear the Word of God and apply it to our lives,” he said.
“[The Bible] is a foundation to our faith and the main way we can know Jesus Christ which then leads to a deep experience of him in our lives.”
Dr Jones agreed, saying the Bible provides a firm foundation for Catholics to build their lives upon.
“It’s crucial that people understand our faith story and what God’s been doing throughout our history and how we’re a part of that,” she said.
“It’s crazy for us not to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures and to find other foundations for our lives that are rocky and unstable.”
Applications for scholarships are now open, and Dr Jones said anyone is welcome to apply.
“We assess them on two criteria,” she said. “Firstly to make sure it’s a really Biblical focus, and secondly, a sense of them being able to contribute something back, so it’s not just for one’s own edification.
“It’s a great opportunity for people who might not have otherwise studied at all, it’s a chance for them to do something they might have always wanted to do but never had the resources or opportunity to do it.”
Applications close on October 30. More details and application forms are available at www.thebiblicalfoundation.org.au.