Catholic Bible Institute at 40 marks ‘what was and what must be’

As the Catholic Bible Institute (CBI) celebrates 40 years, Principal Dr Wendy-Ann Jones said 40 “hurts some a little but it hurts most a lot. Forty prepares for covenant transition; it is a threshold number between what was and what must now be.”

She was speaking at a ceremony held at Our Lady of Victories chapel, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Centre, Frederick Settlement, Caroni, on Saturday, January 24 after Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon for the Bible Institute’s 40 anniversary. That weekend marked the Church’s observance of Word of God Sunday with the theme The word of Christ dwells among you (Col 3:16).

Dr Jones said the number 40 was not random in the Bible, it signalled a season of testing that leads to transformation. She asked the audience to think of the times the number 40 appeared in the Bible and its significance.

Dr Jones suggested 40 be considered as God’s gestation period, “long enough to be uncomfortable, purposeful enough to be fruitful. Today, we are not boasting—we are reflecting. The number 40 marks a time of testing and purification. Before something new begins, there is pressure, stripping and truth telling”.

She said before Jesus began His significant ministry, He had spent 40 days in the desert and so, for those involved in the CBI, 40 should culminate in mission not nostalgia.

Jones said after 40 days of Resurrection appearances, the Church is sent (Acts 1:3). She added, “forty is the time God takes to form a people seemingly to carry what God is about to entrust”.

The 40th anniversary is a moment of discernment. She asserted, “We ask ourselves what must be purified and what must now be released, what new mission is ready to be born. If Scripture is taken seriously, the question after 40 is not, ‘what have we achieved?’. It is always, ‘what is God now asking of us?’.

It is not sentimental; it is prophetic.”

Co-founder of the Bible Institute, Deborah de Rosia, presented a “tribute” plaque to Archbishop Gordon in recognition of his vocation entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel.

Abbot John Pereira OSB of The Abbey of Our Lady of Exile received a tribute in recognition of the involvement of the Order of St Benedict in the beginnings of the CBI through Dom Ildefons Schroots OSB, teacher and co-founder.

de Rosia said, “He helped shape an institute not only rooted in study but in reverent attentiveness to the living Word of God.” de Rosia’s was next to be honoured and Dr Jones said before the presentation, “we want to thank a woman who does not say ‘no’, except sometimes, but she says ‘yes’ to a lot of work and because she said ‘yes’ with Fr Ildefons, we are here today.”

Dr Jones said the CBI started in 1986, after years of study, toiling and planting the seed of the love of God and the Word. The first class was held in the Chapel and Dr Jones recalled the floor was made of “broken wood”.

Apostolic blessings were presented to six members of the Institute’s faculty for long and faithful service to teaching and ministry of the Word of God. Tokens of gratitude were presented to ten others. —LPG