This year’s graduating class of the Catholic Bible Institute (CBI) has been challenged to not only share their knowledge of the Scriptures with others, but also continue the learning process and get involved in their community.

The challenge came from chief celebrant at last Tuesday evening’s Graduation Mass, Archbishop Edward J Gilbert. The Mass and graduation ceremony were held at the Institute, located at the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Retreat Centre, Frederick Settlement, Caroni. Theme for the evening was The True Witness, and Fr Christian Chambers concelebrated the Mass.

Speaking on the theme during his homily, the archbishop said Christians were called to be “authentic witnesses through listening, understanding, reflecting, sharing and then deciding on how to live their lives”.

He said it was the responsibility of all Christians to witness to the gospel values, thereby making the connection between Scripture and daily life. He added that that connection was important because it was easy “to intellectualise the bible” – to consider it with the head and not the heart.

Catholic Bible Institute 2006 graduates greet each other at the sign of peace during their Graduation Mass. Raymond Syms photos

Catholic Bible Institute 2006 co-valedictorian Gail Henry

The archbishop said one of the challenges facing the Catholic community was to overcome its “quietness” on speaking out for gospel values. “We have a calling not to be so quiet” but to be willing to suffer for those values, as we are challenged by neo-pagan and secular society, he said.

He contended that one reason for this quietness was that the gospel values were not burning in our hearts, and so we were comfortable being quiet. “Our ministry is not so much to be noisy, but to be active” and allow people to see us living the gospel values, he added. Speaking out for Christian values “may not be fun, but is what we are called to do”, he stated.

He ended by challenging the graduates to not be quiet but committed, and to reflect on their next step and how they were going to share their faith.

The graduation ceremony, including the presentation of certificates, took place after Holy Mass. CBI Principal Wendy Ann Jones told graduates it was an “exhilarating experience walking this journey with you” and described the class as one of the more mature groups to graduate over the 20-year history of the Institute.

She said to ensure the Scriptures remained alive to students and staff, lecturers have worked and continue to work on new study approaches.

Noting that the graduates came from communities across the archdiocese, she too issued a challenge to them – to return and affect their communities in a positive way by their lifestyle, by “how you speak the Word and how you live the Word because the Word is our life”.

Gail Henry delivered the valedictory address, which she prepared with fellow graduate Pamela Nelson. Henry gave a brief outline of the work involved and the experiences of the graduating students of the day and evening classes.

She urged fellow graduates to complete outstanding work and asked the faculty to consider the development of a distance-learning programme.

Distribution of certificates followed. Six graduates – Henry, Nelson, Pearl Clarke-Alfred, Richard Jones, Anastacia Andrews and Gerda Misidjang - received special awards for excellence in studies and perseverance.

The CBI principal told Catholic News after the ceremony – as graduates, their relatives and friends shared in refreshment – that Henry’s suggestion was noted, and that the Institute was also looking into how best to utilise the World Wide Web to continue its work and ministry.

– RS