Biblical scholarships to enhance personal and communal growth

15 Jan 2015

By Mark Reidy

Four of the scholarship recipients, from L to R – Steven Raman, Emmanuel Barrera, Evelyn Tierney, Margaret Barnes. PHOTO: Supplied

The lives of six Perth Catholics will be spiritually enhanced throughout 2105 after being awarded scholarships to participate in biblical studies, both locally and overseas.

Margaret Barnes, Emmanuel Barrera, Kieran Chew, Donald Nield, Steven Raman and Evelyn Tierney were recently announced as recipients of the BJ Hickey Biblical Foundation scholarships, which will provide financial support for them to enrol in courses that will not only further their biblical knowledge, but will also be used to benefit their local parishes as well as the Archdiocesan community.

Co-ordinator of the Biblical Foundation, Dr Michelle Jones, said this was the third year the scholarships had been granted and she was pleased with the personal and communal benefits they provided.

“The scholarships greatly enrich the Church in Perth by providing ‘ordinary’ lay people with the opportunity to immerse themselves more fully in the Word of God, and then to share what they have learned and experienced with others,” she said.

Dr Jones said that the Foundation, which was the inspiration of Emeritus Archbishop Hickey, is part of the Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation and its main objectives are to provide the scholarships as well as assist Catholics in developing their knowledge and use of the Scriptures to form a firm biblical foundation for their everyday lives.

Of this year’s recipients, four will be heading overseas to complete their courses. Margaret, Donald and Evelyn will be attending various institutes in Jerusalem and Kieran will be completing his biblical studies at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, USA.

Scholarships are open to both lay people and Religious Sisters and Brothers who are residing within the Perth Archdiocese and want to undertake biblical studies of any length, at any level, locally or overseas.

See www.thebiblicalfoundation.org.au for further information