The New England Catholic Biblical School
Know God’s Word . . . Know God’s LOVE!
The New England Catholic Biblical School provides accredited Bible Studies for Adult Learners. We’re now enrolling both virtual and in-person classes!
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Hearing God’s Word in Life and Ministry
Do you ever wish you had a “hearing aid” to clarify God’s voice speaking in your heart? Now more than ever, we need the voice of Jesus to speak the words of everlasting life to us and to our world. The Bible is God’s Word, and Christians can encounter God’s voice more clearly in the Bible by engaging the tools of Scripture study and prayer that the Church finds indispensable for Christian disciples. The New England Catholic Biblical School (CBS) has been a kind of “hearing aid” for thousands of adults throughout New England as they engage God’s Word in every book of the Bible. And this fall the Catholic Biblical School will be meeting (virtually) in the Diocese of Bridgeport! If you are thinking of joining us to study the Bible in the 2025-2026 academic year, please save the following dates:
- Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (virtual class) beginning Sept. 8 - Spanish
- Fridays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (virtual class) beginning Sept. 12 - English Each year of the four-year program runs for 30 weeks. The cost is only $410, a bit more if you wish to take courses for college credit. Some scholarship funds are available for full time ministry personnel in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Who Should Apply?
The NECBS Core program is recommended for all who desire to meet the Lord in a deeper way through Sacred Scripture and invites adults to apply who expect to be able to complete the requirements for 2-4 years. Prior experience with Bible study is not required.
About the Program
The The New England Catholic Biblical School (CBS) offers a four-year program of intensive study covering the entire Bible in two phases:
Basic Biblical Studies – The first two years focus on methods of study and praying with Scripture and a comprehensive study of major books of both the Old and New Testaments in the following order:
- First Year – Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Genesis, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings
- Second Year – Mark, Luke, Acts, Pauline Letters, John, Letters of John, Revelation
Students completing the requirements of the first two years of the program will earn the archdiocesan Certificate of Basic Biblical Studies.
Advanced Biblical Studies – The remaining two years cover all other books of the Old and New Testaments (Catholic Bible). Students who successfully complete this phase will earn the archdiocesan Certificate of Advanced Biblical Studies.
Credit-bearing Bible Studies: Students who enroll in the St. Thomas Seminary (STS) Certificate in Biblical Studies program can earn up to eighteen undergraduate credits. STS students complete the core program plus some additional requirements.
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Costs: Tuition is $410 per year. Books are an additional expense. For students enrolling for academic credit, cost is $510 per year to cover additional costs. Some scholarships available.
Which Bible Should I Use? The New England Catholic Biblical School recommends the New American Bible Revised Edition for all its students.
All Classes Online
Classes will take place online each week.
Spanish - Mondays, beginning September 8, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
English - Fridays beginning September 12, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Methods of Instruction
The The New England Catholic Biblical School provides an integrated learning experience involving head, heart and hands. We use a variety of instructional methods appropriate to adult learning, including:
- Weekly reading and writing assignments, including Scripture passages and biblical commentary
- Communal prayer
- Small group discussion
- Input from professionally trained teachers
- Testing, to evaluate and consolidate learning (two- and four-year programs only)
- Participation in “Scripture Days,” which are days of reflection on the Bible
- A summer book assignment submitted at opening day each year (two- and four-year programs only)
Study “Tracks” and Archdiocesan Certificates
What learning “track” will best help me achieve my spiritual and educational goals? NECBS includes the three learning tracks, described below.
- The Certificate Track (“not for credit”) includes all students working toward the two archdiocesan certificates, starting with the two-year “Basic Certificate” and culminating in the four-year “Advanced Certificate.” Certificate students complete all five required Learning Components each year to stay “on track.”
- The Saint Thomas Seminary Track (“for credit”) includes students who not only complete all Learning Components each year but who take on additional standards and requirements to achieve the St. Thomas Seminary Certificate and earn up to 18 college credits. Syllabi for all four NECBS core courses are provided on our Course Details page.
- The Participant Track includes students who are serious about their studies but may not have time or flexibility to complete all five required Learning Components in each unit of study. “Participants” do not achieve archdiocesan certificates but can earn alumni status after four years, depending on individual achievement.
Required Texts
Participants will purchase books either via Amazon or from the Archdiocese of Hartford (workbooks, etc.)
CBS 100 (Year One/Blue Workbook)
CBS 200 (Year Two/Red Workbook) (In addition to the texts required in Year One)
CBS 300 (Advanced Year/Cycle A/Green Workbook)* (In addition to the texts required in Years One and Two)
CBS 400 (Advanced Year/Cycle B/Orange Workbook)* (In addition to the texts required in Years One and Two)
A Catholic Study Bible. Recommended translations: New American Bible Revised Edition (2011 or later), New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha. Paraphrased and/or condensed Bibles are not an acceptable primary text for use in this program.
The Catholic Biblical School Student Workbook Year 1: Old Testament Foundations, Genesis Through Kings, (Paulist Press, 2007) (ISBN 978 0 8091 9584 8) to be purchased from the CBS office
Introduction to the Bible: A Catholic Guide to Studying Scripture, Stephen J. Binz (Liturgical Press, 2007) (ISBN 978 0 8146 1700 7)
Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible, David Noel Freedman, ed. (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Ltd., 2000) (ISBN 978 0 8028 2400 4)
An atlas of biblical lands. Recommended atlas: Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition, Adrian Curtis, ed. (Oxford University Press) (ISBN 9 780199 56046 2) (Any similar atlas or online map that provides the information required in the student workbook is permissible. Hammond Atlas of Bible Lands, though out of print, works well.)
Reading the Old Testament, Lawrence Boadt, Revised and Updated by Richard Clifford and Daniel Harrington, (Paulist Press, 2012) (ISBN 978 0 8091 4780 9)
“Genesis,” New Collegeville Bible Commentary: Old Testament, Joan E. Cook (Liturgical Press, 2011) (ISBN 978 0 8146 2836 2) OR "Genesis," Collegeville Bible Commentary Old Testament #2, Pauline Viviano (Liturgical Press, 1985) (ISBN 0 8146 1370 5)
The Catholic Biblical School Student Workbook Year 2: New Testament Foundations: Jesus and Discipleship (Paulist Press, 2008) (ISBN 978 0 8091 9586 2) to be purchased from the CBS office
Gospel Parallels, fifth edition, B.H. Throckmorton, Jr., ed., (Thomas Nelson, 1992) (ISBN 978 0 8407 7484 2)
Jesus: A Gospel Portrait, revised edition, Donald Senior, C.P. (Paulist Press, 1992) (ISBN 0 8091 3338 5)
An Introduction to the New Testament for Catholics, Joseph F. Kelly (Liturgical Press, 2006) (ISBN 978 0 8146 5216 9)
Revelation and the End of All Things, Craig R. Koester (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001) (ISBN 978 0 8028 4660 0)
The Gospel and Epistles of John: a Concise Commentary, fourth edition, Raymond Brown (Liturgical Press, 1986) (ISBN 9780814612835)
*Advanced year class texts alternate yearly between Cycle A and Cycle B
The Catholic Biblical School Student Workbook Year Three: Old Testament Continued, Exile and Restoration (Paulist Press, 2009) (ISBN 978 0 8091 9588 6) to be purchased from the CBS office
Conversing with God in Scripture: A Contemporary Approach to Lectio Divina, Stephen Binz (The Word Among Us Press, 2008) (ISBN 978 1 5932 5126 0)
The Prophets, Volume 1, Abraham J. Heschel (Harper & Row Publishers, 1962) (ISBN 978 0 0613 1421 6)
Introduction to the Prophets, Thomas L. Leclerc (Paulist Press, 1995) (978 0 8091 4492 1)
“Ezekiel, Daniel,” Corrine Carvalho, New Collegeville Bible Commentary (ISBN 978 0 8146 2850 8) OR Toni Craven, Collegeville Bible Commentaries (ISBN 978 0 8146 1423 5) also used in CBS 400
*Advanced year class texts alternate yearly between Cycle A and Cycle B
The Catholic Biblical School Student Workbook Year Four, Old and New Testaments Concluded, The Word in the Hellenistic World (Paulist Press, 2010) (ISBN 978 0 8091 9590 9) to be purchased from the CBS office.
The Wisdom Literature, Kathleen M. O’Connor (Liturgical Press, 1990) (ISBN 978-0-8146-5571-9)
“Ezekiel, Daniel,” Corrine Carvalho, New Collegeville Bible Commentary (ISBN 978 0 8146 2850 8) OR Toni Craven, Collegeville Bible Commentary (ISBN 978 0 8146 1423 5) also used in CBS 300
Companion God, revised edition, George T. Montague (Paulist Press, 2010) (ISBN 978 0 8091 4501 0)