Thomas Smith’s Catholic Bible Seminar Well-attended

The Archdiocese of Davao was up for a Catholic Bible Seminar this 2014, but this time it was from another sought-after Catholic evangelist /apologist – Thomas Smith. Known for his co-authored book with Jeff Cavins – Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come and for the Great Adventure Bible Timeline conferences, Smith gave three apologetic sessions from February 8 to 9 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) Gymnasium – Obrero campus.

During the seminar, attendees from different religious and lay organizations, schools and parishes were given the opportunity to discover all that the “First Springtime” (Acts of the Apostles: spread of the Kingdom) of the early Christian community can teach us about.

Smith unambiguously shared how the first Christians spread the Good News with joy and zeal. Likewise, the significance, meaning, and power of the Pentecost, the meaning of discipleship and the confidence of our call to follow Christ were explored. The first day capped off with a concelebrated Eucharist celebration with Msgr. Paul Cuison, DCD, JCD, the Episcopal Vicar for the Lay Faithful, as the main celebrant.

The Biblical roots of the Holy Mass & Marian Devotion were further delved into till noontime of the following day. There was a rediscovery of scriptural stories that are deliberately woven into the Eucharist. It was emphasized that entering into the mystery of the liturgy, along with the need to reconnect the Mass to the story of our salvation, can certainly keep a Christian faith inflamed.

Not only that, to help us avoid the spiritual malady of simply ‘going through the motions of devotion’, Smith gave a comprehensive scripture-based talk on Mary’s role as our Queen and the Mother of the Church. The participants were given a fuller appreciation of the biblical typology on Mary.

Smith wrapped up the two-day seminar with this prayer request:

“What a blessing. What a grace. What a gift. What a blessing has been for me to spend this morning with you. I hope you will continue to pray for our mission. I hope you pray that we will be people of the Eucharist – living liturgies; carrying the Good News of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist in the world, through the strength, and intercession, and prayers of Our Lady, who desires that Christ would be formed in us, as He was formed in her womb; that through our life, He may be birthed and manifested to all those around us who are still looking and longing for Jesus. That’s my prayer for you; I hope that’s your prayer for me.”

It was Smith’s third trip to Davao City. It can be recalled that he gave a conference entitled Great Adventure Bible Timeline in June 2007 and a seminar called “Unlocking Revelation In a Day” in June 2010. Both events were held at the CAP Auditorium. But last February 6, Smith had audience for the first time with Archbishop Romullo Valles.

Before his trip to the Philippines, Smith had this Facebook photo caption posted on January 27: “One week until our Philippine Catholic Biblical Mission Foundation (PCBMP) mission trip to Manila and Davao City where I’ll meet up with my missionary companions Dolly Dalisay Banzon and Amelia Ashmann. I’m really looking forward to being back in the “other” Holy Land. Please pray for our work there sharing Scripture with hospital staff, lay Catholics and clergy, seminarians, etc.”

Smith considers the Philippines as a pilgrimage destination too. In fact, he had gone to the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, together with the lay founders of PCBMP, days after the weekend Catholic Bible Seminar in Davao City.

The event was co-presented and sponsored by the Philippine Catholic Biblical Mission Foundation, Ascension Press, Bukas Loob sa Diyos  (BLD) Covenant Community – Davao District, and the Archdiocesan Council of the Lay Apostolates and Integrated Movements (ACLAIM).

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Thomas Smith, a 7th-generation Mormon and a former Protestant minister, was received into the Catholic Church in 1996. He brings a wealth of experience and insight on the Word of God to audiences across the U.S and other parts of the globe. He is a repeat guest on EWTN and other Catholic radio programs, and is also a sought after parish mission and conference speaker. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the St. Francis School of Theology in Denver, and is the former Director of the Denver Catholic Biblical School and the Denver Catechetical School. For more information and inputs from Thomas Smith, you may log on to: http://gen215.org/. You may also follow him on https://twitter.com/Gen215.