Angel Bible Study Offers Deeper Understanding of Our Catholic Teachings

A desire to learn what the Catholic faith teaches about angels prompted Gary DeHaemers to facilitate the Angel Bible Study, which is currently underway for a 10-week program. The study began Sept. 16 and is being held at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday in the Fellowship Hall.

“I’m the facilitator for the study,” Gary says. “All the participants are contributors. It is a gift being with them, as all have something to offer.”

The study sessions include videos by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, a Jesuit priest, of St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and Mike Aquilina, the organization’s executive vice president. The videos run for about 30 minutes, followed by study questions to review. Participants also engage in dialogue on the material. The group also will discuss St. John Paul II’s 1986 presentation on angels.

“Angels appear throughout the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation,” Gary says. “We will touch on that.”

Gary’s intent for the study is to delve into the Church’s teachings about them. The study will focus on the definition of angels in the Catholic Catechism as expressions of God’s love and having free will.

“Angels are first presented in the Bible in Genesis when Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden and God puts angels to guard the garden with a fiery sword,” Gary says. “The second appearance is when Jacob puts his head upon a stone and dreams of angels ascending and descending from heaven.”

The study also will touch on the concept of our guardian angels.

“The guardian angels come from Jesus talking to His disciples about not rebuking the children to approach Him,” Gary says. “Guardian angels have constant audience with the Father and have connection with the Father. Each of us has one, but we don’t know much about them.”

Throughout the study, the members will gain more knowledge of angels in Catholic teachings.

“Myself, too, I’m learning as we go along,” Gary says. “But it’s more about what they do and how they are important to us. They’re at the birth of Christ and are cited in the Sanctus. They are throughout our doctrine of the Church.”

Gary is not certain at this time if the study will be repeated. He has had requests to hold evening sessions, but his schedule presently does not allow it.

Besides leading the Angel Bible Study, Gary is a member of the parish Men’s Group, our Saints group, and serves as a Eucharistic Minister. He also will step up to serve as a lector.