Adult Bible Study
Adult Bible Study
Ed Conlan taught CCD and Bible study classes at St. Philip and St. Jude
churches from 1980 until 2024. He felt called to God’s service in 1958,
began teaching CCD in 1959 and taught for over 60 years.
As a continuation of his legacy of devotion to Our Lord, selected class
notes from some of his courses are available for review and printing by all
interested parishioners, in the hope that you find them enlightening, and
that they help to strengthen your Catholic Faith.
Each link below contains a class from one of Ed’s courses. Additional class
notes will be added periodically.
The Mass: Act of Worship
This handout explains the Catholic Mass — where it came from, what happens during it, and why the details matter. It traces the Mass from its roots in the Jewish family meal through Christ's institution at the Last Supper, then walks through the elements a worshipper encounters: blessing yourself with holy water on entering, genuflecting to the altar and tabernacle, the meaning of the bells, the Church's sacred music, and even the symbolism of the flowers on the altar. A closing section, "Getting the Most out of Mass," offers practical advice for participating fully rather than passively. The document also includes A Visitor's Guide to What Catholics Believe and How They Worship — an illustrated tour of the church building that explains the statues, crucifix, sanctuary candle, tabernacle, Stations of the Cross, and Missal, along with the Scripture behind practices such as the Sign of the Cross, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and asking the saints for prayer. The overall aim is to help both newcomers and lifelong Catholics understand what they are seeing and doing, so that the Mass becomes a conscious act of worship rather than a routine.
The Ten Commandments — an Overview (Sin: Original, Mortal, Venial)
This study guide covers God's moral law and the reality of sin. It begins with natural law — the sense of right and wrong written on every human heart — and revealed law, chiefly the Ten Commandments, which the document presents in both the Exodus 20 text and the traditional catechism form, with a note on why Christian bodies number them differently. A section titled "Why Commandments" answers the common objection that the Commandments restrict human freedom, arguing instead that every creature flourishes by living according to its nature, and that God's law is the design specification for human happiness. The guide then examines conscience and its malformations (erroneous, doubtful, scrupulous, and lax), and explains the Catholic understanding of sin: original sin inherited from Adam, mortal sin and the three conditions that make a sin grave, and venial sin and the harm it does over time. It closes with practical means of avoiding sin and a reminder that God is always ready to receive the sinner back — and that the whole law is summed up in loving God and loving one's neighbor.
Parable of the Prodigal Son
The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known and beautiful of Jesus’
parables. But what are parables and why did Jesus use them? This lesson explains the
meaning of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and how and why Jesus used this parable
to teach the need for forgiveness, second chances, and the unconditional love of God.
This parable is as relevant in today’s world as it was 2,000 years ago.
Holy Eucharist
“Eucharist” means “thanksgiving,” and this class explains how Christ created and
instituted the Eucharist. It also answers some frequently asked questions about
receiving Holy Communion. The notes also explain how bread and wine are
transformed into the real presence of Christ: body, blood, soul and divinity, called
“Transubstantiation.” It ends with quotes from three Saints about the great importance of
this Sacrament, the most excellent of all Sacraments.
Vestments, Materials
This class presents the liturgical year, and the meaning of the vestments worn by the
priest at Mass as well as the prayers recited by him as he dons these vestments. The
class also explains the materials and objects seen at Mass and their use.