By Dennis Kellogg
Director of Communications
The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies has moved its Lincoln office location… about 50 feet.
The self-funded institute that offers in-person and online courses in biblical studies most recently was located in a small suite in the Calvert Office Park at 3601 Calvert St., Lincoln. When a larger suite in the same building became available, the owner had a thought one morning during Mass to suggest Emmaus move a couple of doors to the east. Emmaus President Dr. Vern Steiner, the board of directors, and staff eagerly accepted that offer last month.
“It’s larger, updated, beautiful, and quiet, with many amenities – a spacious office area, large and small classrooms, lounge and library, kitchenette, restroom, abundant storage space, and a private meeting and recording room,” Dr. Steiner said.
Father Caleb La Rue, the Emmaus Institute’s spiritual advisor and chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln, came over for a special blessing of the new location April 5. He prayed over the facility and staff, and extended a blessing over all parts of the building using blessed salt and holy water.
“The importance of blessing homes, schools, offices, places of business is twofold: there is the reality of evil and wanting to protect ourselves and where we are from evil, and there is a formal invitation to Christ to be present. We want him here. We want the Holy Spirit here. We want angels here,” Father La Rue said.
Steiner said that is exactly what the Emmaus staff wants and why they asked Father La Rue for the blessing.
“We want this to be a blessed place where God’s presence is known and felt and experienced by all,” Steiner said. “We felt it was important to seal as it were the Lord’s presence here and to protect us from all evil.”
Father La Rue said such a blessing is a visible sign that those who work here are dedicated to God’s work.
“This is a real, tangible expression that this is a place in which we want to do God’s work and do his will,” Father La Rue said. “The idea just being that we want to really dedicate ourselves to doing the will of God wherever we are, and part of that is asking him to protect us from all the things that get in the way of us doing God’s will.”
Steiner said the move to the larger space and the blessing of the facility reflects the larger blessing the Emmaus Institute has experienced since its founding four years ago.
“The timing was providential, as the topic of space for present and future growth had already factored significantly in our recent staff deliberations and strategic planning,” Steiner said. “How good of the Lord to be three steps ahead of us, of course, with a plan and a provision that will accommodate our needs in the foreseeable future and will allow us to expand our mission of bringing God’s people into deeper conversion through a life-giving encounter with God in his Word.”
SNR photos | Natalie Bender
