By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
The Emmaus Institute of Biblical Studies embarked on a bold journey in 2019, aimed to guide Catholics through Scripture, from Creation to New Creation, illuminating their faith journey.
Almost half a decade later, the institute continues to grow in size and reach, and has evolved into a thriving community for biblical learning, offering a variety of captivating courses that deepen the understanding of the Catholic faith.
Taking inspiration from Jesus’s dialogue with two disciples on their journey to Emmaus, the institute aims to parallel this narrative, walking alongside God’s people, and illuminating the biblical narrative from Creation to New Creation as the story of Jesus. This approach aspires to enkindle hearts with the Word of God, inciting a spiritual awakening that allows individuals to recognize His presence in all life’s aspects.
In today’s challenging landscape, the vision of the Emmaus Institute — to nurture a community steeped in scriptural understanding, burning with the knowledge and love of Christ — holds more relevance than ever, according to Emmaus President Dr. Vern Steiner.
“There is a bit of a crisis in adult formation,” he said. “Many Catholics haven’t consistently grown in faith and virtue, and they can start losing their convictions. As St. Jerome famously said, ‘Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.’
Steiner emphasized, “Deepening our faith through scripture enriches our lives, making us better individuals, parents, friends, disciples, and evangelists. Many Catholics mistakenly view the Bible as a dry, dusty, boring history book, but it’s life-transforming. Our greatest act of love and devotion is listening. When God is speaking through Scripture, we’re expressing love and devotion by listening.”
The cornerstone of the Emmaus Institute’s curriculum is its signature program, “Creation to New Creation.” The comprehensive, three-year journey invites students to delve into the Scriptures, fostering a transformative bond with Christ and His teachings.
For those seeking a more condensed yet equally enriching exploration, the Institute offers “The Whole in One: A Fast-Paced Journey Through the Whole Bible in One Quarter,” a comprehensive overview of Scripture. Beyond these core offerings, the Institute explores a multitude of significant topics essential to understanding the faith, with specialized courses focusing on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Eucharist, the Nicene Creed, suffering, marriage and family, and the wisdom of the Church Doctors.
The Emmaus Institute’s impact has been inspiring, witnessing significant growth since its establishment. When the inaugural classes began, Steiner hoped for 40 students. To his delight, he was greeted by an enthusiastic cohort of 92 learners. Since then, the Emmaus Institute has welcomed more than 310 students, recorded 836 course registrations, and attracted over 312 seminar attendees.
In April 2023, the Emmaus Institute relocated to a larger suite in the Calvert Office Park in Lincoln, offering amenities like various-sized classrooms, a lounge and library, a kitchenette, ample storage space, and a private meeting and recording room. However, the institute’s growth isn’t confined to its physical footprint; its digital presence has also expanded, providing a range of scripture-centered courses, seminars, articles, and other resources accessible online, making the enriching faith journey possible for anyone, anywhere.
The diversity of participants is inspiring and varied, ranging from their 20s to their 80s, and including laypeople, priests, and religious. Some are returning to a classroom after many years, while others are professors keen to deepen their knowledge. Together with Emmaus teachers, students study, collaborate, and explore the beauty of the Bible.
One such participant, Jim Bertrand, a member of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln, exclaimed, “Each instructor exhibits a genuine passion for Sacred Scripture that is truly infectious. The depth of understanding I’ve gained has far surpassed my previous independent Bible studies, and taking classes from Emmaus has opened up new perspectives that none of those previous studies had. Taking an Emmaus class is time well-spent.”
Steiner teaches at Emmaus along with his son Chad Steiner, an experienced biblical scholar, and associate teacher Joshua Burks, a former FOCUS leader with a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute. Mike Katalenich, a Latin and philosophy teacher at Pius X High School in Lincoln, serves as an adjunct teacher, and Thomas Lally is the Institute’s operations manager.
Steiner warmly invites potential students: “Jump in! We just want people to jump in; we’re light on expectations, no exams, no papers, just recommended reading. People often worry if they’ve never been in a Bible class that they’re going to be lost, but we’re here walking with you on the road to Emmaus.”
For more information on course descriptions and registration details, visit www.emmausinstitute.net.
