WEST VALLEY CITY — "A group of six women were hungry for the Word of God and chose to start a Bible study group 35 years ago. They were intensely interested in anything Catholic," said Msgr. Victor Bonnell, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Layton. Msgr. Bonnell (then Fr. Bonnell) was the first pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish when it opened in 1972. The Bible study group began that same year under the direction of Fr. Bonnell and Maryknoll Sister Sharon Rose. "Studying the Bible was stimulating for the women and it was not hard at all to get them to come," said Msgr. Bonnell. "They were and still are very dedicated." The group has since been named the Golden Girls. Membership now includes women from St. Martin de Porres Parish in Taylorsville, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns, and St. Olaf Parish in Bountiful. The Golden Girls offer each other love, friendship, prayers and support during difficult times. All of the women said they have learned more about their faith and they have grown spirituality. They said they have been blessed with good facilitators throughout the years. Martha Madrid has been a member of the Golden Girls for 17 years. She said there have been some illnesses and a few deaths in her family and she has appreciated the support and prayers she received from the group. Kay Swim said studying the Bible has given her a better understanding of her Catholic faith and opened her mind to things of which she was unaware. Connie Campos is one of the first members of the group. She said she has learned a lot about herself by studying the Bible, which has enhanced her self-esteem. She also has learned to quiet herself and concentrate on what she is reading so she can hear what the Lord is saying. The group has become her family, and she said she would be lost without it. Dorothy Simpson is the former Sts. Peter and Paul Parish religious education director, but remains the instructor of the Golden Girls Bible study group. The members all said she is a wonderful leader. "The best part of this group is they are all seniors and they enjoy learning more about the doctrine and teachings of the Catholic Church," said Simpson. "Every facilitator has given a heart and a soul to the scriptures and made them come alive rather than just being a theological concept. "We studied the Old and the New Testaments," said Simpson. "It took us three years, but we covered all the major books and they loved it. We are now studying "The Catholic Guide to the Bible," by Vincentian Father Oscar Lukefahr. "A common understanding of the Bible is that it is not an historical book," said Simpson. "What enlightened these women is they learned the Bible is a book of inspiration. It is not chronological, but rather a library of books. At first people are afraid of the Bible. But once they study it, they understand the different stories and what they mean. "These women do not just come to Bible study, they live their faith and are involved in many ministries," said Simpson. "They make it exciting for me because I challenge them. We do not meet just to socialize, we take this seriously. We also offer prayers of petition for family members and for others." Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, said "These women are dedicated to their faith and they are committed to unity among many diverse groups."
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