MANGALORE, SEPT 01, 2024:A training and fellowship event titled Bible Vision for Parish Secretaries and Conveners of the Commission for the Bible of the Diocese of Mangalore was held on 01 September 2024 at Shanthi Kiran – Pastoral Centre Hall, Bajjodi, Mangalore. Organised by the Commission for Bible of the Diocese of Mangalore in association with Ephphatha Biblical Centre, Mangala Jyothi-DBCLC, Shanthi Kiran, Bajjodi, Mangalore, the programme was held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The primary objective of this programme was to bring together all the Commission for Bible Secretaries and Conveners from the Parishes across the Diocese of Mangalore. Along with fulfilling this objective, this gathering successfully deepened their understanding of their mission within the Church. It fostered a collaborative environment where they could learn from one another’s experiences in biblical pastoral ministry. One hundred and thirty members from Nenety parishes participated in this interactive programme.
Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, celebrated the Eucharist, highlighting the theme of the Word of God in our lives. Dwelling on the gospel, in his inspiring homily, he noted that the Word of God is the soul of our religion and faith journey. The Word of God guards us against making our Christian life a soulless practice of some rituals, and it also inspires us to cleanse our social lives accordingly. He also pointed out how, in the first reading of the day from Deuteronomy, “the statutes and decrees” of God embedded in the Word of God make us, the people of God or Israel, a great or “wise and intelligent people.” He underscored the invitation of the Word of God, as given in the Letter of James, to “Be doers of the word and not hearers only,” as a specific invitation given to the Commission for Bible members of the Diocese.
The day’s activities led by a resource team including Rev. Dr Vincent Sequeira, Diocesan Secretary of the Commission for the Bible; Rev. Fr Suraj Joseph Lobo, Assistant Priest at Kumbla Parish; and Mr Aaron John Nazareth, Diocesan Joint Secretary of the Commission for the Bible, featured several interactive sessions. The program began with an enactment of the ‘Wedding at Cana’ (John 2:1-12) and a session of Lectio Divina before a formal welcome. The first session explored the scope of the Biblical Apostolate, focusing on various dimensions of the ministry of the Word, such as reading, listening, studying, interpreting, disseminating, praying, celebrating, and integrating the Scriptures into daily life.
The second session focused on the New Pastoral Plan 2024-26 for the Biblical Pastoral Ministry, detailing its vision, mission, goals, and objectives and its practical implementation in the parishes. This was followed by a discussion on the challenges in executing the pastoral plan. A small exhibition led by Mr. Aaron Nazareth and a song dedicated to the Word of God by Rev. Fr Suraj Joseph Lobo added an engaging touch to the program. Fr Vincent Sequeira thanked everyone for their support, encouragement and presence and in a special way, Rev Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, the Director of the Pastoral Centre, for the logistical arrangements and parish priests of Rosario Cathedral Church and Bendur Church for the financial assistance towards the programme. The event concluded with the Eucharistic celebration, a photo session, and lunch.
The Bible Vision program aimed to inspire participants to engage more deeply with the Word of God, encouraging them to read, reflect, pray, proclaim, and live out the Scriptures in their daily lives.
