Bible Week celebration highlights justice, reconciliation and peace

THE National Bible Week celebration which kicks off January 21 and culminates on January 27, National Bible Sunday; has the theme, “God’s Word: Source of Justice, Reconciliation and Peace.”

The Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) stressed in a statement the importance of discovering together “ways of personal and community involvement of witnessing the gospel value of Justice in our lives and bearing fruits in the mission of Reconciliation and Peace.”

Some activities lined up for the Bible week emphasize the theme of the event.

Pastoral letters from the dioceses highlight the significance of National Bible Week in relation to the 2008 Synod on the Word of God focusing on the life and mission of the Church.

The observance of Bible Week in the diocesan and parish level focuses on concerns of justice, reconciliation and peace in coordination with the Social Action Ministry, Youth and BEC commissions.

A Gospel Festival on National Bible Sunday will feature Family Bible Quiz, Family Bible Enthronement and distribution of bibles to military and police.

In an interview, ECBA Executive Secretary Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD said various regional and diocesan Biblical directors are organizing several activities in their respective localities to celebrate National Bible Week.

“The dioceses of Malolos and Antipolo are holding family bible quiz in the diocesan level,” he said. “There will be a parade during the bible week, on January 26,” he added.

Both dioceses will also organize Bible enthronements in the municipalities, barangays and other establishments on the same day.

The diocese of San Pablo will conduct diocesan biblical workshop during the National Bible Week.

Alunday said information regarding the national celebration had been disseminated as early as July of last year. Bible Week posters have been distributed to the different dioceses. Bible reflections inserted on bible reading guides have been circulated as well.

In Bangued, diocesan radio station DZPA airs interviews in connection with the upcoming celebration. Likewise, short passages from the bible are also broadcast by the station.

In Calapan diocese, biblical coordinators gather this month for updating of biblical activities. A Diocesan bible quiz will be held on January 23 participated by schools from the diocese.

Some dioceses (Calapan, and all dioceses in Northern Luzon under John Paul I Biblical Center) who have active biblical programs celebrate the whole month of January as Bible Month.

In the Visayas, the Dei Verbum Biblical Center in Jaro kicks off their Regional Bible Quiz this month in celebration of Bible Week. Participants are from Catholic Schools of the dioceses of Capiz, Bacolod, Antique and Jaro. The Regional Bible Quiz will have its finals on February 9.

The annual celebration of National Bible Week is being spearheaded by the Philippine Bible Society with the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) and other major Church organizations actively collaborating with the activities.

A primer released by the Philippine Bible Society highlight joint activities for the Bible week: press conference with partner organizations on January 11; Bible Reading and broadcast of bible verses on Radio and TV; Bible Sale in PBS Bible Houses and Major Bookstores; joint breakfast-fellowship at the Manila Hotel on January 24; Fund-raising concert for Bibles for the Military and Police in the evening of January 24; Bible translation seminars; and Bible Caravan in Metro Manila.

First declared by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1979 as a way of encouraging people to read the word of God, the proclamation of National Bible Week also aimed “to develop moral character, personal discipline, understanding and unity among our people.”

The annual celebration was later moved to last week of January when former President Corazon Aquino took office. Her proclamation was further enforced by succeeding proclamations of former President Fidel Ramos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo highlighting the importance of the Bible in “molding the moral fiber of the citizenry.”