The year kicked off with the National Bible Week’s celebration by the SJCBI community with the enthronement of the Gospel Book presided by Chaplain Fr. Arsenio Dela Cruz at the SJCBI grounds last January 29, 2020.

This year’s theme “#2020 Vision: The Bible Transforms and Unites the Nation.” focuses on the importance of the Word of God as a transforming and unifying power in every citizen’s lives regardless of class, color and creed.

The Josephian community also celebrated this month National Bible Sunday in union with the Philippine Catholic Church, which falls every last Sunday of January.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis instituted the Third Sunday of the Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God. In his Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis, the Holy Father proposed a time for the whole Church to appreciate the Sacred Scriptures’ infinite richness.

“Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.” said the Supreme Pontiff.

Interestingly, President Rodrigo R. Duterete declared January for every year as National Bible Month under his Presidential Proclamation No. 124 S. 2017.

“(I)t is fitting and proper for the molding of the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry, that national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible,” read a portion of the proclamation.

SJCBI’s National Bible Week’s celebration is a response to the Church’s mission to inspire the faithful to rediscover God’s Word at home and in the community.

By Reagan Q. De Leon