S i g n i s I n d i a

MANILA, July 11, 2010—Hundreds of Biblical animators have participated in the regional Bible workshop held at the Hotel Pier Cuatro in Cebu City last July 2-4, 2010.

Convened by the St. Jerome Biblical Center, the 6th Central Visayas Regional Bible Workshop was a venue for all involved in Biblical apostolates to share their experiences, hopes and aspirations in the ministry.

Participants include diocesan Bible directors, Bible animators, priest-delegates, representatives from some mandated organizations, men and women in the apostolate, representatives from Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate-Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECBA-CBCP), Philippine Bible Society (PBS) representatives, and the events working committee.

According to Fr. Jose Adonis Aquino, Director of the St. Jerome Biblical Center, the first day of the gathering was spent welcoming, registering and accommodating the participants from the suffragan dioceses of Dumaguete, Maasin, Tagbilaran and Talibon (with the most number of delegates – 15 all in all), and the delegates coming from the Archdiocese of Cebu.

“The Bible Enthronement [also done on the first day] formally opened and brought the momentum of the workshop-gathering,” Aquino said.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal presented his keynote speech and officiated the opening Eucharistic Celebration.

Several lectures were given on the second day of the conference. The matter “Dei Verbum Revisited” was given by Rev. Fr. Arnie Visitacion; Engr. Ramon Gitamondoc tackled on the topic “Apologetics Today;” and the revelation of the theme taken from the “Nuntius” was presented by Fr. Aquino, which focused on the “four phases of our Spiritual Journey.”

These phases were the Voice of the Word: Revelation; Face of the Word: Jesus Christ; the House of the Word: Church; and the Roads of the Word: Mission.

The biblical workshop was themed “The Word of God is the Life and Mission of the Church,” which according to Aquino, was a “re-echo of the 18th National Biblical Workshop and impression from the theme of the 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, as we await for the official release and promulgation of the document of the aforementioned Synod of Bishops.”

A presentation of the Basic Bible Seminar (BBS) III Module for the Central Visayas which focused on the Jewish Feasts and Holidays has also been organized.

“The final day had for its set of activities the Plenum, the MTBO Project presented by the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) representatives, and some announcements before the Closing Mass,” the Director noted. (Kate Laceda)