Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio A. Bancud, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines - Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA), is inviting the faithful to join the online Bible Festival, which starts January 23, until January 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom.
In a video message, the bishop urged the faithful “to reflect on the Word of God as the source of grace and courage especially during this time of the pandemic.”
“This festival is meant to involve all of us Christians. It is a timely opportunity for us to use this festival to reflect on the Word of God as a source of grace amid the pandemic and the many other challenges around the world,” Bancud said.
With the theme “Word of God Restores,” Bancud said the festival aims to make the Bible a part of the lives of the general public, to show that all Christian groups are united in the Word of God, and to share stories on how the Bible is able to help people cope amid the pandemic and other moments of crisis.
Each day of the conference will be dedicated to a particular theme. On Jan. 23, it focuses on “The Healing Power of God’s Word; on Jan. 24, “The Uniting Power of God’s Word; and on Jan. 25, “The Transforming Power of God’s Word.”
Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo will deliver a message on Jan. 23, while Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David will give his message on Jan. 24.
The online Bible Festival is free and will be live-streamed on the Facebook page of CBCP and CBCP-ECBA. Now in its fourth year, the festival is organized by the CBCP-ECBA in coordination with the Philippine Bible Society, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches.
In 2017, President Duterte signed Proclamation No. 124 declaring January of every year as the National Bible Month.