Catholic Biblical Federation ● Fédération Biblique Catholique • Federación Biblica Católica● Katholische Bibelföderation

2020  — THE YEAR OF THE WORD OF GOD

«The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Catholic Biblical Federation.  The year 2020 marks the 1600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome, the great translator of the Bible…

The happy coincidence of these two anniversaries inspired the Executive Committee of the CBF to encourage the CBF members to mark 2020 as the ‘Year of the Word of God’ from the First Sunday of Advent  (December 1, 2019) until the feast of Saint Jerome (September 30, 2020)“

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

President of CBF (25 January 2019)

While each diocese will choose to observe this special year in their own way, I offer the following suggestions:

YEAR OF THE WORD OF GOD

Launching on Parish Level: First Sunday of Advent

➢ Enthronement of the word of God in parish communities; enthronement accompanied by acts of reverence for the word; procession, lights, incense festive ribbons, banners, etc.

➢ Enthronement of the word of God in homes

Documents to be revisited and highlighted during the Year:

✓ Dei Verbum (Vatican II Document on Divine Revelation)

✓ The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church and its Concluding Message (Synod of Bishops 2008)

✓ Verbum Domini (Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI)

✓ Aperuit illis  (Apostolic letter of Pope Francis 2019)

✓ ABP (The word of God in all aspects of pastoral life)

✓ Evangelii Gaudium (Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis)

✓ The Liturgy of the Word (Liturgical Documents)

• Lectio Divina: Training and practice
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• Radio programs on the Word of God
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• Utilization of social media to promote the Word of God
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• Formation/ongoing formation of liturgical readers
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• Courses on the Word of God:  Old Testament, New Testament
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• Bible Summer School (adults, youth, children)
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• Adequate preparation for the Celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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• Closing of the Year of the Word of God: Feast of St. Jerome, September 30, 2020.
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November 24, 2019

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Msgr. William John-Lewis

CBF Zonal Representative Caribbean