NATIONAL CONSULTATION WITH REGIONAL CHAIRMEN AND REGIONAL SECRETARIES OF BIBLE COMMISSION

Report
The CCBI Commission for Bible organized a national consultation with the regional chairmen, regional secretaries and the consultative body members of the Bible Commission on 27th September, 2019 at NBCLC, Bangalore. This was attended by Most Rev. Antonysamy Peter Abir, Chairman of the Commission, Most Rev. T. Joseph Raja Rao SMM, Member Bishop of the Commission, Most Rev. Ignatius D'Souza, Chairman of the Bible Commission of Agra Region, Regional secretaries (Rev. Fr. Ubald (Tamilnadu), Rev. Fr. Kiran Babu (Telugu Region), Rev. Fr. Tarcitius Toppo (Chhatisgarh), Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier (Karnataka), Rev. Fr. Laurence Culas (Kerala), Rev. Fr. Johnson Thurackal (Northeast), Rev. Fr. Prasant Digal (Odisha), Rev. Lui Heredia (Western Region), Rev. Fr. Antony Khokhar (North) and Rev. Fr. Michael Ignatius (Bihar)) and the members of the Consultative Body of the Commission (Rev. Fr. Assisi Saldanha, C.Ss.R, Rev. Fr. Faustine Lobo, Rev. Sr. Mary Gracelet, Rev. Fr. Sunny Varghese Ampattu Kuzhiyil, Rev. Fr. Amborse, Rev. Fr. Sagaya John, Rev. Fr. James Theophilus, sdb, Mr. Nigel Fernandes, Mr. Peter Anil Rego, Mr. Michael Noronha, Mr. Anthony Sahaya Raj). The meeting was presided over by Most Rev. Antonysamy Peter Abir, the Chairman.

The meeting commenced at 11 am with reading of the word of God and prayer led by Fr. Michael Ignatius. Thereafter bishop Peter Abir firstly welcomed the bishops who were present, then the regional secretaries and the members of the consultative body. He highlighted that Biblical apostolate is quiet complex due to various issues, cultures, languages and distance in India. Then the agenda for the day was taken up for discussion. The agenda points included the following: Bible Sunday / Bible Week 2020; Regional Animation Seminars; Bible Correspondence Course; The Forthcoming Programs of the National Commission (CBF meeting and Training of Youth Animators for Biblical Pastoral Ministry; Youth Bible in Vernacular; Consultative Meeting in Two Centers; Collaboration with other Commissions, NBCLC, TPI and CBAI; Yearly scientific works to be published on current topic; Promoting the biblical scholars to join SBSI and CBAI; Initiating a center for scientific research; Promoting Indian Interpretation of Bible.

At the end Bishop Abir thanked the participants for their efforts in attending this consultation and for their contributions in the form of sharing. Bishop Ignatius said the final prayer and the three bishops imparted the blessings. The meeting came to an end with a photo session.

There was another meeting that took place on 27th September 2019 at 08:45 pm. This was an informal discussion between the Chairman and the regional secretaries to finalize details of the forthcoming programs. It was an enriching experience to come together to share about the Biblical Pastoral Ministry and to plan for the future.