Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate

Catholic Biblical Federation

Office of Evangelization

To the Chairman & National Directors of Episcopal Commission for Biblical Apostolate

To the Members of the Catholic Biblical Federation of Asia& Oceania.

Greetings from the FABC Office of Evangelization

And the Catholic Biblical Federation – Asia-Oceania!

The much awaited Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church will be a very important instrument forthe renewal of Biblical Pastoral Ministry and the mission of proclamation of the Word.  We in Asia have been eagerly awaiting its publication.  The FABC Office of Evangelization (FABC OE), entrusted with the service of animation of Biblical Pastoral Ministry at Asian level, is organizing the Third Bishops’ Institute for Biblical Apostolate (BIBA III) and – in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Federation of Asia Oceania– the Fifth Asia-Oceania Biblical Congress.

The Exhortation is expected to be released any time soon. Therefore, we are making efforts so that we can prepare ourselves for the Bible Congress and for the implementation of the Synodal orientations and directives.  The twofold  WORD-EVENT is going to be a true Kairos, a grace-filled time, for the renewal and intensification of Biblical Pastoral Ministry / Biblical Apostolate in our regions.

The purpose of the BIBA III  is to study, and offer reflections on, the Apostolic Exhortation in view of application and implementation within our contexts. It is obvious that much has to be planned and implemented at the local level, and this depends on local situations. Nevertheless, a consultation among Bishops, Bible scholars, and pastoral workers drawn from different parts of Asia-Oceania can be a significant help for all those entrusted with the animation of Biblical Pastoral Ministry in the Conferences of Bishops or at the national level. It isour hope that such a consultation will give inspiration and encouragement forlocal level institutions in Asia and Oceania.

Proposed dates: * November 4-6,2010 (3 full days) for BIBA III             

                                             * Nov 6th evening to 8th evening: for the Members of

                                                the Catholic Biblical   Federation

The Venue:            The Redemptorist Centre, Pattaya, Thailand

In this limited time we can collectively make intense preparation and everythingwill become fruitful by the power of the Word that never returns without makingthe seeds fruitful (cf. Isa 55:10-11).

The FABC OE is making efforts to provide board and lodging for the delegates forthe Congress. We shall send some more details and the schedule by the endof this month. We are glad to invite you to BIBAIII (November 4-6).

For the meeting from November 6th evening to 8thwe gladly invite the members of the Catholic Biblical Federation – full andAssociate Members. Therefore the members of the CBF are expected to  participate in both events (Novemebr 4-8,both days inclusive)

Looking forward to receiving a positive reply, and with the hope of your sure participation,

FABC Office of Evangelization                                               CatholicBiblical Federation

Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, SDB                      Sr. EmmaGunanto OSU

Chairman, FABC-OE                                                                South East Asia SubregionalCoordinator

Fr. Jacob Theckanath                                                               Cecilia Chui

Executive Secretary                                                                   North East AsiaSubregional Coordinator

                                                                                                      Fr.Valentine Gryk SVD

                                                                                                      Oceania Subregional Coordinator

FABC-CBF Asia-Oceania Bible Congress

“Word of God in the Lifeand Mission ofthe Church”

The FABC Office of Evangelization incollaboration with the members of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) isorganizing an Asian Word-event:

BISHOPS’ INSTITUTE FORBIBLICAL APOSTOLATE (BIBA III)

&

 5TH ASIA-OCEANIA BIBLE CONGRESS

It is scheduled on November 4-8, 2010 as the Post-SynodalApostolic Exhortation on the Word of God is expected to be released any time soon.

Theme:   “Word of God in the Life and Missionof the Church”

Dates:    November 4-8, 2010

Arrivals: November 3 (any time) or 4th early morning

Venue:   The Redemptorist Center, Pattaya, Thailand

Opening Eucharist: 8:30 am of November 4

Inaugural Address: His Excellency Most. Rev. Nikola Eterovic'the General Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops (Vatican)

General Schedule:

November 4th, 5th and 6th will be dedicated to the study of thePost-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, with a view to its pastoral implementationin the emerging context of Asia. 

November 6th evening to 8th eveningwill be for members of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) whose "Full Members" are the Offices of the Bishops’Conferences for Biblical Apostolate and "Associate Members" are organizations and movements engagedin the Biblical pastoral ministry.

This is a unique opportunity to reflect on anddiscern at Asian level the challenges of living and proclaiming the Life-givingWord in Asia.

The Word of God is “sweeter than honey, thatdrips from the comb” (Ps 19:10), and “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a lighton my path” (Ps 119:105). May we join hands and journey together in our commonministry of the Word, so that the “Lord’s message may continue to spread and bereceived with honour!” (2 Thes 3:1)

Fr. Jacob Theckanath

Executive Secretary

FABC Office of Evangelization

E-mail: oefabc@gmail.com