Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate

August 31, 2010

Dear Friend,

Greetingsof peace in the Lord!

Thank you for your wonderful support and prayers, and for journeying with us as weseek to make God’s Word available and accessible to all Filipino families.  Thank you for helping us as we seek to uniteour people and transform our nation into one that is truly Christian, throughthe MayThey Be One Bible Campaign.

If you recall, we launched the May They Be One Bible Campaign at the Manila Cathedral on September 30, 2008. The Campaign aims to distribute 5 million Biblesto 5 million poor Filipino families within 5 years,and is a joint initiative of the Episcopal Commission for the BiblicalApostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)and the Philippine Bible Society (PBS). Through your prayers and support, todate we have distributed May They Be One Biblesto 218,211 poor families in 814 parishes/churches with the participation of 75out of 86 Dioceses. Enclosed is a copy of the Campaign highlights.

In its first year, May They Be One Bible Campaign has become a symbol of unity andcooperation (Bayanihan) between ECBAand PBS, of various parish and lay organizations involved in Bibleapostolate/ministry and of Christian churches.

On September 30, 2010, Feast of St. Jerome, we will celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of May They Be One Bible Campaign. We plan to hold a Thanksgiving Program at the Manila Cathedral, on the afternoon (3-5pm) of September 30 – to thank God for a fruitful two years of the MayThey Be One Bible Campaign, and ask His blessings on the launch of the Handwritten Unity Bible (HUB) Project.

We would like to extend a special invitation for you to join us in the celebrationand attend the Concelebrated Mass to be offered by priests and Bishops who haveparticipated in the Campaign. We have requested His Eminence Gaudencio CardinalB. Rosales to officiate the Mass and give the Homily. Before the Mass, there willbe an Ecumenical Prayer Session and brief reflections, to be led by ProtestantBishops from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and thePhilippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

TheHandwritten Unity Bible Project is a two-year ecumenical Project of ECBA-CBCPand PBS with other Christian churches and organizations, which aims to fosternational unity, greater interest in the Bible andraise funds for the May They Be One Bible Campaign. We will have a symbolicBible Handwriting session after the Mass with His Eminence Cardinal Rosales andselected guests participating.

Pleasecome and bring your family and friends and celebrate with us. For further information or for your confirmation, please call: Office ofBishop Pabillo  – Fr. Oscar Alunday /LinaCacal (ECBA) 527-4157; Office of Mrs. Nora Lucero – Edna and Cherry: 524-5337,0917-8356570.

Your presence will be a great source of encouragement for us. We lookforward to a glorious celebration of God’s faithfulness with you, our Campaignpartners and other ‘Friends of the Bible.’

May God bless you for your partnership and for helping us answer Jesus’call “that we may be one.”

Yours for the furtherance of His Word,

H.E.Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, DD                                                 MRS. NORA G. LUCERO

Auxiliary Bishop of Manila                                                                    General Secretary

Chairperson, MTBOAdvisory Committee                                          Philippine Bible Society

+H.E. BISHOP PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, DD

  Chairman                                                                         

  Episcopal Commission onBiblical Apostolate (ECBA) 

   Auxiliary Bishop

   Archdiocese of San Fernando,Pampanga