Magbasa asin Maglaom! COMBIBLIA launches Bible Conference Series

By Sem. Conan Martirez

NAGA CITY — The Archdiocese of Caceres Commission on Biblical Apostolate (Caceres COMBIBLIA) inaugurated its series of district Bible Conferences last Sunday, March 9, at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. The afternoon event marked the beginning of the program titled “Basahon an Biblia: Sarong Kapitulo Kada Aldaw.”

Bible Apostles

The Bible Conferences aim to gather and organize Bible ministers from various parishes and communities. Participants will take on the role of “Bible Apostles,” a term defined by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) as individuals commissioned to coordinate and initiate Bible programs within their respective communities. The Caceres COMBIBLIA, led by Archbishop Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, D.D., with Director Fr. Erwin Blasa and Administrative Assistant Sr. Maria Culaway, D.M., oversees the conduct of these Conferences.

Magbasa asin Maglaom

The theme “Magbasa asin Maglaom” encompasses the objective of encouraging participants to read the Bible and embody the virtues of hope that the Scriptures provide. The program includes activities such as Bible enthronement, talks, spiritual conversations, plenary sessions, and a closing liturgy, which may be the observance of the Holy Hour or a celebration of the Holy Mass.

Program Proper

The inaugural conference in the Central District had a total of 50 participants, comprising 42 lay persons—predominantly youth—and 8 seminarians -future “Bible Apostles”. Representing 12 parishes from Naga City, participants were from the Vicariates of St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The half-day event commenced with a Bible enthronement liturgy led by Fr. John Robert Bañal, the COMBIBLIA priest coordinator for the Central District. In his gospel exhortation, Fr. Bañal highlighted the importance of engaging with the Bible, stating, “Primarily because the Bible, the Sacred Scriptures, contains the divine revelation, God reveals Himself to us through the Word of the Scriptures.”

Fr. Blasa discussed the significance of reading the Bible and the profound calling for participants to witness the virtue of hope through their devotion to the Scriptures. “We need to read the Bible, not only to know Christ, but to be educated in our faith, to strengthen our hope, and deepen our love. The Word of God makes us witnesses of hope in our daily life,” he emphasized. The session included testimonies from two participants: Sem. Frank Narra, who shared how his family bonded over reading the Bible during the pandemic, and Maggie Cu, a retired judge, who discussed how daily Bible readings have strengthened her faith during life’s challenges.

Julma M. Narvadez, a member of the COMBIBLIA team, facilitated the Spiritual Conversation, encouraging participants to explore their personal devotion and discern how they could promote such devotion within their communities.

Read the Bible, one Chapter a Day

In the concluding activity, participants joined the Seminary community in observing the Holy Hour, which included the launch of the “Basahon an Biblia, Sarong Kapitulo kada Aldaw” Program. Fr. Blasa presided over the liturgy and during the exhortation emphasized the connection between devotion to the Word of God and devotion to the Eucharist. “Our reading of the Bible should lead us to a deeper relationship with God, to His Sacred Body and Blood.” Then Fr. Blasa strongly invited the participants, “Let us then find regular time each day to sit for a while and pray, open our Bible and meditate, one chapter a day.”