Our Founder had great love for the Word of God & was dedicated for the spreading

1. Claretian Missionary Encounter Asia Quezon City10th to 16th June 2013Congregational Bible TeamA Sharing

2. Our Charism • Our Founder had great love for the Word of God & was dedicated for the spreading • Our Charism: We are the ministers of the Word. Proclaiming the Word of God is our specific mission • In the World, we are known for our love for the Word and our contribution for spreading the Word of God

3. Catalonian itinerant missioanry life (1839-1849). “I am ever more deeply impressed at the thought of Jesus moving from town to town, preaching everywhere-not just in big cities, but in little villages and even to a -single woman” (Auto. 221); He left the parish ministry radically (Aut. 120; 174); cofounders left thier parishes and joined in his missionary venture.

4. We are steadfast helpers of its shepherds in the ministry of the Word using all means possible to spread the good news of the kingdom throughout the world (cc 6). We are members of a missionary congregation whose charism is the ministry of the Word through which we communicate the total mystery of Christ to humanity (CC 46).

5. Claretian Asian Missionary Encounter Word of God to nurture our mission We will transform our communities, formation centres and apostolates into “schools of the Word” following the guidelines of the synod on the Word of God (MFL, 24th General Chapter, 59, 1)

6. Claretian Asian Missionary Encounter Word of God to nurture our mission We will ensure that biblical animation and ministry brings life to our institutions, apostolic activities and evangelization (MFL, 24th General Chapter, 59, 2)

7. Claretian Asian Missionary Encounter Word of God to nurture our mission We will give special attention to the accompaniment of people’s faith journey relying on the Word of God through spiritual exercises and other initiatives. We will see to it that their animation is done from the perspective of the community as a team where possible and make use of our spiritual centres (MFL, 24th General Chapter, 59, 3).

8. The gathering of the Major Superiors of our Congregation at Colmenar Viejo on October 2010 emphasized that our biblical work would be one of the principal attentions for all Claretian missionaries. Background

9. Claretian Asian Missionary Encounter Congregational Bible Team • Miguel Ángel Velasco (GPA) • Alex Gobrin (Coordinator, Colombia y Venezuela) • Gonzalo de la Torre Guerro (Colombia y Venezuela)   • Emeterio Chaparro Lillo (Santiago)   • Henry Omonisaye (West Nigeria) • Carlos Verga (Argentina) • Arul Jesu Robin (Chennai)

10. Bible Team Members

11. Objectives of the Bible TeamLong Term Objectives 1. To reflect on the meaning of biblical apostolate and biblical animation in the ministry of the Claretians

12. 2. To offer guidelines for Congregational Bible Ministry Teams Long Term Objectives

13. 3. To present Claretian Missionaries our Biblical-Pastoral Ministry projects and achievements Long Term Objectives

14. 4. To facilitate communication and exchanges of experiences in the Congregation, on Bible ministry Long Term Objectives

15. Short Term Objectives (2012-2013) 1. Design and put into operation the Claretian Biblical Webpage, in coordination with the TIC-Internet team.

16. Short Term Objectives (2012-2013) Systematize some experiences of Bible schools and Bible groups already existing in different parts of the Congregation.

17. Short Term Objectives (2012-2013) Develop materials for the presentation of the Bible experiences and programs.

18. Short Term Objectives (2012-2013) Collecting materials and biblical experiences from different parts of the Congregation.

19. First Meet of the Bible Team • On 9th to 12th January 2012 • At Quibdo, Columbia • The Participants: Miguel Ángel Velasco, Arul Jesu Robin (Chennai), Henry Omonisaye (West Nigeria), Emeterio Chaparro (Santiago), José Vidal Pérez (Central America, CICLA delegate, Louis Guades (Phillippines) Javier Pulgarín, Gonzalo de la Torre, Alex Gobrin, Agustín Monroy, Armando Valencia y Juan B (Columbia).

20. First Meet of the Bible Team

21. Our Significant Biblical Contribution • Bible diaries in different languages in different parts of the world • Monthly Biblical guides in different languages • Bible related literature (books, audios, videos, etc.) • Christian Community Bible (English, Spanish, Tamil) • Establishment of Bible Foundation in collaboration with other publications to spread Bible related literature • Bible College and many study centers specially in Columbia • Bible clubs in our schools • Formation of laity in biblical knowledge by teaching them the Word of God

22. Good Bible museum, Columbia • Establishment of communities specifically for the ministry of the Word • Free distribution of Bible to enkindle the laity to read the Word of God • Conducting mega and mini Bible Quiz competitions • Formation of Lay Associations for the purpose of Bible reading, studying, praying and sharing • Organizing seminars and workshops on the Word of God • SMS on the Word of God and the daily reading and reflections • Word of God on the Web sites • Long distance Correspondence course on the Bible directly as well as though the web

23. School of the Word Online • Android Applications (Daily Gospel in English, Chinese Trad & Simplified; Diario Biblico) • Conducting short term Bible courses • Appointment of Bible in-charges in all the major organism and Bible teams in some organisms • Word Mission Project / Forge in Daily Life

24. Message to the Congregation from Quibdo • The Word of God is the foundation of all the reality that surrounds us. • Jesus invited us to “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16:15). • The Bible is the text on which we must build and feed our formative and missionary itinerary, and our Christian and Claretian identity. • The Bible should always be present in our entire life. • “The Synod invites us ‘to boost the biblical apostolate’, not in juxtaposition with other pastoral ministries, but rather as biblical animation of all the pastoral” endeavors (VD 3.2.2.).

25. Message to the Congregation from Quibdo • We reaffirm “Men On Fire With Love” ‘To make that the Word of God breathe into our missions in all its expressions’ (#59: 1,2,3) • Biblical apostolate should concentrate in small communities, and including our local communities. They should be communities around the Word. • We should have a very special communion with people, persons and groups; with them we should study, live and work together to promote the Word. • Service of the word requires availability to the Spirit and economic recourses

26. Message to the Congregation from Quibdo • The creation of biblical teams in each region or organism is fundamental. We should make an effort that these animation endeavors should come from the community, possibly by a team. • The formation of the lay from the biblical field is urgent.

27. Message to the Congregation from Quibdo – Resolutions • Bible team will be at the service of the Congregation for biblical animation • Creation of a web site (www.biblecmf.org)

28. Claretian Website for Biblical Apostolate • www.biblecmf.org • Objective: Toshare our experiences, biblical materials and methodologies for biblical formation • Special Feature: Easy access and periodical updating • Methodology ….

29. Bible Website – A Few Observations • Three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Professional (Advanced) • Language: Presently only in Spanish and English. We shall try to present in as many languages as possible • A Call to all Claretians: To make known this initiative, to share materials and experiences

30. What has been done so far . . . • The creation of a functioning website: www.biblecmf.com. • The on-going gathering of biblical materials [by Claretian authors]. • The on-going systematizing of biblical projects/programs/experiences in different places of the congregation. • The on-going selection of some biblical projects to be used for “campaign”.

31. A Few Observations • We have limited biblical materials by Claretian authors in English. • Some of MICLA [Claretian Missionaries of the Americas] had embarked into systematizing their biblical projects. • Some selected projects as models: • Claretian Biblical Schools/Centers [Colombia-Venezuela] • Biblical Itineraries on Specific Hermeneutics [Colombia-Venezuela] • Biblical Itineraries for Community Organizing [Colombia-Ecuador]

32. A Few Observations • The necessity to promote and form the laity in the biblical field • Each Claretian missionary is to take interest in this apostolate • All major superiors are to create, help, strengthen, and promote Teams for biblical animation. • These teams to include lay men and women • Specializing our missionaries in biblical studies • To encourage and support laity in biblical studies

33. Just to provoke us for discussion! • Are our Provincials, Council Members and the Members of the Province aware of the suggestions proposed by the congregational Bible team? • Are these suggestions given sufficient information in the province, community and personal level?

34. Just to Provoke us for discussion! • What are the experiences on biblical animation and ministries in our Provinces or Delegations? • Do we have any mechanism to share those beautiful experiences with other organisms of the Congregation?

35. Just to Provoke us for discussion! • Do we encourage systematizing biblical projects or itineraries? • It means documenting the project’s history, program, materials, methodology, testimonies, etc.

36. Just to Provoke us for discussion! • Can we suggest projects or itineraries to be used for “campaign”, for example Biblical Itineraries for Tribal Missions [India]; Biblical Program and guide making for Ministers of the Word – KAABAG [Philippines]? • Some criteria: certain degree of history, certain degree of uniqueness, certain degree of impact, and a certain degree of systematization.

37. Just to provoke us for discussion! • Do we encourage production of biblical materials by Claretian authors in different levels?

38. Just to provoke us for discussion! • What are the suggestions that we can provide for the Biblical Team to function more relevantly and effectively?

39. Just to Provoke us for discussion! • How can we coordinate the Biblical team of the Province and Claretian Publications in the Province and in the zone?

40. Just to Provoke us for discussion! • Any Issues for the next encounter of the Bible team? • July 2014