Prayer nook

August 2021

In preparation for the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation in April 2022, we invite all members and friends of our Federation to pray for God’s blessing, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and the intercession of Mary, the Mother of the Word, for all its regions and their activities.

The intention for this month you can find here:

Presentation of the Region

South East Asia is among the most active and best organized regions in the Catholic Biblical Federation. Nonetheless, it still faces some challenges and difficulties. In most of the countries which comprise this region, Christians are a minority, frequently treated with suspicion or even hostility. Some of their communism-influenced governments restrict religious freedom. At the same time, South East Asia enriches the Federation by its significant experience in the area of interreligious dialogue. The Catholic Church in the Philippines with its well established and regular activities – Bible weeks, Bible Month, summer camps for the youth, and activities of numerous biblical centers run by lay people – plays a leading role in pastoral biblical ministry in the region. Its another significant aspect is a fruitful cooperation of CBF members with the United Bible Societies.

News from this Region

Indonesian National Bible Month (2024): "God, Source of Justice."

29 Sep 2024

September is the National Bible Month for all Catholics across the dioceses in Indonesia. This is a tradition of the Catholic community here that has been developing since 1980.

Catholic Biblical Federation Southeast Asia Sub-region (CBF-SEA) Sub-regional Committee Meeting

23 Sep 2024

On September 23rd the meeting of the CBF South-East Asia Sub-Regional Committee was held via Zoom.

Presentation of Indonesian Bible to Pope Francis

09 Sep 2024

During Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, from September 3 to 6, 2024, the Indonesia Bible Society (Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia [LAI], an Ecumenical Bible organization) and the Indonesian Bible Association ( Lembaga Biblika Indonesia [LBI], full member of Catholic Biblical Federation), represented by Rev. Dr. Henreitte T.H. Lebang (Chairperson of LAI) and Rev. Dr. Sigit Triyono (General Secretary of LAI), both Protestants, had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis before he left Indonesia on September 6, 2024.

Liturgy of The Hours Group (Vietnam)

After the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) allowed local churches to celebrate liturgical services in their own languages, some Vietnamese priests and religious were eager to translate the Bible into Vietnamese versions that are suitable for their traditional culture.

Six priests voluntarily started to render the Latin Liturgy of the Hours into Vietnamese in late 1971. They later formed the Liturgy of the Hours Group that drew more priests and sisters who are expert in the Bible, theology, liturgy, pastoral ministry, sacred music, literature and poetry.

National Biblical Pastoral Ministry (Myanmar)

"We have conducted 16 Bible Seminars in the Year July 2019-June 2020 (14 Bible Seminars in June - December 2019 and 2 Bible seminars only in February 2020). After then, the global coronavirus pandemic is affecting our program. That is why we are temporarily suspending our program until the end of August. This month (July) only we can reopen our office. During these days, we translated a book, namely "Bible for you and me" from English to Burmese. We post a daily reflection on line. Please check the attachmed video with the activities of BPM. May God bless us in our common service to his life-giving word".

Fr. George Shwe Htun
National coordinator for BPM (Myanmar)