AdMU Opens First Biblical Pastoral Ministry Course

MANILA, January 7, 2010-The East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) of the Ateneo de Manila University in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF)-Southeast Asia has officially opened the 1st Biblical Pastoral Ministry course.

Launched January 5, the academic program is a three-month pastoral training intended for priests, religious men and women and the lay biblical workers from the different parts of the world.

The program is intended to deepen understanding of the Scriptures; to contextualize the biblical teachings; to further discuss and identify the methods of sharing, studying, praying celebrating and proclaiming the Word.

Established as a response to the need of the local Churches for effective pastorally oriented courses on the Bible, the course will focus on personal formation, renewal, spiritual accompaniment, and the pastoral approaches and skills in using the Bible for community celebrations.

Modules on resent developments in Biblical Hermeneutics and Church's understanding of the Word of God will also be taken up.

Although optional, there is a six-day retreat at the end of the course in order to gain "deeper assimilation and prayer".

The formal opening of the course was highlighted with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, outgoing chairman of the CBF and CBCP's Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA).

Also present during the launch were Bishop Renato Mayugba, Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and Vice-Chairman of ECBA, Fr. Oscar Alunday, Executive Secretary of ECBA, Alexander Schweitzer, CBF General Secretary, among others. (Kate Laceda)