IMBISA Biblical pastoral ministry department


Mission

The MISSION of the Biblical Pastoral Ministry is bringing the Gospel to the people of IMBISA Region and deepening their understanding and appreciation of the Bible.


The purpose of the Department is to promote and coordinate, with the assistance of the General Secretary of the CBF, the Biblical Pastoral Ministry in the Region of IMBISA. The department works in collaboration with its mother body, the Catholic Biblical Federation through the African Regional Headquarters, the Catholic Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM). BICAM is the arm of the Symposium of Episcopal conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).


Locally the department has members from every country of IMBISA including the Institutions, which are active in the Biblical Ministry such as Lumko and Catholic Biblical Foundation in South Africa. With these members the department holds Annual meetings to decide on the way forward. It is from this organization that the Dei Verbum Course and the Word of God in Africa Bulletin originated. There are also local Biblical Courses going on in some countries of the Region, apart from the annual Dei Verbum Course.


IMBISA Biblical Pastoral Ministry (IBPM) is an IMBISA Department, a Regional Office of BICAM and Sub-region of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF), a Catholic World Fellowship of administratively distinct international and local organizations committed to the Biblical-Pastoral ministry and having ecclesiastical recognition (CIC 298-326). The General Secretary of CBF with the approval of the members appoints the sub-regional Coordinator.



The Department is also involved in the following

1. The Bible

  • Providing Bibles for all people especially the Laity and the Youth.
  • Translation of the Bible
  • Publication of the Bible Aids, books and audio-visual aids.

2. Training

  • Training of Bible facilitators/animators/teachers by means of courses, seminars, workshops, at Regional and Parish levels.
  • Bible correspondence Courses
  • Establishment of Biblical Centres.

3. Bible Sharing Groups

  • Initiate Bible sharing groups
  • Activate existing Bible Groups
  • Coordinate the activities in the Region for information so that people of the Region may benefit from each other's expertise.

4. Enthronement of the Bible and Promoting the Feast Days of the Bible.

5. Bible in the Education System

  • Bible exhibitions and Drama
  • Bible quizzes
  • Simplified Bibles for young children
  • Bible Camps

6. Bible Interiorisation

  • Organise groups for preparation of liturgical celebration and Bible services
  • Preparation of dramatization of Bible passages, Bible songs and posters
  • Bible orientation in religious and lay movements through Biblical reflection and sharing.


    "God's word, with its power to heal and sustain us, needs more and more to become our daily nourishment to enable us to grow into a more dignified and unselfish society"
    (5th IMBISA Plenary 1998:30)


    Contact Person:  Fr. Ignatius Chidavaenzi

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