Society
Of The Divine Word

One of the highlights of our work as Biblical Apostolate coordinators is to inspire and encourage our confreres, particularly those serving in parishes, to share how they celebrated the Sunday of the Word of God in their communities. In Australia, we observed this special occasion two weeks later than the official date, on February 9, the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This adjustment allowed for maximum participation, as January is a holiday period in our part of the world.

The Sunday of the Word of God was celebrated across all parishes in our vast province, with homilies emphasizing the centrality of Scripture in the liturgy and in everyday life. Here, I would like to share just three glimpses of these celebrations.

At St. Brigid’s Parish in Longreach, Central West Queensland, Fr. Peter Bang, SVD, led the congregation in a meaningful observance. During the celebration, parishioners placed the enthroned Bible in a prominent position on the altar as a visible reminder of the importance of God’s Word in the liturgy. The enthroned Bible was surrounded by a candle, flowers, and a globe, symbolizing our mission to spread the Word of God across the world—not only through our words but, more importantly, through our actions.

In the St. Arnold Janssen Chapel at our provincial house in Marsfield (Sydney), New South Wales, our lay collaborators prepared a special display featuring an enthroned Bible alongside a framed quotation of St. Arnold’s favorite Bible verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). Also included on the table were complimentary copies of selected parts of the Bible, including the New Testament and Psalms, available for free to churchgoers. This initiative was particularly valuable for those who do not own a Bible, offering them the opportunity to start reading Scripture—especially the Gospels, which recount the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as the works of the apostles.