The session was animated by Fr. Michel Manga, the newly appointed Coordinator of the Biblical Apostolate. He highlighted the impact of the Basic Bible Seminars, which have trained many lay facilitators who now share the Word of God in parishes and communities. Many of these lay leaders have even contributed to the formation of SVD seminarians who are now priests and brothers.

Participants also recalled important milestones in the history of the apostolate. On September 30, 1971, the feast of Saint Jerome, Mgr. François Hoenen inaugurated CAB Bandundu, an initiative started by Fr. Dieter Skweres with the collaboration of Mgr. Jean-Gaspard Mudiso and Fr. Hermann Hochegger.

In the 1980s, the Verbum Bible (VB) for Africa project emerged through the initiative of Fr. Gérard Lesch and Fr. Antoine Gessler. This initiative later led to the founding of the VB Publishing House in Kinshasa, established with the support of Fr. General Henri Heekeren and Fr. Schoffen. When the latter left in 1983, Fr. Lesch assumed leadership of the project until the arrival of Fr. Xene Sanchez.

The conference was followed by a lively discussion on the future challenges of the apostolate. During this exchange, the invitation of the Archbishop of Brazzaville for the SVD to begin a Bible and communications apostolate in his archdiocese was also presented. While welcomed as a promising missionary opportunity, the confreres noted that such a project would require careful discernment, given its pastoral, financial, and personnel implications.

The gathering concluded with a renewed commitment to place the Word of God at the center of the Province’s missionary life and service.