The Archdiocese of Calcutta and the Calcutta Association of Bengal, brought deeper interest in the Biblical Apostolate, by starting a Bible School in 2008. The Laity’s response was very encouraging and there was gratefulness that this long standing need was now being addressed. The centrality of their thirst was to know the Word of God deeply and to become better informed regarding the Church in the Modern World – her Teachings and Doctrines.
The ‘Bible School’ (as it came to be called) has had an amazing journey since its inception. Scholarly Professors from the Kolkata Morning Star Regional Seminary (MSRS) gave their valuable time, travelling distances on the weekends, to take these classes. Students, ranging from teenagers to young-80’s; attended the classes – making sacrifices to comprehend deeply the Word of God. The academic calendar was drawn up carefully and systematically, in consultation with the Core Group of the Bible School, the Archdiocese Biblical Apostolate and the Morning Star Regional Seminary (MSRS). Together, efforts were made to address the needs of the students and design the course and classes so that they were informative, interesting and interactive.
Over the years, the Bible School covered several Books of the Bible: Pentateuch’s, Prophets (Major and Minor), Judges, Maccabees, Song of Songs, Psalms, Pauline Letters, Gospels, Revelation, etc. Lectures and handouts were carefully prepared to help the laity grasp and understand the subjects. In 2013-14, this weekend Bible School, with the assistance of the Seminary drew up a syllabus for a three-year certificate course for the laity on Biblical studies, including theology. On completion of the course and the examination that followed, Certificates were awarded to the successful ones. The Certificates were awarded by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza at a solemn ceremony in the Morning Star Regional Seminary.
In 2017-18, the Bible School, covered the Catechism of the Catholic Church: i.e. Divine Revelation, Doctrine of Faith, Doctrine on God, Creation, Original Sin, The Church, Holy Spirit, Christology, Sacraments, Eschatology and the Commandments. The goal of teaching the CCC was not only to give the students an in-depth knowledge of the teachings of the Church but also to prepare future Catechists, Sunday School Teachers, Resource Persons in the Parishes and Animators for the Small Christian Communities. The Bible School during this period did not just remain a classroom ‘event’. Students participated in Seminars on the Psalms, Lectio Divina, Prayers of the Church, Vatican II and CCC.
The Bible study led to many outreach programmes, conducted by the students themselves, namely, the ‘Joy of Giving’ programme through which they supported needy families on a monthly basis, during the year and brought joy to many families during the Christmas season. The nurturing, the encouragement, the commitment to the Bible School can be seen in its fruits. In some Parishes, the ‘students’ are now resource persons for teaching the Word of God, with the guidance and assistance of the Parish Priests. Some are conducting and assisting Retreats. Several are animators for the Sunday Schools, SCCs and other Parish and Diocese level activities.
By the virtue of my office as a the Director of the Biblical Apostolate we have made the Bible Sunday fruitful and enabled the church in Kolkata Archdiocese to experience anew, how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his Word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.” (Aperuit Ilis no.2), to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. (Aperuit Illis no), . to revive the importance of the Bible in Christian life and to promote Biblical Pastoral Ministry in every parish of the Archdiocese as mentioned in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Book .
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