FR. LUKAS JUA, SVD

The Catholic Biblical Federation of Southeast Asia congratulates our former colleague Rev. Fr. Lukas Jua, SVD who is now the new SVD Generalate Biblical Coordinator based in Rome, Italy.

In his first letter to the Zonal Area and Provincial BA Coordinators all over the world dated October 28, 2009, Fr. Lukas informed us that he received his new assignment to commence on August 4, 2009 and was able to report only into office on the last week of September.

He is still adjusting to his new post as expected and is trying his best to continue the mission that Rev. Fr. Guido Tisera, SVD passed unto him. The CBF-SEA then assures Fr. Lukas of our support and prayers as he leads/coordinates the whole congregation in doing biblical apostolate not only in Southeast Asia this time but in all SVD mission territories all over the earth as Witness to the Word!

cbfsea

MYANMAR EPISCOPAL COMISSION FOR BIBLICAL APOSTOLATE (ECBA)

NEWS UPDATE

We, the National and diocesan BPM Core Teams, would like to share with you our joy about the developments of our BPM here.

1. 1. 2009 BASIC BIBLE SEMINAR (BBS KIT) HAS BEEN TRANSLATED AND PRINTED IN BURMESE LANGUAGE THIS MAKES TWO LANGUAGES AS THE FIRST ONE WAS TRANSLATED IN JINGPHAW LANGUAGE IN 2002

The translation began in 2007 but it was only completed in 2009. The translation was made due to the demands of BBS in Burmese language. Since 2007, the Basic Bible Seminars were conducted in both English and Burmese since our coordinator Sr. Tammy is from the Philippines and she does not have the capability in conducting the sessions in the local language. Her Core Team members are all local whom she has developed and trained so they could conduct the sessions in Burmese. But in May 2009, the Core Team Formation Workshop (Training on how to conduct the BBS) was held in Burmese language for the first time. The National BBS Core Team conducted it themselves with Sr. Tammy’s supervision. When the participants were studying the Kit in Burmese language, Sr. Tammy felt like John the Baptist –“Thy must increase and I must decrease” it was a joy to see them empowered so that the Word of God may reach to all corners of Myanmar. Fr. Ludger wrote a message to the people of Myanmar printed in the BBS Burmese Kit.

2.  NATIONAL BASIC BIBLE SEMINAR (BBS) BATCH 2

September 14-18, 2009

There were 68 participants from 8 dioceses: 38 lay, 16 priests, 13 Religious Sisters and 1 Bishop. The number was lower than what was estimated before the seminar since many of the participants were not available when the day came.  Out of the eight dioceses, seven dioceses have not been reached by our Biblical Pastoral Formation Programs as seven out of 14 dioceses have their own BBS Diocesan Core Teams formed. The participants were so happy having attended the BBS and are looking forward to participate in the National Bible Facilitators’ Seminar (BFS) and Core Team Formation Workshop (CTFW) next year so that their diocese will have their own BBS Core Team.

3. Myanmar National BPM Assembly

September 20-23, 2009

Preparatory Meeting # 2 to hold the

2^nd National Biblical Apostolate Workshop in November 2010.

Each participating diocese of the National BBS batch 2 have chosen 2-3 participants for this meeting joined by the dioceses that have already BPM established in their dioceses. There were altogether 51 participants from 14 dioceses of Myanmar Church facilitated by our National BPM Coordinator: Sr. Tammy Saberon. The meeting was a success as all participants were very active in their participation and were very happy looking forward to the big event in the field of Biblical Pastoral Ministry in Myanmar Church.

Here is the result of the meeting:

Day 1 November 6, 2010 – Arrival of Participants from the different dioceses and special guests

Day 2 November 7, 2010 – Biblical Festival for Bible Awareness

1. Bible Quiz Competitions
2. Biblical Song Competitions
3. Biblical Drama Competitions
4. Biblical Booth Competitions

Day 3  November 8, 2010 – Conferences

Theme of the Workshop: God’s Word: Source of Reconciliation, Unity and Peace

Day 4, 5,6 November 9-11, 2010 – 2^nd National Biblical Apostolate Workshop With official delegates from each diocese

Day 7 November 12, 2010 – Departure

Materials for the Workshop:

1. In puts from the Conferences
2. Final Statement of the 7^th CBF Plenary Assembly – Tanzania June /July 2008
3. October 2008 Synod of Bishops (Rome) – Documents on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church

BIBLICAL PASTORAL TRAINING COURSE @ EAPI FROM JANUARY 4-APRIL 4, 2010

There will be eight participants from Myanmar for this course who are already active in BPM in the National and diocesan level. This course will help them to strengthen the existing BPM in our country.

ASIA OCEANIA BIBLICAL APOSTOLATE WORKSHOP NEXT YEAR IN THAILAND

We are very happy to know that this workshop is not limited to one member one delegate but is open to those interested and can pay their way to Thailand. This opens the possibility of having a few delegates from Myanmar. This will be an opportunity to be more aware of the importance of the Word in the life of the Church which has been neglected for years by the Catholic Church.

Report By: Msgr Maurice Nyunt Wai

Pathein Diocese BPM Coordinator

National BPM Core Team member

 Today our coordinator forwarded this letter of Tammy for publication while Fr. Nilo Gealan, SVD sent this “Oratio Imperata”

 Sr. Emma,

 I feel that we can unite and support each other as our countries are suffering from natural calamities, ours – Floods and yours – Earth Quake and how about Vietnam and Samoa as well as American Samoa. Mother earth is raging with anger and most of those who suffered are the poor people and who are the great destroyers of Mother Earth are the rich countries and rich people! There is no hope to save Mother Earth no matter what the world leaders say or do the damage is great and it cannot be repaired. We have all to pay the price.  But we still rely on our compassionate God that we may be spared from these disasters.

Let support each other in prayers.

Tammy

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Oratio Imperata

For Deliverance From Calamities

Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation

of which we are part, for Your Providence in sustaining our needs,

and for Your Wisdom that guides the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation.

We have not been good stewards of Nature.

We have confused Your command to subdue the Earth.

The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing,

and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions,

and other natural calamities occur in increasing numbers and intensity.

We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions

be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation,

and generous neighbors to those in need.

Amen.

Today the Catholic Biblical Federation of Southeast Asia (CBF-SEA) joins Fr. Wim Wijtten, SVD our former subregional coordinator in thanking the Lord for the gift of life as we pray for a joyfilled and meaningful celebration…

Our dear Fr. Wim, wherever you are, we assure you of our sincerest prayers for a more intense encounter with the Word in your life and mission.

We send to you our love….

THE CBF-SEA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SR. EMMA

Our dear Sr. Emma,

Today is your birthday!  We wish you a very happy birthday – a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving; a day of celebration of life; a day of renewing life mission and friendships; a day of the Lord and His people!

 Thank you for being a gift to all of us especially in the CBF family.  You are an inspiration and a guide.

 We thank the Lord for giving you the gift of life, the gift of vocation and for just being you!

 Happy Birthday our dear Sister Emma!

 Love & prayers,

The CBF-SEA

MyNiceSpace.com

Our dear Sr. Emma,

 Today is your birthday!  We wish you a very happy birthday – a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving; a day of celebration of life; a day of renewing life mission and friendships; a day of the Lord and His people!

 Thank you for being a gift to all of us especially in the CBF family.  You are an inspiration and a guide.

 We thank the Lord for giving you the gift of life, the gift of vocation and for just being you!

 Happy Birthday our dear Sister Emma!

 Love & prayers,

Star, Cecilia & Doms

MyNiceSpace.com

The CBF-SEA welcomes back the page for Myanmar in this website!

Dear friends in the Word,

“in the foreknowledge of God the Father,

through sanctification by the Spirit,

for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be ours in abundance.” (1Peter 1:2)

Wishing you a blessed feast of the Holy Trinity.

Sr. Emma G,

Fr. Doms Ramos SVD

Estrella del Mar.