THE MTBO BIBLE CAMPAIGN

ECBA-CBCP and PHILIPPINE BIBLE SOCIETY

FACE BIG CHALLENGE

The Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (ECBA-CBCP) and the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) are preparing to meet a major challenge in relation to the ‘May They be One’ (MTBO) Bible Campaign. A partnership between ECBA-CBCP and the Philippine Bible Society, the campaign is a journey towards national transformation and the country’s spiritual, moral and social stability. Supported and participated in by other churches, the MTBO based on John 17:21, has the stated goal of distributing Bibles for 5 million poor Filipino families in 5 years at a subsidized price of P50/US$1 per Bible.

Not only do ECBA and the Philippine Bible Society want to be able to distribute low cost Bibles, they also want to ensure that recipients will fully benefit from having a copy through a values formation component that will be provided by the churches inthe form of Bible seminars.

In 2009, the goal was to distribute 100,000 Bibles and by the end of September more than 70,000 poor families have already received Bibles through the parishes, the Basic Ecclesial Communities, religious and lay organizations. This was made possible from funds advanced by partners and initial fundraising activities. To achieve the goal for the year and meet all costs associated with it, ECBA-CBCP and PBS needs to raise P8.5 million by December 31, 2009.

“This seems an impossible task considering that we only have about three months to go but the campaign has drawn the help of other Bible Societies and we have the opportunity to exceed our goal” said Mrs. Nora Lucero, General Secretary ofthe Philippine Bible Society.

“The American Bible Society has pledged to donate US$100,000 (about P5 million) to this campaign if we are able to raise the same amount of money by year’s end. To date, almost P1.5 million (around US$30,000) has been raised.  The exciting thing about the proposal is that the Bible Society concerned has offered to raise the same amount again for us next year if we meet the December 31 deadline. In addition, more could be made available from other Bible Societies later” added Mrs. Lucero. “That means that for every P50 (US$1) given, potentially P200 (US$4)will be raised for this crucial campaign.”

Everyone can participate. “The challenge for ECBA-CBCP and the Philippine Bible Society is to find enough people who will give anything from P150.00 (US$3, the full cost of one Bible) to P150,000 (US$3,000) or more towards this campaign and help meet the challenge. The great thing about this campaign is that anybody can be involved. Any donation our friends and supporters make will collectively ensure we achieve this significant goal and potentially multiply the donations by four to provide subsidized Bibles to over 200,000poor families,” said Mrs. Lucero.

“While we are a Catholic nation, it is very surprising that many of our Filipino homes do not have a Bible. The aim, therefore, of the May They Be One Campaign of providing every Filipino Catholic home with a Bible deserves our commendation and support. Indeed, putting a Bible in every home is putting Christ in everyheart,” said Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila.

To learn more about how you can be part of the MTBO Campaign and make significant change, visit www.Bible.org.ph or http://www.ecba-cbcp.com/.  Donations can be made towards this challenge by making a deposit to the following bank accounts: PBS-MTBO Account #3903-0649-34 (BPI Sta. Mesa Branch) or ECBA-CBCP Account #0251-021373 (BPI-Tayuman Branch).

ECBA- CBCP

ORATIO IMPERATA FOR DELIVERANCE FROM CALAMITIES

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.

JPIBC CELEBRATES 30TH FOUNDATION DAY

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY

The John Paul I Biblical Center is a real blessing to the Northern Luzon Church in the Biblical Pastoral Ministry…the pioneer biblical center in the whole archipelago and an icon in Southeast Asia in doing Biblical Apostolate. We thank the Incarnate Word with our hearts on fire for gifting us with the JPIBC remembering the founders with happy memories Sr. Henrietta Sebastian, OSB our beloved Fr. Ludger Feldkaemper, SVD and the directors that served the center: Fr. Wim Wijtten, SVD, Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD, Fr. Manolito Barona, SVD, Fr. Dominador Ramos, SVD and Fr. Jaimelito Gealan, SVD.

Happy Birthday Apo Wim Wijtten,SVD

Today, we join Apo Wim Wijtten, SVD our former JPIBC Director in thanking the Lord for the gift of life. May your celebration Apo Wim be filled with joy and meaning as we assure you of our continuous prayers for a more intense encounter with the Word in your life and mission.

fr.doms

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Our Dear Apo Wim,

The SIHM Family of Baguio and the Cordilleras greet you a Happy, Meaningful Birthday today!

We pray that you may have many more birthdays to be celebrated, and looking forward to your 77th Birthday for us to pray for long life so you can make more impact on peoples’ lives through the WORD that you have been promoting all these years.

Happy Birthday again from the SIHM Sisters.

You worked with Sr. Beata Balaso and Sr. Antonia Anas, SIHM

Hurray to the JPIBC  for their animated Greetings to you!!!

Cordially yours,

Sr. Aurora A. Codiam, SIHM

MTBO GUIDLINES

May They Be One (MTBO) Bible Campaign Guidelines

MTBO is a strategic program aimed to help ECBA and PBS realize the vision of a transformed Philippines through God’s Word. It is inspired by the 12^th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in Rome on October 5-26, 2008, which had as its theme, The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.

Objective: To provide Scriptures at subsidized cost that will help facilitate a moral and spiritual transformation

throughout the country.

Three components to implement the Bible campaign programs through the 12 Regional Biblical Centers, Dioceses and Parishes:

1. Bible Advocacy/Biblical Pastoral Formation – Encourage Filipinos to read, study, understand, pray and live God’s Word

1. Cast the vision and revisit Parishes, Dioceses, and Regional BA. The key to the success of MTBO is the support of Bishops and Priests – they must appreciate that:

1. MTBO is not just about Bible distribution but it involves Biblical Pastoral formation;
2. MTBO is a response to the Synod of Bishops’ emphasis on Bible formation among clergy and laity – that the Bishops’ Synod is our ‘Kairos’;
3. The end of MTBO is not just ecumenism or unity of Christians but national transformation. To bring to Filipinos knowledge about the Lord Jesus and inculcate in them biblical values, resulting to change and a move toward a ‘Moral Philippines.’ Unity is necessary for a good citizenry— to have ‘Pagkakaisa para sa Pagbabago.’
4. The Word of God is unparalleled as a set of principles that when adhered to will help renew our country.

1. MTBO Bible Recipients: ECBA and other ecclesial communities/organizations need to commit themselves to:

1. Make the Bibles available to poor families for P50/copy
2. Not resell the Bibles
3. Give all Bible recipients Bible formation/training
4. Help recipients and family members grow in their knowledge and relationship with the Lord Jesus and mature in their faith.

Recipients will work with ECBA and PBS to:

1. Submit reports of the distribution, follow-up activities and brief written testimonials/stories of changed lives and 2-3 photos of distribution/follow-up activities.
2. Mobilize parishioners, BEC members and friends to promote, pray, volunteer and give to MTBO for the continuous meaningful distribution of God’s Word.
3. Conduct continuing or regular Bible formation program(s) for their respective constituencies based on Scripture in order to animate the Filipinos.

1. Bible Distribution – Provide 5 million Bibles in 5 years to homes, particularly of poor Filipinos.

1. i.            Work through the 12 Regional Biblical Centers, Dioceses and Parishes using the ECBA structure.
   1. Diocesan Biblical Apostolate (BA) will be strengthened. BA is composed of Bible Director, Bible Coordinator, Bible Animator, and Bible Core Team. If a BA team is not in place, form a Parish Bible Ministry Team.
   2. MTBO Bible Campaign will not be exclusive to the BA structure. For other diocesan and parish lay organizations, their requests will be endorsed by the head/coordinator of the organization to the Parish Priest or Bishop.

1. ii.            A prescribed form detailing the structure of the Parish Bible Ministry/Bible Team (Bible Formator/Animator) must be accomplished and submitted by the Parishes to ECBA/PBS prior to actual distribution. The number of copies of MTBO Bibles that can be availed of will be dependent on the number of registered poor families. All requests to avail of MTBO Bibles will have to be endorsed by a Parish Priest or Bishop.

1. iii.            Every year, pre-identified Dioceses from NCR, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Cordillera and ARMM will be covered.

1. iv.            Emphasis is on Bible distribution to poor families attending Formation. Poor individuals/families who will receive MTBO Bibles must be pre-identified at the parish level.

1. v.            MTBO Bibles will not be sold in commercially in secular and religious bookstores.

1. vi. Steps to avail of MTBO Bibles:
   1. Parish/Church must prepare letter of request (addressed to ECBA), together with their distribution plan, list of recipients, and schedule of follow-up/formation plan.
   2. Request must pass through the Diocesan Bible Director for endorsement.
   3. Submission to ECBA for approval.
   4. Orders will only be processed and served by PBS upon receipt of payment and approval from ECBA.
   5. Delivery time is 3-4 days for stocks that will be picked up at the PBS office/warehouse.  For provincial orders, allot at least 7 working days from date of approval of the order.
   6. Signing of Covenant.  An agreement specifying that Bibles will be given to poor families only, will not be resold, and that Bible recipients will be provided Bible formation/training must be signed by requesting party.
   7. Institute a continuing Bible Formation program.
   8. Submit periodic reports and updates with photos and testimonies.

1. vii.            MTBO Bibles will be made available at a subsidized price of P50@copy. Total production cost is P150@copy thus a P100 subsidy per copy is needed. This will be sourced from various fundraising activities.

1. viii.            PBS will shoulder freight cost if total order is P10,000 and above. The Parish/Church will shoulder the freight cost for orders below P10,000.

1. Fundraising – Raise P500 million, here and abroad, to subsidize the printing and distribution of Scriptures in the local languages. The goal is to raise sufficient funds to enable at least 5 million Bibles to be printed and sold at the subsidized price of P50 each. Total production cost per Bible is P150.

1. Encourage ECBA and PBS partners and friends throughout the country to sign up for a nationwide donor loyalty program with the theme – “Become a Friend of the Philippine Bible Society and Help Put a Bible in Every Home.” This may be done via:

1. Response forms in Catholic Daily Bible Reading Guide
2. Appeal envelopes/Sign-up forms to be made available in Parishes (pews/offices), as inserts in Bibles, Christian/secular magazines and newspapers, CBCP Monitor, etc
3. Signing-up at the website of ECBA (http://biblicalapostolate.webs.com), PBS (www.bible.org.ph), website, blogs, other links

1. Twining Program (church-adopt-a poor church, corporation adopt a poor church/barangay, school-adopt-a poor school, etc.)

1. Radio-TV campaign, Bible Caravan, Walk/Bike for Bible, etc. (during summer/National Bible Week/Month)

1. Organize Fundraising Dinners, Movie Benefit shows, etc.

1. Presentation in churches, corporations, groups of prospective donors, etc.

1. Sign-up as MTBO volunteer – thru Regional Bible Center/PBS and organize other appropriate fundraising activities using MTBO resource materials

Mga karaniwang tanong tungkol sa MTBO

Tanong:  Ano ang MTBO?

Sagot:  Ang MTBO ay isang programang tinataguyod ng ECBA at PBS

Tanong: Ano ang layunin ng MTBO?

Sagot: Layunin ng MTBO na magkaisa ang mga Cristiano sa pagpapalaganap ng Salita ng Diyos tungo sa pagbabago ng lipunan bilang tugon sa dalangin ni Jesus na, “Maging isa nawa silang lahat, Ama.” (Juan 17:21)

Tanong:  Paano maisasakatuparan ang programang ito?

Sagot:  Makapagpalimbag ng  limang milyong Biblia sa loob ng  limang taon. Maipamahagi ang mga Bibliang ito sa murang halaga at magkaroon ng mahalagang pag-aaral at pagbabahaginan ng Salita ng Diyos sa mga parokya at iba’t ibang sekta ng lipunan.

Tanong: Sino ang mga dapat makibahagi sa programang ito?

Sagot:

1. Mga taong may puso at kakayahang magbigay para mapunuan ang kaukulang halaga sa pagpapalimbag ng murang Biblia.
2. Mga pamilyang walang kakayahang bumili ng Biblia sa regular na halaga ngunit nais makibahagi sa mga programang magpalaganap ng Salita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral, pagsasabuhay, at pagbabahagi nito.

Ang MTBO Bible ay:

1. Murang Biblia para sa mga walang kakayahang bumili ng Biblia sa regular na halaga.
2. Biblia para sa mga taong seryoso sa pag-aaral ng Salita ng Diyos.
3. Tanging para sa mga taong dumadalo ng Formation sa kanilang simbahan.
4. Biblia na ipamamahagi sa pamamagitan ng lokal na simbahan.

Mga hakbang sa pag-sali sa MTBO program

1. Manggagaling sa mga parokya (parishes) ang listahan ng mga karapat-dapat na tumanggap.
2. Ang listahan ay ieendorso sa ECBA ng Diocesan Bible Director.
3. Ang ECBA ang magbibigay ng approval para makasama sa programa at makabili  ng murang Biblia.
4. Ipapadala ng PBS ang mga Biblia matapos na matanggap ang approval mula sa ECBA at matanggap ang bayad mula sa parokya.
5. Patuloy ang pagsasagawa  ng Bible formation sa mga parokya.
6. Pagbibigay ng report at litrato ng Bible distribution at formation gamit ang mga Biblia.

CAN YOU IMAGINE

(THE WORD OF GOD TO EVERY HOME)

Words & music by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo

How wonderful it is!

How beautiful it is!

How good and how pleasant

When all of us live as one!

Can you imagine all as neighbors reaching out to love?

Can you imagine all like children humble yet brave enough

to believe and act God’s Word that will bring a change in our world ?

We take a step to begin now!  Can you imagine?

Let us bring the Word of God to every home!

Let us share and live God’s Word and be transformed!

We will build our nation on good ground.

We will see a brand new morn!

Let us bring the Word of God to every home!

We will fulfill Jesus’ prayer: “May they be one!”

We will see how peace will flow throughout our land!

Now is the time to take a step.

We believe, now love is born!

Let us bring the Word of God to every home!

MTBO DAILY PRAYER AT THE ANGELUS

 

(Time:  6:00 am-12:00 noon-6:00 pm)

 

Make us, O Lord love your Word

 Teach us to listen and live by your Word

 Bless those who promote your Word

 Open our hearts that we may be generous,

that others might have a copy of the written word

 

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE M.T.B.O. BIBLE

 

Presider:

            Heavenly Father, you sent your son, our Lord Jesus Christ to reveal to us your children your unconditional love and to teach us to love as you love us.  Confident in your benevolence and superabundant love we turn to you and beg for your blessings for our bible campaign, as we pray:  ‘UNITE US IN YOUR WORD”

 

1. That bishops, priests and deacons, who have received the office of preaching may proclaim the Gospel without compromise in our times, let us pray to the Lord….
2. That the Lord’s wisdom, protection, blessings of good health and strength will be upon the church and MTBO leaders and workers, let us pray to the Lord….
3. That the people of God may humbly listen to the Word, act justly, and love tenderly, let us pray to the Lord…
4. That communities and peoples in situations of conflict may listen to God’s Word and strive to resolve their conflicts by abiding by the Gospel of peace, let us pray to the Lord…
5. That the poor in our country may receive the Word and find God’s love and mercy revealed to them, let us pray to the Lord…
6. That those whom the Lord has blessed with material blessings may generously share their resources that the poor may receive the subsidized MTBO bible, let us pray to the Lord…
7. That all Christians may join hands in evangelization that we may give true witness to the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord…

 

Presider:

            O Father in heaven, we pray you listen to these our prayers that we may rejoice in the unity and peace that comes from you as we work and pray for the fulfillment of your Holy Will.  We ask this to the one who prayed that we may be one, Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  AMEN.

 

N.B.     The MTBO Intercessory prayer may be used at any day of the week as an alternative prayer for the Prayers of the Faithful.  Kindly coordinate with the Parish Priest, Campus Ministers, Liturgy/Worship Commission and your Parish Pastoral Council.

BIBLE RELEVANCE IN MODERN TIMES SEMINAR

The Philippine Bible Society (PBS) in coordination with the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) scheduled a seminar on the Bible Relevance in Modern Times celebrating the Centennial Year of the Ilocano Bible translation in Northern Luzon. The seminar will be held at the St. Michael’s Gymnasium of the Divine Word College of Urdaneta in Urdaneta City on September 26, 2009 a Saturday. It will start at 8:30 in the morning and will last until 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon.  The said important activity was arranged by Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD with the members of the board of directors during their last regular meeting in Baguio City. Fr. Doms O. Ramos, SVD the president of the Divine Word College of Urdaneta gratefully and gladly accepted to host the event.

For details, kindly read the brochure posted below:

BISHOP RENE MAYUGBA ELECTED VICE CHAIRMAN OF ECBA

Northern Luzon Congratulates Bishop Mayugba as New Vice Chairman of ECBA

Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba,DD

The Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) elected yesterday July 12, Sunday our Bishop Chairman of the Northern Luzon Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (NLCBA) and Chairman of the John Paul I Biblical Center (JPIBC) Most Rev. Renato P. Mayugba, DD as Vice Chairman of the nationwide BA.

The Administrative Board of Directors of the JPIBC together with all the members of the Northern Luzon Commission for the Biblical Apostolate, Arch/Diocesan, Apostolic Vicariates’ BA Directors, Bible Animators, Collaborators express their joy, felicitations, hearty congratulations to our beloved pastorally oriented  Bishop Rene as we give him our full support in doing and implementing the programs of the BPM here in Northern Luzon as well as the whole Philippines.

MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D.

Meanwhile MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D. was elected as the New Bishop Chairman of ECBA to replace Most Rev. Arturo M. Bastes, SVD DD.

(Kindly click on their hyperlinked names to obtain or access their Curriculum Vitae)

CIRCULAR LETTER ON BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY

BIBLICAL-PASTORAL MINISTRY

NORTHERN LUZON

June 5, 2009

TO:      Biblical-Pastoral Ministry

Northern Luzon

Beloved brothers and sisters,

Greetings in the Incarnate Word!

At mid-year we wish to acquaint one and all of developments in the Biblical-Pastoral Ministry in our region the better for us to move together and accomplish more for the proclamation of the Good News in our world awash with disheartening news of tragedies and scandals.

As we well know, the last Synod of Bishops in Rome was on the Word of God.  We rejoice that the Universal Church has put the Word of God at center stage in our Christians lives!  Yes, indeed,  the Word of God IS THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH!  We are CHURCH only insofar as the Word of God forms us as disciples and sends us on mission as apostles!

At the present time we are working on the ECBA-PBS project MAY THEY BE ONE.  We hope to bring 5 million bibles to 5 million families in the next 5 years.  In due time English-Tagalog-Ilocano translations will be ready for distribution.  We do hope to be actively promote this very important project in our region.  Your active cooperation in this project is most crucial.  We shall discuss this in our next Board of Directors Meeting in Baguio this coming June 22-23.  (Official letter will be sent you.)

Simultaneous with the MTBO campaign is our celebration of the CENTENNIAL of the ILOCANO translation of the bible. The TI BIBLIA edition (published in 1909) is 100 years old!   We shall have a series of activities and a celebration to express our joy at listening to the Word in our own native tongue!

In collaboration with the PBS we shall be holding seminars on the Word of God together with other Christian churches.  We believe that the Word of God can make us united, despite our differences, in working for a more Christian Philippines.  We hope to fulfill the prayer of Jesus “that they may be one” by coming together to share on our common love for the Word of God and letting the Word transform us and our country.  Thus, we have scheduled an interfaith regional one-day seminars (8:00 – 4:00) on the Word this coming September:

September  5 in Baguio City for the Cordillera sub-region

September 12 in Vigan City for the Ilocandia sub-region

September 19 in Santiago, Isabela for Cagayan Valley sub-region

September 26 in Divine Word College in Urdaneta for Pangasinan

These seminars will acquaint us with bible studies, translation work, and the bible in our life.

We shall culminate our celebration of the CENTENNIAL of the ILOCANO BIBLE on OCTOBER 17, 2009.   We will hold it in Baguio City (the venue will be announced in due time.)  On that occasion we shall recognize brothers and sisters who have been engaged in TRANSLATION ministry!

Wishing you all a fruitful biblical-pastoral ministry, I am

Yours in the Divine Word,

MOST REV. RENATO P. MAYUGBA, DD