A Catholic Priest and Bible scholar from Zomba Diocese, Father Peter Mulomole, has expressed the need for Catholics and Christians at large to embrace the reading culture of the Holy Bible which is slowly declining. Father Mulomole said this during his presentation at a just ended plenary assembly of the Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar, BICAM, which took place at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji from 18th to 22 September 2013.
“Africans and Malawians in particular are now lazy to engage themselves in reading the Bible. The reason is that many faithful are busy reading other books like newspapers and watching films leaving aside the Holy Bible,” said Father Mulomole
He said it is high time that the Catholic faithful know the importance of the Bible in Christian faith and start using it.
“A Bible is not just like any other book you may know. It is a book that contains the word of God and through the Bible we speak to God,” said he.
The Vatican Council’s 1965 document Dei Verbum already decreed that all Catholics should be persuaded to embrace the reading culture of a Bible. Therefore, Fr Mulomole challenged Church leaders, especially Priests, Brothers and Nuns, to train the faithful on how to use the Bible.
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi hosted the 2013 BICAM Plenary that attracted at least 75 participants from across Africa. The Plenary Assembly was guided by the theme “Letting the Bible Inspire Pastoral Activities”
The first BICAM Plenary Assembly was held in 1989 and it takes place after every three years. It encompasses all the Bishop Conferences in Africa and Madagascar.