Regional webinar on understanding Bible editions

The Antilles Zone of the Latin American and Caribbean region (FEBIC LAC) of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) hosted a webinar on ‘Understanding Bible Editions from the Origins to the Present’ as part of the observance of the Year of the Word of God.

A total of 47 Bible enthusiasts participated in the webinar on September 18.

According to a report from AEC Communications, the session began with prayer by host, Msgr William John-Lewis of the Diocese of Roseau, Dominica followed by a brief overview of the CBF on its international nature, its mission of disseminating information on the sacred scriptures and promoting the centrality of the scriptures in all aspects of pastoral life.

The participants represented a wide cross-section of men and women from the various dioceses of the AEC including the diocesan representatives of the Biblical Animation of all Pastoral Life (ABP) from the dioceses of Paramaribo, Mandeville, Roseau, and the archdiocese of Port of Spain.  There were others from the United States.

Fr Matthew Allman CSsR, a graduate of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome gave a brilliant exposé of the history of the various translations of the Bible from earliest times up to present day.

He explained the genesis of the “Catholic” vs the “Protestant” Bible, the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), the Vulgate (a late-fourth century Latin translation of the Bible) and the work of St Jerome leading up to the most recent editions and translations of the scriptures.

Following his presentation, there was a Question and Answer/discussion period.

The participants were invited to two online activities on September 23, ‘Biblical Encounter of the Antilles Zone and Southern Cone of Latin America Zone’; and on September 30, ‘A Virtual Celebration of the Closing of the Year of the Word of God on the Feast of St Jerome’.

The evening ended with a prayer and a blessing with gratitude to the AEC Secretariat for their invaluable assistance.