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January 29, 2025
Sunday Word of God & Jubilee of the World of Communications
January 29, 2025

Celebrating the transformative power of God’s Word

A Spirit-filled celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God occurred at El Dorado East Secondary School, uniting the faithful in praise, reflection, and fellowship. Since 2020, the Catholic Bible Institute (CBI) has hosted a celebration and this year, the CBI collaborated with the Biblical Animation of All Pastoral Ministry (ABP) team of the Archdiocesan Commission for Evangelization. The theme, I Hope in Your Word (Psalm 119:74), inspired the day’s activities.

The day began with vibrant praise and worship led by the Eternal Light Community Music Ministry. Deborah de Rosia, Episcopal Delegate for the Commission, welcomed all and thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate the Word. Dr Wendy-Ann Jones, Principal at the CBI, reflected on the theme, I Hope in Your Word. She encouraged participants to embrace the beauty, power, and hope found in Scripture. Dr Jones described the Word of God as the heart of the Church’s faith and a treasure for all.

An Enthronement Ceremony featured symbols of the Word: seeds for nurturing, water for renewal, a sword for courage, fire for purification, and a lantern for guidance. De Rosia carried the Word of God to its place of honour on a specially prepared place for its enthronement.

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon celebrated Holy Mass. He emphasised hearing Scripture calls for action and transformation, proclaiming, “Each one of us has a story of miracles.” In his spirited homily, the Archbishop invited us to encourage each other as members of Christ’s Body. In this way, we become “wet with God’s mercy, wet with grace, wet with God’s forgiveness” in this year of Jubilee.

To do otherwise, we become dry and lose the blessings promised in the Gospel, “sight for the blind, comfort and freedom for those who are imprisoned, and the Lord’s favour.”

After lunch, we had an opportunity to participate in one of 12 workshops. There was a special workshop for children ages 5 to 12, and a special workshop for men. These sessions helped participants connect more deeply with the Word through reflection and prayer.

The celebration concluded with Spoken Word performances, creative interpretations of biblical characters, and a stirring Gospelypso on the Jubilee, which left us all inspired and renewed in our hope in God’s Word.

— Annabella Morenzie