Bible Cell
The Bible Cell in our parish began with Victoria (Vicky) Pinto conducting her six probation classes on the Gospel of John in the year 2005. After her commissioning as a Minister of the Word, Vicky continued teaching the Gospel of John, followed by the Gospel of Mark, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
Today, the Bible Cell has grown in number, with several commissioned Ministers of the Word – Adrian, Anita, Grace, Jacintha, Janet, Maria, Nancy, Natty, Nelson, Rajesh, Reena and Shamir, in addition to Vicky.
The Ministry of the Word is a two-and-a-half year programme conducted by the Archdiocese of Bombay at the Goregaon Seminary. The programme consists of two years of Bible study – one year focusing on the Old Testament and the other, on the New Testament, followed by a six-month probation period, during which one has to teach a book of the Bible in six sessions. The course also includes two live-in sessions in a year, which, though intense, are also fun-filled and very enjoyable. Those who complete the programme are commissioned as Ministers of the Word by our archbishop to teach the Bible in our archdiocese. This commissioning is valid for a year, and the Ministers of the Word need to be recommissioned every year, based on their teaching activity during the year.
A number of books of the Bible have been taught in the Parish so far. They include, from the Old Testament: Genesis, Joshua, Amos, Job and Psalms. From the New Testament: the Gospels of John and Mark, Romans, Galatians, Revelations and currently James. We will soon start a new book. During the Season of Lent, the Passion Narrative is covered, and during Advent, we cover the Infancy Narrative.
The Bible Cell also conducts Lectio Divina every Thursday after the evening Mass. Lectio Divina is a traditional Benedictine practice of scripture reading, meditation and prayer. The focus is on the coming Sunday’s Gospel.
The Bible Cell does not function as a standalone unit; its members are involved in various other cells – as Confirmation and Pre-Baptism animators, adult catechists on Sundays (for parents of Sunday school children), teaching at the Prayer Group and Discipleship Class, assisting in Vacation Bible Joy (VBJ) for children, and conducting Bible Sharing and Bible Study in the SCCs.
The Bible Cell seeks to promote the reading of sacred scripture in every family. We welcome you to the various teaching programmes conducted in the parish.
Bible Study: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7.30pm
Spiritual Director: Fr Aaron Sequeira
Co-ordinator: Reena Poddar