Empowering Youth Bible Apostles in the 25th National Bible Workshop

The passive presence of the young people in the Church is one of the phenomena that prompted the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to hold the 25th National Bible Workshop hosted by the Archdiocese of Davao on February 19-22, 2024 at Royal Mandaya Hotel. This once in two years nation-wide gathering of Bible enthusiasts from various dioceses was held online during the pandemic.

“YBA kami para sa tanan” is the theme for this year’s bible workshop. YBA stands for Youth Bible Apostles. It took (5) months of preparations to return to face-to-face. Focusing on the youth, 268 Bible Apostles were able to attend.

The participants are expected to take away invaluable learning experiences as they go home and develop skills, and equip them with biblical methodologies. It is a platform of opportunity providing them with awareness and enlightenment on the current issues, problems, and concerns faced by the Church. Therefore, it is a mission to teach the youth how to intervene against the social problems in the country considering that they mostly comprise the population.

Ms. Luningning Llarenas, a staff of the ECBA, emphasized the importance of strengthening and expanding the biblical ministry, calling for increased youth involvement and empowerment as they pave the way in the Biblical Apostolate. “Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan nila, sa kanilang talino at creativity. Nakakamangha ang mga kabataan ngayon kung gaano sila kagaling at ka-creative.” Ms. Llarenas.

This is more than just a gathering but a celebration of the greatest value of God’s Word in the lives of young people, as well as a foundation in every family for deepening their faith as witnesses to the goodness of our Lord.

“Kaya YBA kami para sa tanan is to make the youth aware that they are also bible apostles and that they should also build their own future families with the strength and nourishment of the Word of God sa buhay nila. Youth Bible Apostles could also be the healer ng mga ibang kabataan na wounded, as they have the capacity to become healers also.” asserted Rev. Fr. Arlo Bernardo Yap, SVD, Executive Secretary of the ECBA.

The National Bible Workshop prepares the youth with biblical knowledge, trains them to be self-sufficient, and learn how to help their peers with the Word of God being the most valuable asset not only in nation-building but also in the strengthening of the Church. The youth must be empowered to work in unison utilizing their talents and skills to build a Church full of hope and love, with trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ making the Bible the foundation as they live a good Christian life. (Jeffrey B. Mondejar, Jr.)