Leading the listener to growth

In July 1978, the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) was organized by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to encourage Catholics to deepen their faith and life through the Word of God. When the commission was formed, there was only 1 Catholic Bible Center in the Philippines. By God’s grace, there are now 12 Regional Biblical Centers all over the country implementing the on-going biblical formation programs for their region. The present ECBA Chairman is Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, D.D. and his Executive Secretary is Fr. Arlo Bernardo Yap, SVD.

One of the familiar yet vibrant faces we see every National Bible Workshop is Sr. Miriam Alejandrino, OSB. As she enthusiastically shared her insights on her involvement to the National Bible Workshop, one can’t help but be filled with awe to her zealous devotion to make the Word of God available to all (DV c. VI, No.22).

K: How did your involvement in the National Bible Workshop start?

Sr. Miriam: I was involved through the late Sr. Henrietta Sebastian, OSB the co-founder of Fr. Ludger Feldkaemper in the formation of the John Paul I Biblical Center in Vigan. I was the bookkeeper of the center at the same time I was studying in Immaculate Conception School of Theology (ICST) and Fr. Feldkaemper was also my professor. During my stay in Vigan, Sr. Henrietta would ask me to join workshops and I would gladly do so because I was very much taken in. I became a consultor in 2018 during the National Bible Workshop in Florida, Pampanga. It was supposed to be a one-year term only, but Bishop Mayugba told me that it was extended.

K: What made you dedicate your life to the Biblical Apostolate?

Sr. Miriam: There were two significant encounters that sealed my commitment to the apostolate. First, when I was sent for Rome for further studies. I came across the information that the 1990 Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) Plenary Assembly will be in Bogota. I was very interested to join so I asked Fr. Feldkaemper, my professor back then and the Secretary General to the CBF, if I can attend. He worked it out so I can represent the SVD German Province. That was the first turning point of my life because I saw the need for scholars in the Biblical Apostolate. Another experience was during my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in San Pedro Hospital. There I met a patient who shared how she lived her life as a devout Catholic, but was attracted to join another sect. It began when a Born-Again Christian invited her to join their sect and read to her the Bible, and she told me “I joined Sister because there is no Bible in the Catholic Church.” And I was about to collapse with her statement. So right there and then I told myself that I will devote myself to the Biblical Apostolate. I am not only involved in the academe, but also in the pastoral work. I was involved in the Summer Biblical Institute, several summers I gave updates on Infancy narratives, Passion narratives, and quarterly bible study with the lectors in Mati. I’m happy to share the word, but I am also learning from them. There is so much to be done to spread the word of God. When I was in Tagaytay for 9 years, I brought my students to the mall, bus stops, public market, rehabilitation centers and in prison as well. Currently, my students in St. Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute (SATMI), are also involved in the Biblical Apostolate.

K: What challenges have you encountered and how did you overcome them?

Sr. Miriam: One of the challenges is how to make the Bible easy to understand. When we read books in the library, it is always thick and very difficult to comprehend. My mission is to make the Word of God attractive, pleasing and lovable for the people. I always remind my seminarians to refrain from using technical terms because the people will not understand. As much as possible use simple words. That’s the reason that we also make different primers. There’s also a challenge getting the message across to some of the Catholic communities. There was this group of people who asked me questions to challenge my knowledge. After answering them in Hebrew and Greek, they asked me if I can teach and guide them. I appreciate their humble gesture and I saw their hunger for spiritual growth and so they became my students during my vacant time. For me, an effective teacher of the Scripture will teach in a manner that leads the listener to their growth and nourishment and not to argument. I have also introduced Bibliodrama elements during my talks and it was helpful. It is also one way of attracting the people to read the Bible.

K: What message do you want to relay to the participants of this 25th NBW?

Sr. Miriam: I wish this assembly would bring us closer to God through His word and to make the Word of God alive in our life. I hope that this workshop will not end in February 22 but it should be the start of more active, lively biblical apostolate. This year’s theme, “Y.B.A. kami para sa tanan”, invites the youth to share and live the word of God. May this gathering entice more youth to join the apostolate and more biblical centers will be formed in Mindanao so there’s more activity and better coordination.

Sr. Miriam’s devotion to the Biblical Apostolate is incomparable. May we be inspired by her passion and commitment to a “greater biblical apostolate, not alongside other forms of pastoral work, but as a means of letting the Bible inspire all pastoral work” (VD 73).

(Karen Sison)