Sunday of the Word of God
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Where to find us
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2025 Day of Reflection
Pope Francis has asked that the Church observe the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time as the Sunday of the Word of God. As he wrote: "Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world."
Please join us on the afternoon (1-3:30 pm) of Sunday, January 26, when -- as part of our diocesan focus on youth and family engagement, and in light of the upcoming Jubilee Year -- Rev. Dr. Matthew Coomber and Dr. Ella Johnson from the St. Ambrose Theology Department will speak on "Jubilee: Scriptural Roots and Implications for the Family."
The session will be held in the third floor conference room of the chancery; participants may attend in person or via Zoom.
Please use the form below to register for the event.
Aperuit illis: instituting the Sunday of the Word of God (Pope Francis)
Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship & Discipline of the Sacraments
USCCB Resources
FDLC Resources for 2025
Home Enthronement of the Bible -
Resources
The Catholic Biblical Society have released an updated version of the Bible Blessing and Enthronement. Both have been approved by USCCB Doctrine and Divine Worship. They may be found here:
- English Blessing: bible-blessing-corrected.pdf (wordpress.com)
- English Enthronement: bible-enthronement-final.pdf (wordpress.com)
- Spanish Blessing: bible-blessing-spanish-final.pdf (wordpress.com)
- Spanish Enthronement: bible-enthronement-spanish-final.pdf (wordpress.com)
Sample homilies from Bishop Mark Seitz (Diocese of El Paso), may be found on the FDLC website: https://fdlc.org/2024/01/sunday-of-the-word-of-god-2024-resources/
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USCCB Video Series
This impressive series (in English and Spanish) will launch on January 19. Details of the talks and a direct link are provided below.
On January 21, 2024, in observance of the Sunday of the Word of God, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, through a grant from the American Bible Society, will offer a “Sunday Seminar Series” of four videos about Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church. These videos, available in English and Spanish, will feature bishops and biblical scholars and will be accompanied by discussion/reflection questions. The topics and presenters are:Topic Presenter The Biblical Brilliance of the Eucharist Bishop François Beyrouti.
Eparchy of NewtonSynodality in the Life and Mission of the Church:
The Historical Biblical PerspectiveBishop Juan Miguel Betancourt.
Auxiliary Bishop of HartfordPraying with the Psalms Dr. Andrew Davis
Boston CollegeThe Gospel of John and the Johannine Literature Dr. Sherri Brown
Creighton UniversityLa Sinodalidad en la Vida y en la Misión de la Iglesia:
La perspectiva histórica bíblicaBishop Silvio Báez
Auxiliary Bishop of ManaguaEucaristía: memoria y camino Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt
Auxiliary Bishop of HartfordRezando Los Salmos Dr. Maria Barga
University of Saint Mary of the Lake¿Cuál es el mensaje del evangelio y las cartas de Juan? Dr. Hugo Mendez
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The videos are available at: https://catholic.bible/sunday-of-the-word-of-god/ -
Hymn - The Word of God
Dr. Steve Janco (Region VII) shares the following hymn text with FDLC members. He notes: “This hymn may come too late for this year, but you are welcome to share it or to reprint it if you wish, as it has not been submitted for publication. Please use the copyright citation provided.
“A number of common hymn tunes employ the same metrical structure (8686 8686), so other options are available as well:
--“Resignation” would yield a similar hearing of the text ("My Shepherd Will Supply my Need" / "The Hands that First Held Mary's Child").
--"Kingsfold" (I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say) has a bit more movement, but works at a gentle tempo.
--I would not recommend a tune with a marching or regal feel (i.e. Ellacombe or Forest Green).
--FYI. I have not written an original tune for this text, nor have I created a music file setting the text with a hymn tune.”
The Word of God (CMD) by Steve JancoSTANZA ONE
God speaks, unfurling earth and sky,
the sun and wind and sea;
then with a love as close as breath
brings forth humanity.
The Word of God, Emmanuel,
becomes God’s sacred sign
that every person, every race
bears God’s divine design.STANZA THREE
The word of God is speaking still,
through page and screen and voice,
good news of God’s inclusive love
that moves us to rejoice!
Acclaim the Word of God anew
in prayer and song and sign,
for Christ is present in our midst
in church, at home, online.STANZA TWO
God calls the young, the flawed, the poor,
the stranger out of place
to help unfold God’s saving plan
with dignity and grace.
Their stories, written long ago,
still sound an ageless theme:
The ones whom others disregard
God holds in high esteem.STANZA FOUR
Proclaim the gospel here and now,
to neighbors far and near,
in truth and justice, hope and love,
not scorn or lies or fear.
Reclaim the story! Stir the flame!
Christ meets us in the fray.
The Word of God will lead us on
to witness, serve, and pray.
Text: Steve Janco, b. 1961.
© 2021 by Steven R. Janco. All rights reserved. Used with permission.