AMECEA: Catholic Biblical Federation 10th Plenary Assembly
Delegates to the CBF 10th Plenary Assembly, 2023 at Intersur Hotel 13 de Julio
Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo
The Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) commenced its tenth Plenary Assembly on Saturday 15th April, 2023 with an inaugural Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of Mar del Plata: Basilica De San Pedro Y Santa Cecilia in Argentina. The mass was presided over by Right Reverend Gabriel Antonio Mestre, the Local Ordinary of the diocese and host of the assembly.
Built in neogothic style, the cathedral is dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle and St. Cecilia. After the conclusion of the service, the assembly participants were led in a procession, carrying the Holy Bible from the Basilica to the venue of the Assembly, Intersur Hotel 13 de Julio, which is located nearby.
This Plenary Assembly, the first after the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Federation, has considered quite seriously the situation of our planet with the theme: “Proclaiming the Word – Gift of Life for a Fragile World (Rom 8:22-23)”. The CBF currently has 348 members in 156 countries. Its work involves the biblical dimension of pastoral care, inspired by Chapter 6 of the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum: “Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church”.
The Executive Committee is the governing body of the CBF between plenary assemblies. The plenary which meets every 6 years was delayed since 2019 due to the impact of COVID 19 pandemic. Delegates deliberated and shared on the specific outstanding challenges in Biblical Pastoral Ministry worldwide, hence sought ways and means of addressing them in common.
AMECEA was ably represented by 4 delegates namely Right Rev. Oliach Joseph Ociru the Bishop of the Diocese of Soroti in Uganda, Rev. Fathers Joseph Moloka Sikwese and Henry Zulu representing the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, and Rev. Fr Emmanuel Chimombo the AMECEA Pastoral Secretary.
