For the past six years, the Universal Church has celebrated the Sunday of the Word of God on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we enter this seventh year, the celebration falls on January 25, 2026. To guide this observance, the Dicastery for Evangelization releases an annual Handbook offering theological reflections and pastoral suggestions. This year’s resource outlines the central theme and provides practical proposals for the liturgical celebration and for deepening our engagement with Scripture throughout the year. The following excerpts from the Handbook have been adapted specifically for use within our Diocese:
The Theme and its Significance
The biblical expression chosen for the celebration for the seventh edition of the Sunday of the Word of God is taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians: “The word of Christ dwells among you” (3:16). What we have received from the Apostle is not a simple moral exhortation, but the indication of a new way of living. Paul does not ask that the Word be merely listened to or studied; he wants it to dwell, that is, to take up stable residence, to shape our thoughts, guide our desires, and make credible the witness of the disciples. The Word of Christ remains a sure criterion that unifies and renders fruitful the life of the Christian community. After the Holy Year, this motto remains for us a precious inheritance: an invitation addressed to the whole Church to place the Gospel once more at the centre, since every true renewal is born from docile listening to the Word. To welcome it means allowing ourselves to be accompanied by the One who does not deceive, because He gives life and hope. To be inhabited by the Word ultimately means permitting Christ to speak even today through our lives, so that every person may recognize His presence, which continues to illuminate the journey of history. Every Christian and every community must rediscover the primacy of the Word of God. Its sincere and profound listening is an essential path through which human beings encounter God. When space is given to the Word, each person discovers that the Word of God dwells in the heart like a seed that, in due time, sprouts and bears fruit. Indeed, all of us are invited to nourish ourselves with the daily bread of the Word and, afterwards, to proclaim it to our brothers and sisters, for proclamation flows from the abundance of the heart, according to the Gospel saying: “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34; Lk 6:45). It is particularly significant that this year the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God coincides with the celebration of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the day that concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Word that Christ addressed to Paul on the road to Damascus struck his heart so deeply that it made him the great evangelizer we know. Today it is up to us to ensure that the same Word reaches the ends of the earth, so as to transform the life of all peoples by dwelling among us (H.E. Archbishop Rino Fisichella Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World).
Pastoral Proposals
- Eucharistic Celebration – Celebrate this Sunday’s Mass in a solemn way. In fact, the most favourable place of encounter between the Christian community and the Word of God is the Eucharistic celebration. The Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis, No. 3, outlines some suggestions: First, enthrone the Bible at the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration so that the normative value that the Word of God possesses is made evident to the assembly. Second, ensure that the proclamation of the readings is done well-prepared and adapt the homily to emphasize the service that is rendered to the Word of the Lord. Third, make special reference in the Prayer of the Faithful to Christian unity, since celebrating the Sunday of the Word of God expresses ecumenical significance. To mark the Sunday of the Word of God, our Archdiocese will host a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at St. Jerome Church, Mapusa, at 6:00 pm. The liturgy will be presided over by His Excellency, Most Rev. Simião P. Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Goa. In solidarity with the Universal Church and the Archdiocesan celebration, every Parish, Chapel, and Religious community is earnestly requested to celebrate this Sunday with heightened solemnity.
- Lectors Group – As a fruit of the Sunday of the Word of God, form a dedicated group of Lectors in your Parish and Chapel, and organise them a program which may include: Lectio Divina, reflection on their vocation, spirituality, responsibility and fellowship. Training Sessions for Lectors could be organised during the year. Some of our Parishes in our Archdiocese already have Lectors group, they can felicitate them to appreciate and acknowledge their selfless service to the Word of God.
- Pocket Bible – Urge the faithful to carry the Bible “in their pocket” and in their cell phone. Encourage them to cultivate the habit of always carrying a small Gospel in their pocket or bag, so that they can read it during the day. There are different editions of the New Testament or the Gospels — handy, pocket-sized that easily fit in our bags or backpacks and that we can always keep with us. Motivate them especially the youngsters to carry the Bible in their cell phone that will help them easily to read it at any time and place. There are different Catholic apps and web sites in different languages, not only with the Bible but also with the Holy Mass readings for each day, pages where to read or listen to the Word of God, pages with commentaries and reflections of the same. One can also use notifications as a reminder to have a moment in a day to encounter God’s Word so that it accompanies us wherever we go. The Konkani Bible app for our Archdiocese is currently being upgraded and will be relaunched soon to better serve our community’s needs. “Daily Flash” and “Jivitacho Prokas” are invaluable resources for daily scriptural reflection, published by the Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate.
- Interactive Bible Study Group – Establish a Bible Study Group in your Parish, on a weekly or monthly basis, that organizes formative or cultural moments of in-depth study of Sacred Scripture, and to pray with the Bible – Lectio Divina. The meetings should be adapted according to the characteristics of the group (age group, spiritual maturity, etc.). This group could be guided or animated by a priest or a lay person appointed and guided by the Parish Priest/Chaplain/Priest In charge/Superior of the religious community.
- Enthronement of the Bible in Families – Last few years in our Archdiocese on the Sunday of the Word of God or on the following week we had invited our families to enthrone the Bible in their homes. This year too, we earnestly request all Parish Priests, Chaplains, and Superiors of Religious Houses to lead by example by enthroning the Bible within their own communities. Furthermore, we urge them to encourage the parishioners to enthrone the Bible in their homes. This practice serves as a beautiful reminder that God’s Word is truly a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps. 119:105), guiding our families through the journey of faith.
- Biblical Faith Formation – Organise a Bible Course for the parishioners. Our Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate every year is conducting Bible Courses in different Parishes and Deaneries of our Archdiocese.
- Bible Convention – The Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate is organizing a Bible Convention on March 8, 2026, at the St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Cruz Milagres, Old Goa, centred on the theme “The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of Christian Life,” the event will run from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Kindly encourage the faithful to participate this day of spiritual enrichment and deeper biblical reflection.
- Testimonies of Transformation – Invite parishioners to share brief, lived experiences of how a specific scripture passage guided them through a difficult time or inspired a work of mercy. This could be done before or after the mass or in a Gospel Sharing or during Lectio Divina or during a specially organised program to celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God.
- Rosary – Encourage the faithful to pray Rosary daily in their homes. Rosary provides a profound way to pray with Scripture. St. John Paul II described the Rosary as a “compendium of the Gospel,” highlighting its evangelical nature and distinct Christological orientation. By meditating on its mysteries, the faithful engage in a scriptural journey through the life of Christ. In fact, it has an essentially contemplative character, since it leads us into the meditation of the mysteries of the Lord’s life, accompanied by the one who was closest to the Lord. To give biblical foundation and greater depth to the meditation, it is helpful if the announcement of the mystery is followed by the proclamation of a corresponding biblical passage. It is appropriate that after the announcing of the mystery and the proclamation of the Word, one should pause for a suitable period of time to fix one’s gaze on the meditated mystery, before beginning the vocal prayer.
To make the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God a more productive and spiritual experience in a synodal spirit, consider the above ways to instill a love for Scripture in your community although they are not exhaustive. It is also equally important to remember that the carrying out of the program is not the ultimate purpose of this Sunday. Rather, we need to foster an ongoing personal and community encounter with the Word of God. We know well that listening, sharing, living and proclaiming the Word of God is not a one-day task, but a task to undertake for our whole life. It helps us to promote various Biblical initiatives throughout the year and provide an opportunity for ongoing formation of the faithful.
Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate, Goa & Daman
Pastoral Institute, Old Goa
Email: dcbagoa@gmail.com Contact: 9075028921