Mission and Purpose

The National Biblical Apostolate exists to promote an encounter with Christ through His living Word. It encourages every baptized person to read, pray, and live the Scriptures in daily life, integrating the Bible into all areas of pastoral ministry. Its mission is to make the Word of God a dynamic source of faith, hope, and transformation within the Church and society.

Grounded in the teaching of Dei Verbum and inspired by Pope Francis’ call to “Let the Word of God renew the Church,” the Apostolate seeks to build a culture of the Word — where listening to, meditating on, and proclaiming Scripture form the foundation of Christian discipleship.

Objectives

• To deepen the faith of the People of God through prayerful engagement with the Holy Scriptures.
• To promote biblical literacy and understanding among catechists, clergy, religious, and lay faithful.
• To integrate the Word of God into catechesis, liturgy, education, and social action.
• To prepare resource persons and leaders capable of conducting Bible-based pastoral and educational programs.
• To encourage the use of the Bible in family prayer, youth formation, and community life.

Key Activities

• Bible Sunday and Bible Month: Nationwide celebration promoting Scripture reflection, contests, and parish-level formation.
• Bible Seminars and Workshops: Formation programs for priests, religious, teachers, and youth leaders.
• Lectio Divina Promotion: Encouraging personal and communal prayer with the Word of God.
• Biblical Resource Publications: Producing materials, translations, and study guides in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
• Scripture Animation in Schools and Parishes: Training facilitators to integrate Scripture into catechesis and education.

Structure and Coordination

The Biblical Apostolate functions under the National Commission for Catechetics, Education, and Bible Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka. It is coordinated through the National Catechetical and Biblical Centre in Colombo, with designated diocesan directors leading local initiatives in all twelve dioceses.

The Centre organizes national-level assemblies, such as the CBF South Asia Sub-Regional Meetings, and provides leadership training for diocesan coordinators and parish-level animators. The structure encourages collaboration between clergy, religious, and laity, ensuring that the Word of God reaches every community.

Collaboration and Global Links

The Sri Lankan Biblical Apostolate is a member of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) South Asia Sub-Region, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Through this network, the Centre shares experiences, training methodologies, and digital innovations for pastoral use of Scripture.

The Apostolate also works closely with Catholic universities, seminaries, and pastoral institutes to promote ongoing biblical formation. Through these partnerships, the National Centre continues to renew the Church’s mission — to listen to, live, and proclaim the Word of God with joy.