Archbishop Vigneron releases new Pastoral Note on Scripture to mark second annual Sunday of the Word of God

January 25, 2021 — Archbishop of Detroit Allen H. Vigneron urges the faithful to be “renewed in their zeal to study the Bible” in a new pastoral note marking the second annual Sunday of the Word of God.

The new pastoral note, called The Power of the Word of God, was published on Sunday, Jan. 24 to coincide with the day Pope Francis established for the celebration, study, and dissemination of Sacred Scripture. Sunday of the Word of God occurs on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time and was first celebrated on Jan. 26 of last year.

In writing the new note, Archbishop Vigneron said he was “taking up the charge” from Pope Francis to encourage the prayerful reading of the Bible and greater familiarity with God’s word.

“As the Archdiocese of Detroit continues to undergo its ‘missionary conversion,’ so that every Catholic may be formed and sent forth as a joyful missionary disciple, I would like to highlight the necessity of turning to the Word of God to equip and inspire us for this task,” Archbishop Vigneron said in the new pastoral note. “Because Scripture is no mere human writing, but is authored by God himself, it has a unique power to transform the human heart, to ‘make us wise for salvation.’

“Scripture enlightens our minds, unveils God’s glorious plan of salvation, teaches us his ways, and shows us how to live as his people.”

Archbishop Vigneron’s message on Sacred Scripture is the latest in a series of pastoral notes examining topics relevant to modern culture and society through the eyes of his pastoral letter and fruit of Synod 16, Unleash the Gospel.

The Archdiocese of Detroit is offering a number of resources to assist the faithful seeking to immerse themselves in the scriptures. The Grow Year Scripture Challenges invite participants to commit to reading all or parts of the Bible this year, with the added opportunity of joining an online “Scripture Guild” to share the experience with others. In addition, 52 Sundays has returned for a second year to guide and help families reclaim the Lord's Day with Sunday scripture readings, prayer, food, and other activities.

Archbishop Vigneron also dedicated this month’s Eyes on Jesus podcast episode to Sacred Scripture (available Tuesday, Jan. 26) and looks forward to sharing even more on this topic in the Spring (April) issue of Unleash the Gospel magazine.

Pope Francis instituted Sunday of the Word on God in an apostolic letter, Aperuit illis, published in September of 2019. In his letter, the Holy Father established that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.”

Note to Media: Interviews are available with Father Steve Pullis, Director of the Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship. For more information or to arrange an interview, please email your request to proffice@aod.org.

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