WEETEBULA, Indonesia (UCAN) -- Delegates from diocesan biblical commissions in Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara region have agreed on "Paul, Apostle Of Christ" as the theme for their celebration of Bible Month this September.

Their recent meeting in Weetebula on Sumba Island, 1,400 kilometers east of Jakarta, drew 26 officials of commissions for Ende and Kupang archdioceses, as well as Atambua, Denpasar, Larantuka, Maumere, Ruteng and Weetebula dioceses.

Divine Word Father Lukas Djua, an expert in biblical studies, joined the May 5-9 meeting, organized to prepare catechetical materials to mark National Bible Month in the region.

Since 1977, the Indonesian Catholic Church has celebrated National Bible Sunday annually on the first Sunday of September, ushering in National Bible Month. The national theme for this year's Bible Month is "Paul: The Joy of Christ's Disciple."

The month will come during the Pauline Year Pope Benedict XVI has declared from June 28 this year to June 29, 2009, on the occasion of the saint's 2,000th birth anniversary. Historians have placed his birth around A.D. 7-10.

The themes reflect "the Church's loyalty to the pope in unity with the universal Church," Sister Klemensia Kelen told UCA News on May 9. The Charity of the Precious Blood nun, secretary to the meeting organizer, added that during the Pauline Year, Indonesian bishops are encouraging Catholics to reflect on their call as Christ's disciples, as exemplified by Saint Paul.

Father Djua told UCA News the apostleship theme is relevant to the Church in the Nusa Tenggara region because it has become a source of missioners for other regions in the country and even overseas.

The delegates agreed to choose the Acts of the Apostles and St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians for reading and reflection during the upcoming Bible month, according to Father Djua.

"In the Acts we see and reflect on what Saint Paul did and experienced in his life, especially his tireless efforts to proclaim the Gospel. We will emphasize in our reflections the radical change of Paul, from persecutor of Christ's followers to zealous and brave preacher of faith in Christ," he explained.

Secondly, the priest continued, "Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians, although brief, shows the profundity of his theology and his intimate relations with Christ and the Philippians." Moreover, "the Acts and the Letter to the Philippians are relevant to today's society, which prioritizes worldly over spiritual matters."

According to Father Djua, "rampant corruption in our country shows that people do not care about moral values and the suffering of poor people."

Catechists Thomas Koro Magga and Magdalena Wala, from Kupang archdiocese and Weetebula diocese, respectively, agreed that the theme is relevant to the world today. "In our situation, where worldly matters are much more pursued than spiritual matters, and suffering is regarded as merely negative, Saint Paul challenges us with his teaching and spirit," Magga, 41, told UCA News.

The delegates agreed on four subthemes for weekly reflections by Catholics in neighborhood communities during National Bible Month: "Paul, model of true repentance" (Acts 9:1-19), "Paul, model of how to face suffering" (Phil 1:12-26), "Paul, model of living together" (Phil 1:27-2:11), and "Paul, defender of the true faith" (Phil 3:1-16).

Father Titus Djago, Weetebula diocese secretary general, urged the delegates to make reading the Bible an individual and family habit. "This must be the target of our Bible apostolate, because this is our weakness," the priest said in his sermon during the opening Mass. He suggested parents need to instill the Bible-reading habit in their children from a young age.

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