8th annual Jubilee of the Word Bible Marathon begins Wednesday in St. Martinville
The 8th annual Jubilee of the Word Bible Marathon begins Wednesday January 18 at 12:30 p.m. in the town square of St. Martinville. The outdoor event normally draws over 3000 faithful through the course of the 5-day continuous reading. The Holy Bible will be read publicly in front of the Diocese of Lafayette’s oldest church parish, St. Martin de Tours. The parish was erected in 1765 and the present structure dates to 1836.
During the four days of continuous reading, 300 lectors from the various 121 church parishes and 30 missions in the Diocese of Lafayette as well as faith leaders from other denominations from across Acadiana will be employed. The Bible Marathon will help to accentuate the rich cultural heritage of the region by including its various nationalities and languages. In addition to English, selections of the Bible will be read in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
The special Bible event is intended to help “prime the pump” and re-ignite a love for the Word of God and its practice in our lives. “People everywhere love to exercise. It’s important to stay in physical shape, which is why many participate in programs such as CrossFit and compete in Iron Man races, triathlons, and marathons. And we wanted to provide a way for people to spiritually exercise,” says Fr. Michael Champagne, of the Community of Jesus Crucified, organizer of the event. “We, as Christians, and all men and women of good will, need to ‘shake the dust off’ our Bibles and begin to ponder God’s plan for our lives. In these chaotic times we often get confused about how we are to act in our personal lives, in our families, at work, and in our dealings with others. God’s pre-eminent way of speaking to us is through the Sacred Scriptures. Every page of the Bible recounts God’s burning and fatherly love for us, and the Bible Marathon is a reminder of that love.”
Bishop Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette participates in the Bible Marathon every year. He comments, “The Jubilee of the Word Marathon serves as a reminder of the importance of the Bible, the word of God, and the sacred Scriptures. In the very noisy world we live in today, the significance of the word of God can be easily lost. The Bible is a record of God’s interaction with the human race” and “culminates in the Person of Jesus Christ.” Sr. Anne- Marie, CJC recounts, “It was very peaceful just to sit and listen to the Word of God. It was wonderful to see all the different faith groups coming together to proclaim the love of God for His people.” Bishop Glen Provost, a native of Lafayette, participated in previous years. “The sacred Scriptures are like the sun, and to read them openly and completely is like basking in full daylight. To read them in St. Martinville, where my 18th-century ancestors were nurtured by the Catholic sacraments, is to return to the roots of my faith, which benefited from that sunlight,” stated the Bishop of Lake Charles. Lisa Schmidt, a long-time participant, commented, “Reading the Bible again just reminds you how important and rejuvenating it is to read it always. Scripture is eternal like God because it is alive.” Louisiana’s attorney general, Jeff Landry, will also read. Referencing that the rule of law won’t fail if it is anchored in the Law of God, Landry said, “The Jubilee of the Word Marathon is a great way to recover that wisdom and reflect on it together.” Many Bible studies were spawned as a result of the public Bible Reading in the square and the event has inspired other Bible Marathons at McNeese State University, in New Orleans on Carrollton Avenue, and most recently in Colorado.
Priests will be available each day to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation by means of the Spiritual Care Unit (SCU – Mobile Confessional). Catholics who are properly disposed can obtain a plenary indulgence by reading or listening for 30 minutes from the Holy Bible in the Square during the event. Organizers are asking all lectors to invite at least 10 people to come along with them and listen to the Word while it is being proclaimed in the Square. “We need proclaimers of the Word, but also hearers of the Word, and most importantly Doers of the Word” recounts Fr. Champagne.
Lectors will be reading from a very special, handmade Bible during the Marathon. The Bible measures 12” x 18” in its closed position and weighs nearly 25 lbs. The Bible was blessed by Pope Francis for the first Bible Marathon held during the Year of Mercy in 2016 and has since been used in other Bible Marathons hosted across Louisiana and the United States. It has been read cover to cover 14 times in various locations since being blessed.
The new Friar Truck will be rolled out for the Bible Marathon. The retrofitted antique fire truck has been transformed into a mobile church with a built-in pulpit. The Friar Truck will be used for proclaiming the Word of God during this year’s Bible Marathon. The truck also is stocked with free Bibles and Epiphany Holy Water. The mobile pulpit is used for itinerant street preaching and reading the Scriptures publicly at various locations throughout the region. Bishop Deshotel blessed the friar truck in 2022. Participants at the Bible Marathon can take home holy water blessed on the Vigil of this year’s Solemnity of the Epiphany, while supplies last.
For more information or to register to read, call Sr. Marie- Thérèse, CJC at (337) 394-6021 or fetedieuduteche@gmail.com. More information on the Bible Marathon and other new evangelization events and endeavors of Fête-Dieu du Teche, LLC can be found at www.jesuscrucified.net and at www.facebook.com/CommunityOfJesusCrucified