RENEW International Celebrates National Bible Week With Scripture-Based Resources

Plainfield, NJ, October 14, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Plainfield, NJ - “The study of the sacred Scriptures,” according to Pope Francis, “must be a door opened to every believer.” In his document The Joy of the Gospel, the Holy Father points out that the Word of God is essential to enriching religious education and passing on the Catholic faith.

In this spirit, RENEW International is highlighting its scriptural resources in time for National Bible Week, recently announced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with the theme  "The Bible: A Book for the Family." This special time, November 15-21, 2015, is an opportunity for families, parishes, and other Catholic groups to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), a Second Vatican Council document which encourages Catholics to read, study, and be nourished by Scripture.

"The study of the sacred Scriptures, must be a door opened to every believer."

Pope Francis

RENEW International, the leader in small-group resources for more than thirty years, encourages Catholics to explore its many Scripture-based resources as part of this focus on the Bible. Faith-sharing in small groups is a powerful way to delve into the Word of God and discern its guidance for everyday life.

Luke: My Spirit Rejoices! is the newest resource and the first book in the RENEW Scripture Series. Written by scripture scholar Martin Lang, this faith-sharing book engages readers with Luke’s entire Gospel and includes reflections on its content, the human behavior illuminated in Luke’s work, and the Old Testament background for each passage. Sharing questions and opportunities to apply the gospel message to daily life make this a perfect resource for small groups or personal study and reflection.

PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels focuses on each Sunday’s gospel reading and proposes meaningful reflections, focused faith-sharing questions, related questions for consideration, and prayers as a source of spiritual nourishment and inspiration. In addition to small-group reflection, this resource is well-suited for beginning ministry meetings on a spiritual key.

Advent Awakenings is a four-session faith-sharing experience to help Catholics stay focused on the significance of this holy season. Each session presents themes drawn from the Sunday gospel readings, plus enriching devotions for family use.

Lenten Longings contains six sessions corresponding to the six weeks of Lent and presents themes drawn from the year’s Lenten readings. Simple language and everyday metaphors immerse readers in the season’s promptings to surrender self, work for justice, and deepen prayer life.

These resources provide a wonderful way to participate and celebrate National Bible Week and, as Pope Francis encourages, “receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.” 

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About RENEW International

RENEW International is a Catholic ministry organization based in Plainfield, NJ, in the Archdiocese of Newark. RENEW International fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action.

For nearly four decades, RENEW International has revitalized parish life in more than 160 dioceses in the United States, touching the lives of 25 million people through its renewal processes. RENEW International also reaches many thousands outside the United States, having served people in 24 countries, across six continents and in 44 languages. RENEW can be found online at www.renewintl.org.