Maiden Biblical Fair in Maputo “concrete response to forming conscious Christians”: Catholic Bishop

Maputo, 04 October, 2025 / 8:40 PM

The first-ever Biblical Fair in the Catholic Archdiocese of Maputo in Mozambique has been described as an appropriate step in realizing the formation of Christians capable of witnessing their faith.

Speaking at the opening of the October 3-5 event, the Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo urged the people of God to place the Word of God at the center of their Christian life.

“The main motivation for this Biblical Fair was the desire to bring the Word of God closer to the life of our Christian communities,” Bishop Tonito José Francisco Xavier Muananoua said Friday, October 3, at St. Joseph Lhanguene Parish of Maputo Archdiocese.

Bishop Muananoua added, “We live in times when Christians face countless spiritual, social, and moral challenges. The Bible is the source of light. It is hope. It is the criterion for our discernment.”

“The Fair is a concrete response to the urgency of forming more conscious Christians, capable of bearing witness to their faith with clarity and dignity. This Fair is not just an event. It is a firm step toward a more biblical, more incarnate, and more hope-filled pastoral approach,” he said.

He continued in reference to the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year,  “We are in a Jubilee Year. This Fair aligns with the spirit of the 4th National Pastoral Assembly, which reflects on hospitality, mission, and communion.”

Bishop Muananoua appealed for the Bible to be lived as a criterion of discernment and for coherence between faith and life, saying, “Listen to the Word and put it into practice. Forgive, share, discern. The Bible teaches us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” he emphasized.

Among the objectives of the Fair, he highlighted the strengthening of biblical reading in families, the formation of the laity, and the promotion of lectio divina in communities. 

“The Word of God must illuminate our homes, our decisions, our mission. It is the sustenance of our faith,” Bishop Muananoua said.

Although driven by the parishes of the Archdiocese, the Fair is open to all interested people, regardless of religious affiliation. 

The Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo said, “The Word of God is universal. We want this space to also be one of dialogue, sharing, and welcome. Anyone who wants to know the Bible is welcome.”

Bishop Muananoua hopes the initiative will become an annual event and that the enthusiasm of the first edition will encourage greater future involvement.

“This first experience is generating great participation. The desire is for the Biblical Fair to become an archdiocesan tradition,” he said.

The Biblical Fair features thematic exhibitions, conferences, moments of prayer, and pastoral activities, organized by the Archdiocesan Commission for Biblical Pastoral Care. 

According to the Catholic Bishop, “This is truly a path of communion. We are walking together as the people of God, enlightened by the Word and moved by the hope that does not disappoint.”

For Bishop Muananoua, the most important thing is that each person allows himself to be touched by the Word of God.

“The Bible is the book of life. Whoever encounters the Word, encounters Christ. And whoever encounters Christ, finds the true meaning of existence,” he said.

Bishop Muananoua implored, “May every home become a place where the Bible is read, shared, and lived. May the Word be the center of the faith and mission of each person.”