It has been wonderful to see how many people have bought a Poverty and Justice Bible, which has meant that for every Bible bought another has been given away to someone who could not afford it. That, in turn, means that more and more people have had the opportunity to read, reflect and pray with words of Scripture, and it has given many people the opportunity to rediscover the freshness of the Gospel.

Pope Francis said in his letter Evangelli Caudium, "whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today's world. Every form of authentic evangelization is always "new". EGII

Bible Societies around the world are helping people everywhere to discover the "freshness" and the "newness" of the Word of God. A deep love for the scriptures is unfolding in surprising ways. An incredible example is that in Cuba the demand for Bibles is so high that the Bible Society cannot supply enough!

Here in New Zealand, more than 8,000 Poverty and Justice Bibles have been distributed through the Buy One/Gift One campaign. That means that a very large number of people have discovered the Word of God in a whole new way, that Word has challenged them to care for the poor and vulnerable, the refugee and the migrant, the helpers and those with no hope. The mission of Bible Society to make God's Word known and loved is being met with enthusiasm and giving us energy. The word ENTHUSIASM means "to be filled with God" - many people are being filled with the goodness and love of God through the work of Bible Society.

Signed

Cardinal John Dew

Cardinal Dew will be attending the closing Mass for the Jubilee Year of Mercy which will be celebrated by Pope Francis, and will have with him a special book containing the names of those who have taken part in Bible Society's Poverty and Justice Bible campaign.

This is the second time Cardinal Dew has personally prayed for Kiwis in Rome. Last year he prayed specifically for those who had requested prayer at his titular church - Sant'Ippolito, where he is Cardinal-Priest.

BSNZ has been collecting names and prayer requests throughout 2016. And there is still time to participate. To submit a prayer request for Cardinal John Dew please visit www.povertyandjustice.nz and fill out the form.

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A joint initiative between Bible Society New Zealand (BSNZ) and Caritas Aoteraroa New Zealand, the campaign was launched during Social Justice Week in September last year.

To date, more than 4,300 copies of the Poverty and Justice Bible have been distributed to Catholics all over the country, with 1,900 of these gifted to families that may not be able to afford one.

The main beneficiaries include prisons, hospitals, Habitat for Humanity home owners as well as Catholic schools in parishes that have participated in the campaign.

The New Zealand edition of the Poverty and Justice Bible has also been given to RCIA members preparing for marriage, new migrants, and people in the Philippines. A shipment of 140 gifted copies is soon to be sent to a high school in the Solomon Islands.

Neels Janse Van Rensburg of BSNZ said, "At every parish the Bible was received with enthusiasm and appreciation by parishioners, as well as, parish priests.

Some commented on how it would help Catholics practically engage with mission through gifting a Bible and helping them put their faith in action."

Father Ron Bennett of St Teresa's Church in Karori said, "I think as a church we are called to show mercy to the underdog and people who have no-one to speak for them.

"The Poverty and Justice Bible really brings out how to be a Christian on this issue."

"It is wonderful to know these Bibles, with the highlighted verses, are both challenging and enriching peoples' lives as they learn about the issue of poverty and justice"

"I have loved seeing people pick up their Poverty and Justice Bible and realize that they can do something to make our world a better place," Bible Society President, Cardinal John Dew said."

It is anticipated that almost 60 parishes throughout the country will have participated in the Poverty and Justice campaign by the end of the year.

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Catholic churches around the nation have supported the Bible Society's Poverty and Justice Buy One / Gift One campaign.

In many cases parishes have been working with organisations such as Apostleship of the Sea, St Vincent De Paul and Mary Potter Hospice to distribute the complimentary Bibles.

And as more and more churches agree to run a Poverty and Justice campaign throughout 2016 it is expected more Bibles will be given away to families who cannot afford to purchase one.

"Churches are welcoming this campaign," said Neels Janse van Rensburg, the Bible Society Relationships Director who is responsible to overseeing this campaign.

"The parish priests in particular are excited about the special New Zealand edition of the Poverty and Justice Bible.

They are very aware of the impact this Bible has, it is like a silent witness programme. People can become missionaries by just supporting the campaign and gifting a Bible.

In this way they're enabling the parish to be missional," he continued.

Msgr Bernard Kiely, St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland said, "For us priests and pastors the idea of gifting a Bible to a needy parishioner or a person of another faith or a non-believer enables us not only to share our faith but to honour and acknowledge others with such a special gift.

"The Poverty and Justice Bible enables us to be in union with Pope Francis who urges the world to care for the poor in this Jubilee Year of Mercy," he said.

Another campaign highlight is the offer of prayer from Cardinal John Dew, President of Bible Society New Zealand.

He is again praying for campaign participants at his Rome church, Sant'Ippolito later in the year.

Poverty and Justice supporters can submit their names and prayer requests on the website for inclusion in the special prayer book Bible Society will prepare.

For further details about Bible Society's Poverty and Justice campaign visit http://www.povertyandjustice.nz/

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• Supplied
• Image: povertyandjustice.nz

Cardinal John Dew, who is the President of Bible Society New Zealand (BSNZ), will offer prayers for those who have participated in the Poverty and Justice Bible Campaign at his church at the end of November. Their names will be recorded in a special book Bible Society of New Zealand (BSNZ) is preparing for him.

If you would like your name and prayer request added to the book for Cardinal Dew, please visit www.povertyandjustice.nz

Along with his appointment as Cardinal by Pope Francis earlier this year, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest at Sant'Ippolito Church in Rome. It is here that Cardinal Dew has agreed to pray for people who have asked to be remembered.

"It would be a blessing for me to be able to connect Catholics in New Zealand with this very special church in Rome," he said.

Sant'Ippolito is a 20th century parish and titular church, meaning it has a Cardinal appointed to oversee it, and it is situated in the Nomentano quarter of Rome.

Wellingtonian Bridget Taumoepeau, who has submitted a prayer request, said the initiative would be very unifying.

"Cardinal Dew as our shepherd, is taking our prayers to Rome to his especially designated church. There is a lovely image of the people of New Zealand being united in prayer through our Archbishop with the universal church."

"There is also the link of our Cardinal to our Holy Father who appointed him and called him to Rome to contribute to the Synod."

Prayer in Rome is part of the recently launched Poverty and Justice Bible Campaign, a joint initiative of BSNZ and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. The campaign was introduced to Catholic churches nationwide last month.

At its heart is the Catholic Poverty and Justice Bible.

Each Bible purchased will fund another copy that will be given for free to a person who can't afford one.

To date more than 700 Bibles have been purchased, enabling another 700 ready to be given away. BSNZ anticipates the numbers will be significantly higher than this as the campaign continues.

Bible Society New Zealand's mission is to help create "easy access to Sacred Scripture", as called for in Dei Verbum, and to enable greater engagement with it.

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Supplied: New Zealand Bible Society

Image: New Zealand Bible Society

The campaign, jointly developed by Bible Society New Zealand and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, centres around a new catholic Poverty and Justice Bible.

It is estimated up to 350 people including priests, youth, secondary school teachers and Caritas supporters will attend the nationwide launch.

Dew will bless the specially developed Poverty and Justice Bible at an evening mass at Saints Peter and Paul Mass Centre in Lower Hutt, Wellington.

This campaign was inspired by Pope Francis. "Pope Francis is passionate about people living the gospel of Jesus and he has a deep concern for those who suffer from injustice and live lives of poverty," says Dew.

It is hoped Catholic parishes throughout New Zealand will take up the offer to participate in the campaign in the coming months.

The Poverty and Justice Bible campaign is supported by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference

It is also endorsed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Source

• Supplied, Sarah Richards New Zealand Bible Society
• Image: Supplied, Sarah Richards New Zealand Bible Society

sarah.richards@biblesociety.org.nz

www.biblesociety.org.nz/