Nearly 200 priests, religious, and lay faithful from several regions of Thailand gathered on October 29–30 in Samphran, west of Bangkok, for a two-day Liturgical Bible Study (LBS).
Organizers said the event was a spiritual encounter that brought the Scriptures vividly to life as part of the Church’s Jubilee of Hope celebration.
The event, organized by the Catholic Commission for the Bible Thailand, aimed to help participants deepen their understanding of God’s Word through the liturgical readings used in Sunday Mass.
Fr. Augustine Thasanu Hatthakarnkul, director of the commission, explained to LiCAS News, “The LBS was conceptualized and devised by Fr. Arlo Bernardo Yap, SVD, in the year 2000 in the Philippines,” adding, “It’s a privilege for us that he has come to Thailand to give the LBS himself.”
Throughout the two days, Fr. Arlo guided participants through a meticulous and prayerful examination of Scripture. Verse by verse, he unpacked the Gospel, drawing connections with the First and Second Readings and the Responsorial Psalm.
“He helps participants find the unity between the readings,” Fr. Thasanu said. “It’s a process that leads to a clearer understanding of God’s message and how it connects to our lives.”
For the past 25 years, the Liturgical Bible Study has spread widely across the Philippines, finding a home in dioceses, parishes, and communities of both lay and religious people.
Its impact, Fr. Thasanu noted, has been “a deeper love for the Word of God, closer community relationships, and a renewed commitment to live as disciples of the Word.”
Now that same transformation is beginning to take root in Thailand. Eleven dioceses and archdioceses across the country have recently integrated LBS into pastoral ministry and formation programs for religious communities — an initiative spearheaded by Fr. Thasanu himself.
The method’s simplicity and spiritual depth drew praise from participants, many of whom were experiencing it for the first time.
“This is my first time attending the Liturgical Bible Study,” said Dr. Prayoth Benyasut. “It is a wonderful tool to deepen my understanding of Holy Scripture and provides practical guidance and support for my daily life. I want to share the wisdom from LBS more broadly with others.”
Anna Marie Mariya Pensut, vice president of the Catholic Business Executives and Professionals, described LBS as “easy to understand yet profoundly enriching.”
“It takes the Sunday readings and connects them to the Gospel in a way that reveals new meaning,” she said. “It can be applied to Bible study for everyone — adults, youth, even children. When we share our perspectives in a group, we discover insights we may have overlooked on our own, making it a living Word that truly fulfills God’s will.”
For Roongruethai Wongjom, a catechist from Sacred Heart School Don Mueang in Bangkok, the experience was deeply spiritual.
“The Bible is a complex text,” she said. “Studying it in a group helps us see how the parts fit together and how its timeless truths apply to modern life. The LBS process is like eating a meal — slowly, bite by bite. It allows us to savor the spiritual food, listening to our own voice, our friends’ voices, and God’s voice speaking within.”
“The Word of God nourishes my thoughts and feelings,” she added. “It’s not just knowledge or emotion — it’s a sense of wonder that gives me new energy to live each day.”
As the Jubilee of Hope continues, Thailand’s growing embrace of the Liturgical Bible Study offers a living witness to the enduring power of Scripture — uniting hearts, transforming faith, and bringing the Word of God to life in everyday experience.
