Celebrating 60 Years of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Lahore, October 17, 2025 — The Catholic Bible Commission Pakistan (CBCP) organized a one-day Bible seminar on the theme “Dei Verbum” at its national office in Lahore. The seminar, held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum, 1965–2025), brought together 19 participants, including Studies in Biblical Sciences (SBS) coordinators from the Punjab region.
The event was organized and led by Rev. Fr. Joseph Shahzad, Executive Secretary of the CBCP, who also served as the main resource person. The seminar offered participants a profound reflection on the enduring relevance of Dei Verbum in the life and mission of the Church today.
Opening and Welcome
The day began with the enthronement of the Holy Bible, symbolizing the central place of Scripture in the life of the Church. Mr. Tariq Tufail, Program In-charge of the Studies in Biblical Sciences (SBS), welcomed all participants and introduced the theme and objectives of the seminar. He also expressed gratitude to the coordinators of SBS for their ongoing dedication to biblical formation across the dioceses.
During the session, Mr. Tufail presented a report on the recent SBS activities and encouraged coordinators to continue promoting Bible study programs in their respective regions.
Main Presentation: Theological and Pastoral Insights on Dei Verbum
In his keynote address, Fr. Joseph Shahzad highlighted the theological richness and pastoral vision of Dei Verbum, emphasizing its role as one of the most influential documents of the Second Vatican Council. He reminded participants that 2025 marks six decades since the promulgation of the constitution, which continues to shape Catholic understanding of Scripture, revelation, and faith.
Fr. Joseph underscored that Dei Verbum renewed the Church’s love for the Word of God and encouraged all the faithful to study Scripture prayerfully and attentively. He reviewed the six main structural sections of the document:
- Preface – Introducing the purpose of the document.
- Chapter I: Revelation itself – God’s self-communication to humanity.
- Chapter II: Handing on Divine Revelation – Apostolic Tradition and Scripture.
- Chapter III: Sacred Scripture: its Inspiration and Interpretation.
- Chapter IV: The Old Testament.
- Chapter V: The New Testament.
- Chapter VI: Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church.
He emphasized that these chapters together affirm the unity of Scripture and Tradition and invite all believers to listen to the living Word with faith and love.
Fr. Joseph also encouraged participants to engage actively in the ongoing CBCP programs, including “Kalam Ke Lakh Dost (KKLD)” and Studies in Biblical Sciences (SBS), both of which aim to strengthen biblical literacy and spiritual formation. Copies of Dei Verbum were distributed among the participants for continued study and reflection.
Closing Session and Acknowledgment
At the conclusion of the seminar, Mr. Tariq Tufail extended heartfelt thanks to Fr. Joseph Shahzad and all participants for their enthusiastic involvement. He commended the collective commitment to deepening understanding of Scripture and fostering a renewed culture of the Word of God within Pakistan’s Catholic communities.
The one-day seminar reaffirmed the CBCP’s mission to promote the Word of God as the foundation of faith, prayer, and pastoral life, echoing the spirit of Dei Verbum—that the Word of God may continue to enlighten and transform the hearts of all believers.
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