LectioYouth.Net

guided and transformed by it on the personal and on the local community level. Comprehensive and Thematic Approach. While most Lectio Divina and Bible study programs focus exclusively on the Gospel, LectioYouth adopts a comprehensive and thematic approach. Liturgy of the Word of each Sunday is studied as a coherent message with particular focus which unifies the readings, and which guided the selection of the four biblical passages in the first place. We aim to recognize and be guided by it.

2. Exegetical dimension. According to the Catholic approach, in order to understand the revealed message of the biblical text, historical, cultural and literary contexts in which it was written must be taken into account. This systematic and scientific study of the context is known as exegesis. This exegetical preparation is not available to most Catholics. This program, in some measure at least, attempts to provide the participants with modest but firm exegetical foundations to facilitate a deeper and better founded understanding of God’s word.

3. Contextualized approach. The program focuses on the African context. Pastoral reflections come from within the African context, are written by African writers, appeal to African proverbial tradition, and focus on the African youth.

4. Holistic biblical formation. The program offers biblical formation in a Catholic, that is holistic or inclusive, way. It combines biblical intellectual formation with pastoral engagement. Thus, it not only teaches the people what the Bible says, but leads them to understand what the Bible means, and then leads them to “incarnate” its message in the context of a local group or community.

5. Communitarian dimension. While the program can be used by individuals, our desire and primary objective is formation of local groups in parishes and other Catholic institutions, who would regularly gather to study the Word of God guided by this program. This community context is essential for the Word of God to be effective in our world. After all, the Bible is primarily the Book of the Church, and the Church it must form.