Hope behind Bars: Caceres COMBIBLIA brings Word of God to PDLs

By The COMBIBLIA Staff

TINANGIS PROVINCIAL JAIL – “We are all sinners. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all members of the Church.”

These were the comforting words of Fr. Erwin Blasa, Director of the Caceres Commission on Biblical Apostolate (Caceres COMBIBLIA), to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) during the celebration of National Bible Sunday on January 25.

In an event emphasizing inclusivity and participation in the Church, Caceres COMBIBLIA, in partnership with the Caceres Prison Apostolate led by Fr. Jayson Gaite, held a Holy Mass and Bible Study for 68 PDLs. They were joined by the Daughters of Charity and members of the Adonai’s Love charismatic community.

Reflecting on the theme, “The Word of God Gives Life to a Church where Everyone Belongs,” Fr. Blasa’s homily struck a chord. He likened the PDLs’ struggles to Israel’s experience of darkness, reminding them that God’s Word brings light and hope even within prison walls. He challenged the inmates to heed Christ’s call to “Follow me”, just as the apostles did.

To close, Fr. Blasa shared the powerful testimony of a former inmate whose life was transformed from abuse and addiction to advocacy through daily Bible reading in a crowded cell.

Following the Mass, COMBIBLIA distributed 40 free Bibles. Fr. Blasa conducted a session on Bible basics, teaching the PDLs what the Bible is, how to locate verses, and introducing the concept of Kwentuhan sa Salita ng Dios(Spiritual Conversations on the Word of God), a prayerful group sharing method to be practiced during the next visit.

The impact was immediate. “Maogma ta nakanuod kami tungkol sa Biblia (I am happy to learn about the Bible),” one PDL shared. Another expressed gratitude: “Salamat ta ngonyan igwa na kaming Biblia (Thank you, because now we have Bibles to read).”

Seeing the hunger for spiritual nourishment, organizers announced plans for a future program: Sarong Biblia kada Selda (One Bible for Each Cell), ensuring that hope remains accessible to everyone behind bars.