The Catholic Bible Commission Pakistan organized a Bible study on the life and theological legacy of the patriarch Jacob on September 17, bringing together 33 lay leaders, young people and parishioners in Peshawar, northern Pakistan.
The session was held at St. John Mary Vianney Catholic Church, a parish of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi serving Catholics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near Pakistan’s northwestern border with Afghanistan, is one of the country’s oldest cities and has a diverse religious and cultural heritage.
Fr. Joseph Shehzad, executive secretary of the Catholic Bible Commission Pakistan, served as the resource trainer for the program. He led participants through biblical texts, scriptural analysis and group reflection on key stages in Jacob’s life as recorded in the Book of Genesis.
The study followed Jacob’s journey from his departure from Canaan and his dream at Bethel to his years of service under Laban, his wrestling with a mysterious figure at Peniel and his eventual reconciliation with his brother Esau.
Fr. Shehzad focused on Jacob’s transformation from a figure marked by self-reliance and conflict into one whose life became part of God’s covenant plan. He also explained the significance of Jacob’s encounter at Peniel, where he received the name Israel, associated with the lineage of the 12 tribes of Israel.
“Studying the life of Jacob teaches us that God works through human weakness and struggle to fulfill His divine covenant,” Fr. Shehzad said.
“Jacob’s journey from conflict to reconciliation reminds us that faith is an ongoing process of transformation, where personal encounters with God reshape our identity and our responsibility to our community,” he added.
Participants then worked in groups to reflect on selected passages from Genesis and consider their relevance to contemporary life. Discussions focused on family conflicts, maintaining integrity during adversity and recognizing God’s presence amid personal struggles.
Fr. Tariq Mahmood, parish priest, welcomed the initiative and expressed gratitude for bringing structured scriptural formation to the parish.
“Opening the Scriptures together strengthens our parish unity,” Fr. Mahmood said. “Reflecting on figures like Jacob allows our community to draw direct inspiration from God’s guidance throughout salvation history.”
Dawood Masih, a young participant from the parish, said the interactive approach helped him understand Jacob’s story in a practical way.
“This Bible study helped us understand the character of Jacob in a practical way,” Masih said. “Learning how God guides individuals through trials gives young people in our parish confidence to navigate daily challenges while staying connected to our faith.”
The Bible study was part of the Catholic Bible Commission Pakistan’s continuing efforts to strengthen scriptural formation among lay Catholics in northern Pakistan. Such programs seek to help parishioners deepen their knowledge of Scripture and apply biblical teachings to personal, family and community life.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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