The Catholic community of Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province concluded a 27-day Bible Marathon, held from May 3 to May 30, 2026. Sargodha, known regionally as a major agricultural and military hub, is also home to a vibrant Christian minority.
This local initiative aimed to increase scripture reading and listening among parishioners, establishing the Bible as a central priority in daily life.
The Bible marathon began on May 3 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sargodha, where participants engaged in 12 hours of continuous reading from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Parish Priest Fr. David John started the event by reading the first verse of Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
The marathon concluded on May 30 when Fr. David John read the last verse of Revelation: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
Over the 27 days, the marathon travelled through 20 local churches and more than 20 neighbourhoods.
A total of 1,978 individuals led reading the holy Bible, including five priests (Fr. David John, Fr. Nasir Javed, Fr. Mukhtar Alam, Fr. Asher Tanveer, and Fr. Waqas Sharif), eight catechists, dozens of religious sisters from all local convents, teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and lay faithful.
The initiative expanded into the community, with scripture readings occurring in more than 3,000 households.
In each location, the Bible was carried into the church in a procession using a decorated palanquin featuring cherubim statues on its four corners. Parishioners welcomed the procession at the altar with flowers, garlands, and candles.
Fr. David John stated that the event's purpose was to revive the tradition of scripture reading. He noted that reading and listening to the Word of God serves as the foundation of faith and the source of salvation.
"In an era dominated by digital distractions, our families urgently need to anchor themselves in the truth of the Gospel," Father David John emphasized. "Bringing the Word of God directly into our neighbourhoods is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a spiritual awakening. When a community reads together, it stands together against modern challenges, transforming homes from mere residences into sanctuaries of living faith."
Catechist Albert Rehmat stated that the activity increased daily Bible reading habits among ordinary parishioners and the youth.
"Watching our people commit to this month-long journey has been deeply moving," Rehmat reflected. "Day after day, I saw a profound spiritual hunger across generations.
Shumaila Sunil, a local parishioner, reported that the neighbourhood processions motivated families to establish permanent daily scripture reading routines in their homes.
"Seeing the Holy Bible carried with such reverence through our own streets changed something in our hearts," Shumaila shared. "It made us realize that the Word of God shouldn't just stay inside the church building.
The enthronement of the Holy Bible was also performed in various homes, a pious tradition where the scripture is placed in an elevated, prominent place within the household to show reverence, honour the Word of God, and invoke divine blessings upon the family.
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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