In August 2018, a group of over 100 participants, made up of pastoral agents and students from the School of Christian Formation in the Diocese of Santiago de Capo Verde (Africa), attended a biblical formation program. The week-long course was designed to form lay people engaged in pastoral ministry. Among the topics addressed were the analysis of some episodes of the Bible in light of today’s challenges, and the deepening of the Word of God and its importance in the lives of every Christian.

The participants showed great interest and enthusiasm, especially in the sessions dedicated to the debate, which was often given more space than that provided by the schedule.

Through the encounter with Christ in the living Word of God, the course aimed to strengthen the participants' conviction and awareness of being able to take an active part in the work of proclaiming the Gospel and in the mission of the Church.

The Word of God in the believer’s life and in a formative environment, establishes a concrete support to the coherent witness of faith in Jesus Christ and allows to further develop the biblical pastoral formation in the Diocese, encouraging the practice of the prayerful reading of the Word of God (Lectio Divina) for catechesis, pastoral work, and other activities.