January 26 to be observed as “Sunday of the Word of God”

From the Office of Divine Worship

On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis established the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, celebrated yearly between January 21-27, to be observed as the “Sunday of the Word of God.” The Holy Father’s initiative seeks to continually foster the Church’s love of Sacred Scripture while strengthening its efforts in catechesis, evangelization, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Archbishop Blair, following the Holy Father’s guidelines, echoes the suggestions proposed on how our parish communities could observe the Sunday of the Word of God.

Archdiocesan parishes will find their specific ways to mark this Sunday with a certain solemnity. It is important, however, that in the Eucharistic celebration, the sacred text be enthroned, to focus the attention of the assembly on the normative value of God’s word.

Father Michael Ruminski, Director of Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Hartford, explains the significance of the new designation of the Sunday of the Word of God: