The University of St. Thomas Campus Ministry is seeking people of all faiths to publicly proclaim the word of God for the “Continuous Reading of the Bible: An Ecumenical Event.”

This three-day event will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20 and end at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. During the event, the Bible will be read aloud, around the clock, cover to cover, at the Chapel of St. Basil, stopping only for regularly scheduled Masses. 

Campus Ministry is inviting UST faculty staff and students, various Catholic parishes and inter-faith community members, and noted religious leaders to read the Bible aloud for 15 minute intervals.

UST Chaplain Father Mike Buentello, CSB, said he was inspired when the recent Senate of Bishops started the session in Rome with a non-stop reading of the Bible. “I thought, we can do that,” Fr. Buentello said. “We are a Catholic institution. Let’s unite under the reading of the Bible.”

Fr. Buentello went on to say, “One criticism and misconception that you often hear about Catholics is that we all have a Bible in our homes, but we seldom open and read it. It’s very important that we are comfortable with scripture. Too often, we talk about what divides us, and we overlook what we have in common. We should concentrate on what unites us, what brings us closer together and closer to God – and that is our Bible.”

This is the first time UST has held an ecumenical continuous reading of the Bible, and further details will continue to unfold as the event approaches.

Campus Ministry will accept readers until Feb. 6, when a tentative schedule readers and backup readers will be created. No auditions or rehearsals will be required to participate.

The Bible will be read in Spanish both Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.  An opening ceremony featuring all special guests including religious and civic leaders will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. After the opening, each special guest will read the Bible for five minutes.
A closing ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb.

Those interested in signing up to read should e-mail http://campusministry@stthom.edu