Mangaluru: Parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli, have handwritten the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Thirteen parishioners completed the New Testament, and two children wrote the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The parish is about 27km from Mangaluru.The effort began after parish priest Fr Joachim Fernandes urged parishioners during the Gospel Week. “It was last Jan, during Gospel Week, I gave a call to parishioners to handwrite the Holy Bible. It was a voluntary effort. Similar initiatives are quite familiar in Kerala, and I first tried it when I was the parish priest of Kelarai near Neermarga, where four of them wrote it by hand. Extending the same initiative, I took it up here, and so far the response is overwhelming, with 13 parishioners, including 11 women, handwriting the New Testament, while two children wrote the four New Testament Gospels,” he said.
He said some finished the writing in three to four months, while others took at least a year. Inspired by the initiative, some parishioners have now begun handwriting the Old Testament, which has 46 books, and the New Testament, which has 27. “It was a challenging task, where one gains many spiritual benefits from writing sacred scriptures. One sees, reads, and touches the book,” he said, adding that a few parishioners, especially children, now plan to memorise select verses.Those who wrote the Bible said the experience brought spiritual and personal gains. “The handwriting of the Bible helped me in many ways, both spiritual and personal. Others also shared the same,” said a parishioner who did not want to be named.
