St. Peter Parish hosts five-day Bible Marathon

MONUMENT. It has been almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic brought our everyday lives to a halt and caused many people to feel confused and disoriented. At St. Peter Parish in Monument, we are feeling tired but hopeful. Our faith kept us strong and will continue to do so. We are proud to consider ourselves a large family — sharing joys and sorrows together.

The St. Peter family decided to come together again and learn more about God and his plan of salvation. The Catholic Church is founded on Scripture and tradition, so we decided to read scripture. We called it the “Bible Marathon Journey of Faith.”

Beginning on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m., we started to read the Marathon Bible — from Genesis to Revelation — without any breaks.  At Peter the Rock Chapel, the scripture was proclaimed day and night until it was finished several days later on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. Elderly people, young families, children, school students, members of the Savio youth group, clergy, Salesian sisters, teachers and more read portions of the Bible.

It brought us together and gave us all the opportunity to reflect on God’s word. It was an amazing time, and words can not describe how important that was for us. Scripture reading brought us again to one conclusion: in good times and in bad, we are called to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and our neighbor as ourselves.

I believe that the results of this effort will be increased numbers of people participating in eucharistic adoration, the sacrament of confession, Bible studies, faith formation, works of charity and reaching out to Monument and surrounding communities asking if we can be in any help to them.

(Father Gregory Golyzniak is pastor of St. Peter Parish in Monument.)