Pulpit / Bulletin announcements and Scripture and Reflection Questions are available on this page or can be requested via email ( ).

Keys to Success

1. The pastor participates and encourages parishioners at every Mass.
2. An appointed key leader assists the pastor in implementing the program.
3. Participation will be maximized if ushers hand out the MP3 Audio Bibles to each family at Mass on the distribution dates: Ash Wednesday and the following Sunday.
4. The missions part of the program is promoted as equally important as the individual Bible listening.
5. Parishioners will get the most out of the program if they listen for the entire 40 days. Encourage them to use the Reflection Questions during this time.

WEEK 1: Three weeks prior to distribution of the Audio Bible MP3s

• Display your You’ve Got The Time posters announcing the date of Audio New Testament MP3 distribution: Ash Wednesday, February 17 and Sunday, February 21.
• View the program video with your program leaders.
• Make Pulpit Announcement #1.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #1.
• Pray with your Faith Comes By Hearing consultant for God’s blessings on the program and the partnership we have formed to share God’s Word.

WEEK 2: Two weeks prior to your distribution

• Repeat Pulpit Announcement #1.
• Repeat Bulletin Announcement #1.

WEEK 3: In preparation for distribution

• Homily Presentation: Read to your parishioners the Archbishop’s December endorsement letter and/or insert it in the bulletin.
• Show the Archbishop’s video message to parishioners or, minimally, to key leaders, including ushers, greeters, catechists, and others involved in distribution of the MP3 Audio Bibles. (See video instructions for Week 7)
• Remind parishioners that they will receive their free Audio New Testament MP3s on Ash Wednesday, February 17 and on Sunday, February 21. See Pulpit Announcement #2.
• Communicate that a special Second Collection will be taken up in all participating parishes on Sunday, March 7. (Note: this date follows new archdiocesan instructions to pastors and bookkeepers.) Challenge your families to be as generous as possible with their donation, 100% of which will be used for a language recording and distribution of listening devices in mission fields.
• Demonstrate The Proclaimer and share its importance for other nations. See Pulpit Announcement #2.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #2.
• Arrange for catechetical leaders to distribute KIDZ MP3 Bibles.

WEEK 4: Sunday, February 14

• Repeat Pulpit Announcement #2.
• Repeat Bulletin Announcement #2.

Ash Wednesday, February 17: Distribution and Launch of 40-Day Listening Program

• Announce in the homily that today free Audio New Testaments on MP3 are being distributed. Let parents know that KIDZ Bibles will be given out during religious education classes (or at whatever other time and place the parish has designated. See Pulpit Announcement #3).
• Explain that each individual/family is to listen to the New Testament in 28-minute segments every day during the 40 days of Lent, starting today, using, if desired, the Reflection Questions posted in the bulletin/online. See Pulpit Announcement #3.
• Distribute the MP3 disks: placing them in advance at the ends of pews and asking parishioners to pass them to one another, and/or handing them out through ushers/greeters at the start/end of Masses.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #3, including Day 1-7 Scriptures and Reflection Questions.

WEEK 5: Sunday, February 21 (First Sunday of Lent): Second Distribution

• Repeat the instructions for Ash Wednesday, using Pulpit Announcement #4.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #4, including Day 8-14 Scriptures and Reflection Questions.

WEEK 6: Sunday, February 28 (Second Sunday of Lent)

• Display the remaining MP3 New Testament disks on a table in the lobby.
• Make Pulpit Announcement #5 announcing Sunday, March 7 special Second Collection.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #5, including Day 15-21 Scriptures and Reflection Questions.

WEEK 7: Sunday, March 7 (Third Sunday of Lent): special Collection to help Catholic Missionaries

• Make Pulpit Announcement #6 announcing today’s special Second Collection and take up Second Collection. Explain what it takes to get a Catholic New Testament language recording funded: the total cost is $25,596; with 27 books in the New Testament, the cost to record averages $948 per book.
• Play the DVD with the Archbishop’s message to parishioners and/or demonstrate The Proclaimer listening device used in mission fields while reading from the Archbishop’s letter, to encourage a generous response to today’s Second Collection for missionaries. (See video instructions for Week 3)
• Thank your families for helping provide God’s Word to poor and illiterate people.
• Post Bulletin Announcement #6, including Day 22-28 Scriptures and Reflection Questions.
• Send one check with the funds from the special Second Collection to Faith Comes By Hearing to the address below. (Note: this as per new archdiocesan instructions to pastors and bookkeepers.)
• Fill out and return to Faith Comes By Hearing the “WE TOOK THE TIME” response device. (Hard copy is in the packet you received.)

WEEKS 8-10: Fourth Sunday of Lent through Palm Sunday, included

• Bulletin inserts/announcements: each week share the Scriptures and Reflection Questions for the appropriate days of listening.
• Encourage people who have fallen behind in their daily 28-minute listening, or have not yet started, to catch up and complete the entire New Testament by Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday. See Pulpit Announcement #7.

For assistance with other Bible related initiatives and all your evangelization needs,
please contact the
Office for Evangelization of the
Archdiocese of San Antonio:
• 210-734-1990

Special Video Message from Archbishop José H. Gomez

How to MP3

Online Bible

Faith Comes by Hearing