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The Church worldwide celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God

January 23, 2026

Sunday of the Word of God. Image shows a drawing of two disciples, a man and a woman, walking along with Christ.

The "Sunday of the Word of God" is celebrated this Sunday, 25 January, the third Sunday in Ordinary Time - the day offers an important opportunity for people across our family of faith to celebrate, study and share the Word of God, with the theme for 2026:

“The word of Christ dwells among you” (Col 3:16)

Writing in the introduction to this year's handbook, Archbishop Rino Fisichella says:

"The biblical expression chosen for the celebration of the seventh Sunday of the Word of God is taken from the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians: 'The word of Christ dwells among you' (3:16). What we receive from the Apostle is not a simple moral exhortation, but the indication of a new way of living. Paul does not ask that the Word be merely listened to or studied; he wants it to dwell, that is, to take up stable residence, to shape our thoughts, guide our desires, and make credible the witness of the disciples. The Word of Christ remains a sure criterion that unifies and renders fruitful the life of the Christian community.
"It is particularly significant that, this year, the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God coincides with the celebration of the Conversion of St Paul, the day that concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Word that Christ addressed to Paul on the road to Damascus struck his heart so deeply that it made him the great evangeliser we know. Today it is up to us to ensure that the same Word reaches the ends of the earth, so as to transform the life of all peoples by dwelling among us."

This Sunday's celebration links beautifully with Pope Leo's new series of catecheses on the Documents of Vatican II, starting with "Dei Verbum".

Additional resources for the day can be found on the CBCEW and The God Who Speaks websites.

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