The Catholic Konkani Bible for android phones was launched yesterday.The Bible would now also be available for free download at Google play stores worldwide.
“The thirst for the word of God has increased in the present times. And to spread the word through modern digital ways will make it better accessible,” said Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore.
The seekers of the Word of God can read the Bible while waiting at bus stands, railway stations, while traveling and other such occasions, he said after launching the Konkani Bible for android phones.
The Bible was launched with the joint initiative of Mangalore diocese and Jesus Youth.
Fr. Vijay Victor Lobo, Director of Sandesha and Canara Communication Centre of Mangalore diocese said the app would definitely be a boost to all the Konkani speaking Catholics, who can now access entire authentic Konkani Catholic bible on their fingertips.
This app comes with additional features like background music, bookmark and a unique Konkani keyboard to search Konkani words in the entire Bible making it more like a bible study tool, he added.
‘The Hindi bible was launched for android phones in Mumbai in 2012 during a national convention of Jesus Youth after Bibles in Malayalam and Telugu.
“Being inspired by that, the Jesus Youth from Mangalore had taken up the Konkani version in association with the Mangalore diocese,” said Shibu Devasya.
Devasya is a Jesus Youth member from Hyderabad who has given technical support to the Konkani bible for android phones through EthicCoders.
Fr. Lobo said the iPhone/iPad and windows version is in development stage and would be released by Easter.
“With initiatives like these sprouting, one can definitely say that the Catholic Church in India is going hi-tech way, in response to New Evangelization call by both former popes,” he added.