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Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle will lead the launch of the Year of the Basic Ecclesiastical Communities (BEC) in a Eucharistic Celebration on November 26, 2016 at the Aquinas School Gymnasium in San Juan City at 9 a.m.
The Year of the BEC is the fifth of the nine-year journey in New Evangelization as the Catholic Church in the Philippines looks forward to 2021, the 500th year of Christianity in the country.
With the theme “Building and Strengthening of Participatory Communities that Make Up the Parish as Communion of Communities, the focus for the celebration of the Year of BEC is to be a church of communion, participation and mission as described in the Pastoral Exhortation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on “On Era of New Evangelization.”
In his message, Cardinal Tagle invites the faithful to take part not only in the launching of the Year of the Parish but also during the year-long celebration.
“Inaanyayahan ko po kayo, hinihimok ko po kayo na makiisa sa paglulungsad ng Taon ng Parokya bilang bukluran ng munting sambayanan. At hindi lamang sa paglulungsad kundi sa lahat ng gampanin sa buong taon.”
The activities prepared by the Ministry on BEC formation and promotion headed by Fr. Benjie Ledesma of Archdiocese of Manila during the launching include the Keynote Address of Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Committee on BEC at 11:20 a.m. and an Inspirational Talk of Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila at 1:15 p.m. A mission sending to be led by Fr. Jesus C. Prol, OP, Parish Priest of Santuario de Santo Cristo at 2:15 p.m. will conclude the whole day program.
The program will be preceded by a motorcade at 7:30 a.m. from St. John the Baptist parish, Pinaglabanan, San Juan City to Aquinas School.
The second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCII) defines BEC as “small communities of Christians, usually of families who gather together around the Word of God and the Eucharist. These communities are united to their pastors but are ministered to regularly by lay leaders. The members know each other by name, and share not only the Word of God and the Eucharist but also their concerns both material and spiritual. They have a strong sense of belongingness and responsibility for one another.” (PCP II 138)
As Communion of Communities, BEC members and leaders actively participate in fulfilling their threefold missions namely: Prophetic (evangelization, catechesis, gospel sharing, denunciation of social evil); Priestly (worship, liturgy); and Kingly (charity, social action).
In an article written by Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, Exectuive Secretary CBCP-BEC, he said “BECs carry out their mission within the parish, starting in their own neighborhood, in the barangay or village, in nearby communities. They go to the peripheries in the parish and reach out to those who are baptized but not evangelized, those who are nominal or seasonal Catholics and those who are alienated from the Church. They engage in dialogue with Christians from other denominations and those who belong to other religions.”
For inquires please call Fr. Benjie Ledesma, at 09175020923 or Miss Mylene Gaytano Enriquez at 09175020923.
