Basic Ecclesial
Communities:
Agents
of Communion, Participation and Mission
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has declared
2017 as the Year of the Parish as Communion of Communities. The CBCP pastoral
exhortation “On Era of New Evangelization” describes the focus of this year:
“This is a year when we more deeply discern not only the structures of
governance of our dioceses and parishes but also of the quality of faith life
in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation by its members.
In a special way we shall probe into our efforts of making the parish a
communion of communities, a communion of Basic Ecclesial Communities and of
covenanted faith-communities and ecclesial movements. We shall discern and
implement measures on how communities of consecrated life may be more
integrated into the life and mission of the parish. In brief, our focus will be
the building of a parish that is truly a faith community immersed in the lives
of its people.”
The priority for this year is forming and revitalizing of Basic
Ecclesial Communities in every parish as agents of communion, participation and
mission with the active participation of other faith communities, lay
organizations, movements and associations (LOMAs).
The theme of 2017 is in line with the PCP II vision of a renewed
Church which is also based on the Vatican II vision of the Church: The Church
as Community of Disciples that live in communion and that participate in the
mission of the Church as a priestly, prophetic and kingly people and as the
Church of the Poor. For PCP II, this vision of the Church finds expression in
the Basic Ecclesial Communities.
PCP II links communion with participation and mission.
“Participation is a very important aspect of the Church as communion…In the
Philippines, participation largely means enabling the laity to participate more
fully in the life of the Church and in its task of mission.” (PCP II 98-99).
The link between communion and mission is further emphasized when PCP II
asserts that “the Church is a communion in a state of mission.” Participation
in Mission as Communion does not simply mean that everyone – from hierarchy to
laity – participate in decision making process or in governance. Participation
is linked to Mission – especially the three-fold prophetic, priestly and kingly
mission.
Thus, the Church is communion that participates in mission. The
BECs which is considered as a new way of being Church is likewise the locus and
agents of communion, participation and mission.
In this article, I wish to expound what BECs are and in what way
they are agents of communion, participation and mission.
In referring to the parish as communion of communities – the
primary reference is to the BECs although not exclusively. The BECs are local
communities of Catholic Christians at the neighborhood and villages within the
parish. The members are close to one another and relate to each other as
friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord. They gather regularly to share the
Word of God and live it in their daily life, to pray and celebrate their faith.
They share their resources and find ways to help and serve one another and
those who are poor and address their problems.
They are known by many local names (GKK, GSK, MSK, Gimong, SISA, etc.). There
are various forms and shapes
— Chapel-centered
communities – 40 to 100 families
— Chapel-centered
communities with family groupings or cells (composed of 7-15 families per FG) -
— Family groupings/cells
without chapels (link all FGs as one community/BEC)
PCP II recognizes the BECs as expression of the vision on a
renewed Church which includes communion:
“Our vision of Church as communion, participation and mission, Church as
Priestly, Prophetic and kingly people, and as Church of the Poor, a Church that
is renewed, is today finding expression in one ecclesial movement. This is the
movement to foster Basic Ecclesial Communities.” (#137)
“They are 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)
St. John Paul II describes BECs as part of the effort to decentralize the
parish community and regard them as expressions and means for a deeper
communion:
““These are groups of Christians who, at the level of the family or in a
similarly restricted setting, come together for prayer, Scripture reading,
catechesis, and discussion of human and ecclesial problems with a view to a
common commitment. These communities are a sign of vitality within the Church,
an instrument of formation and evangelization, and a solid starting point for a
new society based on a “civilization of love.” These communities decentralize
and organize the parish community, to which they always remain united. They
take root in less privileged and rural areas, and become a leaven of Christian
life, of care for the poor and neglected, and of commitment to the
transformation of society. Within them, the individual Christian experiences
community and therefore senses that he or she is playing an active role and is
encouraged to share in the common task. Thus, these communities become a means
of evangelization and of the initial proclamation of the Gospel, and a source
of new ministries.”
“Because the Church is communion the new ‘basic communities,’ if they truly
live in unity with the Church, are a true expression of communion a means for
the construction of a more profound communion. They are thus cause for great
hope for the life of the Church.” (RM 51)
How can BECs be genuine expression of communion? The members experience the
bond of unity which is based on shared faith, celebrated in the breaking of the
bread, concretely expressed in the sharing of material goods (Acts 2:42ff).
In the BECs the members know each other, they have a strong
sense of belonging and responsibility for one another. They live as brothers
and sisters, as community of friends – kapuso, kapamilya, kaibigan and
kapitbahay. The Catholic families are linked to other families in the neighborhoods
and organized as family groupings or BECs cells. The neighborhood cells or
family groupings are linked to each other and comprise the chapel-level or area
level BECs. These BECs are linked to other BECs.
There are lots of celebration and table-fellowship in BECs –
with simple common meals to fiesta celebration. The celebration of the
Eucharist is more meaningful because it expresses and celebrates the life of
communion – of unity, friendship, sharing and participation among the members.
The sharing of time, talent and treasure is an essential
expression of communion. This means practicing a spirituality of stewardship.
This generates a spirit of volunteerism (sharing of time and talent). Some BECs
adopt a modified tithing system (sharing of treasure) which is voluntary by
nature. There are also mutual aid systems and income generating projects
designed to help the members who are needy and even those who are not members
of the community. Some BECs in the rural areas have set up communal farms. Many
have organized cooperatives.
In the BECs, the members express their communion more fully as
they unite and actively participate in fulfilling their threefold mission. This
is the prophetic mission – of proclaiming and giving witness to the Word of
God, the Good News, as well denouncing the manifestation of evil in society.
This is the priestly mission – through active participation in the liturgical
celebration. This is the kingly/servant mission – of working for the kingdom,
for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. This is a mission of social
transformation.
The 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.
Many BECs have not yet realized this vision of a renewed Church.
The task of the clergy and the lay faithful during and beyond the Year of the
Parish as Communion of Communities is forming and revitalizing BECs so that
they truly become agents of communion, participation and mission. In this way,
they will indeed become what Pope Francis calls “Communities of Missionary
Disciples.” (Evangelii Gaudium).
