CBCP Basic Ecclesial Communities holds 3rd National Assembly

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities holds its third national assembly on November 11 to 14, 2015 with the theme “50 Years of Vatican II Renewal: BEC as Community of Missionary Disciples and Church of the Poor.”

Hosted by the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila the four-day event serves as the Philippine Church’s official celebration of the 50th anniversary of the culmination of Vatican II, and one of the culminating activities of the Year of the Poor. The Ecclesiastical Province of Manila is composed of the Archdiocese of Manila, the Dioceses of Antipolo, Cubao, Imus, Malolos, Novaliches, Pasig, Parañaque, San Pablo, and the Apostolic Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay.

Some 1,200 priests, religious and laity from the country’s archdioceses and dioceses   are attending the first three days of the assembly at the Paco Catholic School in Manila. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president presides at the opening mass at 3pm on November 11 at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish church in Paco, Manila.

On November 12, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo will give the opening talk at 8:30 a.m. on the topic, “BECs in the Philippines – Thanksgiving for 50 Years of Vatican II’s Spirit of Renewal.” Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, presides at the mass at 5:30pm.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle will talk on “BEC in the Philippines: Responding as a Community of Missionary Disciples to the Challenge of Pope Francis to be a Poor Church for the Poor” on November 13 at 4 p.m.   Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles will preside at the mass following the talk. 

The final day of the assembly will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. A motorcade of BEC groups from various parishes and dioceses in the National Capital Region will   converge in front the Department of Foreign Affairs building and then proceed to the astrodome at 10 a.m. The afternoon program begins with messages from the incoming and outgoing CBCP chairpersons of the Committee on BEC:  Davao Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and Malaybalay Bishop Jose Cabantan, respectively. Cardinal Tagle will preside at the assembly’s closing Mass at 4 p.m.   

The importance of BECs in the Church was cited by the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II), which decreed the formation of BECs as a pastoral priority of the Church in the Philippines as a new way of “being the Church”— the Church at the grassroots, in the neighborhood and villages.  

“Basic Ecclesial Communities under various names and forms – BCCs, small Christian communities, covenant communities – must be vigorously promoted for the full living of the Christian vocation in both urban and rural area.” (PCP II article 110)  “Usually emerging at the grassroots among poor farmers and workers, Basic Ecclesial Communities consciously strive to integrate their faith and their daily life. They are guided and encouraged by regular catechesis. Poverty and their faith urge their members towards solidarity with one another, action for justice, and towards a vibrant celebration of life in the liturgy.” (PCP II 139).

In 2007, the CBCP established the Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities with the task of assisting the dioceses in the promotion and formation of BECs. The first BEC National Assembly was held on September 19-22, 2005 in Lahug, Cebu City. (CBCP)