BEC

Basic ecclesial communities also known as basic Christian communities or small Christian communities.

Members  of BEC are called to 

1. Participate in Christ's prophetic mission by listening to the Word of God, proclaiming it and giving witness to it.

2. Spread the message of total salvation, peace and justice.

3. Put to practice common priesthood by actively participating in the liturgical celebrations.

4. Take part in Christ's kingly mission by extending their sincere and heartfelt service to others especially the poor and the needy, their work for justice and peace for social transformation.

5. Thus, BECs are referred to as prophetic (evangelizing), priestly (worshipping) and kingly (serving) communities echoing Vatican II's vision of the Church as People of God.

Blessed Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical "Redemptoris Missio" affirmed that "BECs are centers for Christian formation and missionary outreach. They are a sign of vitality within the Church, an instrument of formation and evangelization, a solid starting point for a new society based on a "civilization of love." BECs decentralize and organize the parish community to which they remain united. They take root among the less privileged. They become a leaven of Christian life, care for the poor,and commitment to the transformation of society... They are a means of evangelization and of initial proclamation of the Gospel - a source of new ministries. They are a true expression of communion and a means for the construction of a more profound communion. They are a cause for great hope for the life of the Church." (RM 51).

BEC core teams need to be a praying team, being together and praying together to nourish and build the faith.

The Seven Pillars of BEC Culture

by Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR

The BEC is not just an activity or program. It is a way of life. It has its own culture.

Community Culture is defined as the way of life of the community which includes patterns of interaction, behavior and the underlying values, beliefs and worldview. It is the kind of environment that prevails in a community.

It includes the rituals, symbols, creed, and code of ethical conduct.

It defines what behavior is right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate.

The community culture also defines patterns of relationship – whether personal/intimate or impersonal/functional. It also defines the boundaries.

It also defines how leadership is exercised, and how decisions are made.

A BEC without a clear culture  cannot grow nor can it be sustained.

7 pillars of BEC culture.

1.Awareness  as Renewed Christians

We are  renewed Christians-

We have  accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior.

We have turned away from sin and living a new life.

We have become aware of the presence of the Spirit in our life, the Spirit that  renews us, unites us and empowers us for mission.

We have gone through a process of conversion and commit ourselves to live as true disciples of Jesus in community, and continue his  priestly, prophetic and pastoral mission.

2.Communion

We are family/community, we are close to one another, we live as friends, we care for each other, we share with each other, we take care of each other.

We  regularly  spend time together to  deepen our relationship.

As we strive to be close to one another we observe proper boundary and respect for each other. We will never exploit or take advantage of each other.

We are a community of equals and we recognize our diversity of temperaments and gifts.

When conflicts arise we will always strive together for dialogue and reconciliation.

We  are connected to other BECs in the parish, we are part of the bigger community – the parish, diocese, universal church. We will never isolate ourselves from the wider Church to which we are connected. ln view of this we affirm our solidarity with our pastors – the priests, bishops and our Holy Father, the successor of St. Peter.

We are open to a dialogue of faith and life with people of other faiths and religious traditions.

3.Word of God

The Word of God as recorded in the Bible and reflected in the tradition and teachings of the Church is the guide of our life.

We come together regularly to listen to the Word and share it. We allow the Word to challenge us and to continually transform our life.

We continue to study to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Word and the teaching of the Church.

We proclaim the Word to others and to give witness to it with our life.

We uphold the teachings of the church in matters of faith and morals  – including its social teachings that promote peace, justice, freedom, human rights and respect for life.

When necessary we will speak out against any manifestation of evil and  culture of death in our midst – i.e., abortion, war, capital punishment, injustices, oppression, corruption, violation of human rights, ecological destruction, etc. 

4.Prayer and the Eucharist

Prayer expresses and deepens our relationship with God  and with  one another.

We come together at least once a week for community prayer or liturgical celebration (bible-service).

We gather regularly as a community to celebrate the Eucharist (depending on the availability of a priest).

We celebrate communally our fiesta and the liturgical seasons – Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.

We fully and actively participate in the liturgical celebration in our community and the parish.

5.Social Action

We believe that faith without good works is dead.

As a community we are concerned about our brothers and sisters who are in need and we show our love and care for them concretely.

We meet regularly to assess our concrete situation – social, economic, political, ecological. We identify the problems, issues and needs that we have to respond to as a community.

We  actively participate in the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and projects that will address these problems and needs.

We are guided by the social teachings of the Church, especially the principle of the common good, total human development, human dignity, justice, peace and integrity of creation.

We  affirm our commitment and option for the poor.

We  live simply and share with our time, talents and resources.

We collaborate with other communities, groups and people of good will in the struggle for social transformation.

We do not allow ourselves to be used and controlled by ideologies, political parties and movements. We reject terrorism and violence as means in bringing about social transformation.

6.Option for the Poor  

We embrace evangelical poverty. We totally depend on God.We affirm our commitment and option for the poor. We  live simply and share with others our time, talents and resources. We  make sure that the poor in our midst will fully participate in the life and mission of the Church and our local community. We strive to become truly the Church of the Poor. 

7.Participative Membership and Servant-Leadership

We recognize the authority and leadership of our diocesan and parochial pastors (bishops and priests) over our community. Through them we affirm our communion with the universal church and our universal pastor – the pope.

We avail of the structures in the parish and the community that enables us to actively participate in the process of decision-making.

We recognize the authority of the local leaders of the community.

Leadership and authority is to be exercised in the spirit of humble service.  Leadership should never be regarded in terms of power, privilege and prestige. There is no place for an autocratic or dictatorial style of leadership in the community. The leaders will function collegially – as a team or council- and will adopt a participative model.

The leaders are  chosen or elected after a prayerful process of discernment  on the basis of their integrity, commitment and competence.