By CBCP News
November 14, 2019
Davao City
A huge gathering of Basic Ecclesial Communities workers ended Thursday with a missionary mandate to work for justice and for the safeguarding of creation.
Bishop Jose Cabantan of Malaybalay spoke about the Gospel and justice at the closing Mass for the 4th BEC National Assembly in Davao City.
“We are called to proclaim God’s kingdom in justice and love,” he said in his homily. “Also, we are called to share this Gospel to different sectors of our community.”
But to be able to minister effectively, the head of the bishops’ Committee on BECs said that all these spiritualities must be rooted “in our Christian spirituality”.
“All our lives, our minds, our hearts should always be rooted in Christ in order to proclaim the Good News that the Lord has entrusted to us,” he said.
More than 700 participants from across the country attended the four-day assembly, hosted this time by the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Davao.
Bishop Cabantan particularly cited the need to share the Gospel values to the indigenous peoples and the young Filipinos.
During the assembly, the partial result of a nationwide survey on the BECs was presented to the participants.
Conducted by the De La Salle University Research Team, the study focused on at least four areas: environment, goals, structure, resources and culture.
Among the challenges determined in the study include the competition of “denominations” in parishes and the “limited” participation of the youth.
The gap between senior and youth members and the clamor to form structures in appointing BEC leaders were also among the issues that need to be addressed.
But despite the issues, the survey stressed that the BEC is “alive and active” in promoting the mission of the Church.
“The presence of the Holy Spirit is active today among BECs,” the survey stated.
Researchers also found out that BEC members strive to integrate faith in daily life; there’s cooperation and openness between BEC and barangay leaders; and there’s inherent social action programs and catechesis in some BECs.
“This only proves that the challenge of Pope Francis to bring a new evangelizing fervor to renew the Church is actively present in the BECs in the Philippines,” they study added.
