TMPOLP Pastoral Program |
Basic Ecclesial Communities: |
By: Rev. Fr. Randel M. Marero |
Last October 25th of 2013, Fr. Mike Cron, Fr. Alex Varias and I attended the National Institute of Seminary Formators organized by the CBCP Commission on Seminaries. This was held in Holy Family Retreat House in Cebu City. In this event, Fr. Amado L. Picardal, a Redemptorist and the present executive director of the CBCP-BEC delivered his paper on BEC and Seminary Formation. According to Fr. Picardal, BEC has been part of the pastoral formation program of some seminaries in the Philippines since the mid-70’s. But it is only in 1991, that the Philippine Church, through the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines or PCPII, was able to make two decrees that made BEC an integral part of seminary life and formation.
The first can be found under the heading: Seminary Formation article 77 #2: “Without detriment to spiritual, theological and pastoral formation, practical and experiential pastoral training must be part of the seminary curriculum. Hence, opportunities must be provided for seminarians to work and live in depressed areas and to experience the life and activities of different movements in the Church, especially basic ecclesial communities:”
The other decree is found under the heading: Basic Ecclesial Communities, art 110#2: “This official statement of the CBCP shall be, among other things, for proper orienting of priests and seminarians. Training for work with BECs shall be made part of seminary formation.”
The Rationale
While there are decrees, it is important that we understand the rationale behind these. Fr. Picardal tried to reason out why it should be part of seminary formation. The reasons are based on the following: first, the vision and the theology of the Church, and second, the vision and the theology of the ordained ministry.
The first is based on the document Lumen Gentium, that the Church is Communion, an experience of the People of God based in the life of the Holy Trinity, it is renewed and empowered by the Spirit, and bearer of Christ’s prophetic, priestly and kingly/servant mission.
This vision of the Church “can be expressed in BECs. (PCP II no. 137-140). BECs are the means by which ordinary lay-faithful can experience the Church as a community of disciples, where they can live in communion in their neighborhood and local communities, where they can be empowered to actively participate in the prophetic, priestly and servant mission of the Church and become truly part of the Church of the Poor. PCP II recognizes BECs as a “significant expression of ecclesial renewal” and considers the formation of BECs as a “pastoral priority.” (PCP II, 140). Thus, PCP II decreed: “Basic Ecclesial Communities under various names & forms – BCCs, small Christian communities, covenant communities – must be vigorously promoted for the full living of the Christian vocation in both urban & rural areas.” (art 109).
The second is fundamentally based on the first. The vision of the ordained ministry is at the service of the community of God’s people. “Since the clergy has a vital role in the formation and overseeing of BECs which is the pastoral thrust of the Church in the Philippines, seminary formation must be geared towards preparing seminarians to exercise pastoral leadership (good shepherding) over the Christian community/BECs that are prophetic/ witnessing communities, priestly/worshipping communities and kingly/serving communities.”
The first can be found under the heading: Seminary Formation article 77 #2: “Without detriment to spiritual, theological and pastoral formation, practical and experiential pastoral training must be part of the seminary curriculum. Hence, opportunities must be provided for seminarians to work and live in depressed areas and to experience the life and activities of different movements in the Church, especially basic ecclesial communities:”
The other decree is found under the heading: Basic Ecclesial Communities, art 110#2: “This official statement of the CBCP shall be, among other things, for proper orienting of priests and seminarians. Training for work with BECs shall be made part of seminary formation.”
The Rationale
While there are decrees, it is important that we understand the rationale behind these. Fr. Picardal tried to reason out why it should be part of seminary formation. The reasons are based on the following: first, the vision and the theology of the Church, and second, the vision and the theology of the ordained ministry.
The first is based on the document Lumen Gentium, that the Church is Communion, an experience of the People of God based in the life of the Holy Trinity, it is renewed and empowered by the Spirit, and bearer of Christ’s prophetic, priestly and kingly/servant mission.
This vision of the Church “can be expressed in BECs. (PCP II no. 137-140). BECs are the means by which ordinary lay-faithful can experience the Church as a community of disciples, where they can live in communion in their neighborhood and local communities, where they can be empowered to actively participate in the prophetic, priestly and servant mission of the Church and become truly part of the Church of the Poor. PCP II recognizes BECs as a “significant expression of ecclesial renewal” and considers the formation of BECs as a “pastoral priority.” (PCP II, 140). Thus, PCP II decreed: “Basic Ecclesial Communities under various names & forms – BCCs, small Christian communities, covenant communities – must be vigorously promoted for the full living of the Christian vocation in both urban & rural areas.” (art 109).
The second is fundamentally based on the first. The vision of the ordained ministry is at the service of the community of God’s people. “Since the clergy has a vital role in the formation and overseeing of BECs which is the pastoral thrust of the Church in the Philippines, seminary formation must be geared towards preparing seminarians to exercise pastoral leadership (good shepherding) over the Christian community/BECs that are prophetic/ witnessing communities, priestly/worshipping communities and kingly/serving communities.”
The Structure of the Program
The structure of the apostolate program for this year is basically designed according to the recommendations of the Updated Philippine Program for Priestly Formation or UPPPF. Some of these are the following:
“The parish is a privileged setting for the ministry of shepherding. Seminarians should be given ample time to serve parish communities in their various needs, especially in community building and organization. Particular mention is to be made of Basic Ecclesial Communities. Where BECs already exist, seminarians are to be encouraged to participate actively. They need to learn from experience the inner workings and dynamism of this “pastoral priority…a significant expression of ecclesial renewal” UPPPF 158
“Through involvement in different forms of ministry of the Word such as catechetical instruction, bible study or sharing groups, bible services, bible institutes, preparing homily guides and the like, seminarians are nourished by the word of God as they witness how that word becomes the life of Christian communities. Likewise, seminarians are able to journey with the people in their hunger for the Word. They learn to collaborate with lay leaders engaged in the ministry of the Word in parishes and BECs.” UPPPF 153
Fr. Picardal added, “Thus, the seminarians can help in forming and strengthening the BECs. They can assist the parish BEC animation/formation teams. They can help in the renewed evangelization of BECs. They can help in the ongoing catechesis of children, youth and adults in BECs. They can help in the formation and training of BEC formators and leaders. They can act as resource persons in the parish/BECs. They can do this when they are assigned to work with BECs during weekends, summer vacations and the pastoral immersion year.”
The structure of the apostolate program for this year is basically designed according to the recommendations of the Updated Philippine Program for Priestly Formation or UPPPF. Some of these are the following:
“The parish is a privileged setting for the ministry of shepherding. Seminarians should be given ample time to serve parish communities in their various needs, especially in community building and organization. Particular mention is to be made of Basic Ecclesial Communities. Where BECs already exist, seminarians are to be encouraged to participate actively. They need to learn from experience the inner workings and dynamism of this “pastoral priority…a significant expression of ecclesial renewal” UPPPF 158
“Through involvement in different forms of ministry of the Word such as catechetical instruction, bible study or sharing groups, bible services, bible institutes, preparing homily guides and the like, seminarians are nourished by the word of God as they witness how that word becomes the life of Christian communities. Likewise, seminarians are able to journey with the people in their hunger for the Word. They learn to collaborate with lay leaders engaged in the ministry of the Word in parishes and BECs.” UPPPF 153
Fr. Picardal added, “Thus, the seminarians can help in forming and strengthening the BECs. They can assist the parish BEC animation/formation teams. They can help in the renewed evangelization of BECs. They can help in the ongoing catechesis of children, youth and adults in BECs. They can help in the formation and training of BEC formators and leaders. They can act as resource persons in the parish/BECs. They can do this when they are assigned to work with BECs during weekends, summer vacations and the pastoral immersion year.”
Our Partners and Collaborators
OLP and TMP are committed to the synchronization of the pastoral programs for both seminaries. To be able to make the program viable and sustainable, the seminaries will collaborate with competent people who can provide technologies and avenues for learning and doing BEC. The Bukal ng Tipan Institute provides the seminarians the theories, skills and tools for organizing and developing programs for BECs. While five parishes in Cavite have committed to be the setting or the avenue for seminarians where they can get involved in the real life of BECs: namely, St. Michael in Bacoor; San Isidro Labrador in San Roque, Naic; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Javalera, Gen. Trias; St. Jude in Trece Martirez; and St. Augustine in Mendez.
The seminarians are expected to be generous in channeling their youthful energies to this worthwhile work for the good of others in an environment wherein support system, team work and jolly brotherhood are being valued (UPPPF 272). The program will ensure the following: tools for BEC are provided, ideas are shared, pastoral skills are acquired and honed through practice and intimate encounter with the living Church. It is our hope that at the end of the pastoral formation program each seminarian is planted with the seed of Applied Pastoral Intelligence, nurtured by sound prayer and enflamed by zeal for mission.
OLP and TMP are committed to the synchronization of the pastoral programs for both seminaries. To be able to make the program viable and sustainable, the seminaries will collaborate with competent people who can provide technologies and avenues for learning and doing BEC. The Bukal ng Tipan Institute provides the seminarians the theories, skills and tools for organizing and developing programs for BECs. While five parishes in Cavite have committed to be the setting or the avenue for seminarians where they can get involved in the real life of BECs: namely, St. Michael in Bacoor; San Isidro Labrador in San Roque, Naic; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Javalera, Gen. Trias; St. Jude in Trece Martirez; and St. Augustine in Mendez.
The seminarians are expected to be generous in channeling their youthful energies to this worthwhile work for the good of others in an environment wherein support system, team work and jolly brotherhood are being valued (UPPPF 272). The program will ensure the following: tools for BEC are provided, ideas are shared, pastoral skills are acquired and honed through practice and intimate encounter with the living Church. It is our hope that at the end of the pastoral formation program each seminarian is planted with the seed of Applied Pastoral Intelligence, nurtured by sound prayer and enflamed by zeal for mission.