What is required of What is required of us?us?

The Role of the Local Church, the The Role of the Local Church, the Laity & the Clergy in Forming the Laity & the Clergy in Forming the

BECsBECs

For the diocese – For the diocese – commitment and owning commitment and owning

the vision the vision This journey towards a new way of being This journey towards a new way of being

Church must be undertaken by all those who Church must be undertaken by all those who belong to this diocese – the bishop, clergy, belong to this diocese – the bishop, clergy, religious and lay faithful.religious and lay faithful.

Everyone must own this vision and commit Everyone must own this vision and commit themselves to make this vision a reality.themselves to make this vision a reality.

The BECs must be accepted as part of the The BECs must be accepted as part of the structure of the diocese – the most basic structure of the diocese – the most basic ecclesial unit in the parishecclesial unit in the parish

Every diocesan commission must be geared Every diocesan commission must be geared towards supporting the growth of BECs.towards supporting the growth of BECs.

For the lay faithful – Active For the lay faithful – Active articipationarticipation

Vatican II & PCP II reminds us that the lay Vatican II & PCP II reminds us that the lay faithful share in the life & mission of the faithful share in the life & mission of the churchchurch

The formation of BECs depend on the The formation of BECs depend on the active participation of the lay faithful. The active participation of the lay faithful. The BECs are after all made up of lay people BECs are after all made up of lay people and led by lay leaders. The leaders should and led by lay leaders. The leaders should be trained and imbued with missionary be trained and imbued with missionary dynamism.dynamism.

The members of lay organizations & The members of lay organizations & movements should also actively movements should also actively participate in the formation of BECs.participate in the formation of BECs.

Active participation of lay Active participation of lay faithfulfaithful

There is need for the participation of There is need for the participation of lay pastoral workers at the diocesan lay pastoral workers at the diocesan and parish levels who will assist in the and parish levels who will assist in the formation of BECs and training of formation of BECs and training of leaders.leaders.

During the initial stage of building During the initial stage of building BECs, the parish priests will need the BECs, the parish priests will need the help of a parish formation team made help of a parish formation team made up of lay people: full-time lay pastoral up of lay people: full-time lay pastoral workers and also volunteers.workers and also volunteers.

For the Clergy: For the Clergy: A new way of being priestA new way of being priest

For so many centuries the understanding For so many centuries the understanding of priestly ministry was narrowed down of priestly ministry was narrowed down to the cultic/liturgical ministry.to the cultic/liturgical ministry.

There are still many who think that the There are still many who think that the role of the priest is only to say mass, role of the priest is only to say mass, hear confession, anoint the sick and hear confession, anoint the sick and administer other sacramentsadminister other sacraments

However, Vatican II and PCP II has However, Vatican II and PCP II has broadened the understanding of ministry.broadened the understanding of ministry.

A new way of being priestA new way of being priest

The ordained ministry is at the service of The ordained ministry is at the service of the Christian communitythe Christian community

It is a ministry of pastoral leadership over It is a ministry of pastoral leadership over the Christian community – the parish the Christian community – the parish community & the network of BECs within community & the network of BECs within the parish.the parish.

It is a ministry of building up the unity It is a ministry of building up the unity and communion of the Christian and communion of the Christian community.community.

The priest is a builder not only of the The priest is a builder not only of the church made of marble, but of the living church made of marble, but of the living church, the Christian community.church, the Christian community.

A new way of being priestA new way of being priest

The priest builds the unity of the Church The priest builds the unity of the Church community and promotes communion community and promotes communion (unity & solidarity) in the Christian (unity & solidarity) in the Christian community. community.

The priest is called to be a Good Shepherd, The priest is called to be a Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep & who gathers them who knows his sheep & who gathers them together as one flock.together as one flock.

He not only builds the community, he also He not only builds the community, he also presides over the community and leads it. presides over the community and leads it. Thus, he has to be close to his flock.Thus, he has to be close to his flock.

A new way of being A new way of being priestpriest

The priest has a responsibility to develop the The priest has a responsibility to develop the sense of community & communion not only a sense of community & communion not only a the parish level but also at the level of BECs.the parish level but also at the level of BECs.

The development of the parish as a network The development of the parish as a network of BECs – a community of communities – is a of BECs – a community of communities – is a constitutive dimension of the priestly constitutive dimension of the priestly ministry/ministry/

The priest has to animate and support the lay The priest has to animate and support the lay people in his parish to build and develop people in his parish to build and develop BECs.BECs.

It is his responsibility to ensure the formation It is his responsibility to ensure the formation of lay leaders that will lead these of lay leaders that will lead these communities.communities.

A new way of being priestA new way of being priest

The prophetic ministry exercised by the The prophetic ministry exercised by the priest forms & builds up the Christian priest forms & builds up the Christian community,community,

Evangelization is an essential part of the Evangelization is an essential part of the formation of BECs. The primary agent of formation of BECs. The primary agent of this evangelization is the priest in this evangelization is the priest in collaboration with lay people and under collaboration with lay people and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The prophetic ministry exercised by the The prophetic ministry exercised by the priest leads to the formation & growth priest leads to the formation & growth of BECs as prophetic communities.of BECs as prophetic communities.

A new way of being priestA new way of being priest

Vatican II & PCP II assert that the Vatican II & PCP II assert that the ministerial priesthood enables the ministerial priesthood enables the people of God to actualize its common people of God to actualize its common priesthood. priesthood.

The task of the priest as leader of the The task of the priest as leader of the priestly community is to foster full & priestly community is to foster full & active participation in the liturgical active participation in the liturgical celebration. celebration.

He forms the community into a truly He forms the community into a truly worshipping & celebrating community.worshipping & celebrating community.

A new way of being A new way of being priestpriest

The priest has to make sure that the liturgy The priest has to make sure that the liturgy is celebrated not among strangers but by a is celebrated not among strangers but by a genuine community whose members know genuine community whose members know each other and are in communion with each each other and are in communion with each other. This can be concretized by forming other. This can be concretized by forming BECs that are truly worshipping, priestly BECs that are truly worshipping, priestly communities.communities.

In exercising his sacramental/liturgical In exercising his sacramental/liturgical ministry, it is not enough that the priest ministry, it is not enough that the priest administer the sacraments at the parish administer the sacraments at the parish church. He has to go out more often to the church. He has to go out more often to the barrios & neighborhood communities to barrios & neighborhood communities to celebrate the Eucharist with the BECs more celebrate the Eucharist with the BECs more frequently (monthly, bi-monthly).frequently (monthly, bi-monthly).

A new way of being priestA new way of being priest The priest must also train lay liturgical leaders The priest must also train lay liturgical leaders

for each BEC so that these communities can for each BEC so that these communities can continue to worship & celebrate even in his continue to worship & celebrate even in his absence.absence.

The priest can not remain indifferent to the The priest can not remain indifferent to the situation of the people he is called to serve. His situation of the people he is called to serve. His pastoral ministry involves animating his parish pastoral ministry involves animating his parish community & the BECs to address the problems community & the BECs to address the problems that they face – especially poverty, injustice, that they face – especially poverty, injustice, armed conflict & the destruction of the armed conflict & the destruction of the environment.environment.

He should encourage and support the BECs to He should encourage and support the BECs to work for justice, peace, development, and work for justice, peace, development, and integrity of creation and thus help transform integrity of creation and thus help transform society.society.

A New way of being priestA New way of being priest The priest must enable the lay faithful in the The priest must enable the lay faithful in the

parish & the BECs to actively participate in parish & the BECs to actively participate in the life & mission of the churchthe life & mission of the church

He has to listen to them and encourage them He has to listen to them and encourage them to participate in the process of decision-to participate in the process of decision-making, planning & implementation (pastoral making, planning & implementation (pastoral councils, parish assemblies)councils, parish assemblies)

Thus, the journey towards a new way of Thus, the journey towards a new way of being church requires a new way of being being church requires a new way of being priest. The priest should see himself not as priest. The priest should see himself not as Lord of the parish but the servant leader of Lord of the parish but the servant leader of the community & the BECs.the community & the BECs.

A new way of being A new way of being priestpriest

The priest is called to live a simple The priest is called to live a simple lifestyle and make a preferential option lifestyle and make a preferential option for the poor.for the poor.

Like Christ, he must bring the good news Like Christ, he must bring the good news to the poor and help empower them so to the poor and help empower them so that the Church can truly become the that the Church can truly become the Church of the poor.Church of the poor.

The Church according to Vatican II & The Church according to Vatican II & PCP II is called to be a participatory PCP II is called to be a participatory church. The BECs are an expression of church. The BECs are an expression of this participative nature of the Church.this participative nature of the Church.

For the BishopFor the Bishop

Lead, Inspire Lead, Inspire & support the & support the clergy, clergy, religious & religious & laitylaity

in forming the in forming the BECsBECs

For the Bishop: Lead, For the Bishop: Lead, Inspire & Support the Inspire & Support the

clergy, religious & laityclergy, religious & laity The bishop has to lead & guide the whole The bishop has to lead & guide the whole

flock in the journey. He must make sure flock in the journey. He must make sure that everyone – clergy, religious & lay that everyone – clergy, religious & lay faithful – will journey together to make faithful – will journey together to make their dream and vision a reality.their dream and vision a reality.

At times he will have to challenge & inspire At times he will have to challenge & inspire those who are lukewarm or complacent.those who are lukewarm or complacent.

Like the Good Shepherd, he knows his Like the Good Shepherd, he knows his sheep and is close to them. He unites them sheep and is close to them. He unites them and leads them to their destination – a new and leads them to their destination – a new way of being Church.way of being Church.

The Whole Church in the The Whole Church in the PhilippinesPhilippines

The Church in the Philippines is moving The Church in the Philippines is moving towards this new way of being Churchtowards this new way of being Church

PCP II regards the BECs as a concrete PCP II regards the BECs as a concrete expression of the vision of a renewed expression of the vision of a renewed Church and has decreed that BECs must Church and has decreed that BECs must be vigorously promoted in all the be vigorously promoted in all the dioceses and parishes in the country.dioceses and parishes in the country.

There are now over 50 dioceses that has There are now over 50 dioceses that has made the formation of BECs a pastoral made the formation of BECs a pastoral priority.priority.

The BECs are signs of vitality in the Church …

a cause of great hope for the Church,

and a solid starting point for a new society based on a civilization

of love.