BEC SESSION GUIDE:  Guide Questions for Reflection

Emphasis and Reminders: a. What did I see, hear and feel in my Relationship
 BEC Session aims to build relationships (1 John 4:20) with Christ in the Gospel that was read?
 BEC Session is not, a prayer meeting or a bible study b. What is Jesus’ personal message for me and to
activity, it is a Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word my family
 The session is facilitated by a lay person c. How should I respond to His message/s?
 It can be done by a family or as a community 8. 2nd reading of the Gospel –relate to experience
 It is the anticipated celebration of the Liturgy of the Word 9. Then the reader says – “The Word of the Lord”
using the upcoming Sunday Gospel Reading Response – “Thanks be to God”
 There are rules for an orderly and meaningful sharing 10. Take your seat
 John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 11. Moment of Silence
was with God, and the Word was God.” 12. Sharing Proper
 Bible Enthronement is necessary to every home, before  Guidelines
BEC Session, to consecrate and make God the Lord and a. Reflect and share the word or phrase that touches
King of every dwelling. you
 Songs are prepared earlier for a smooth and solemn b.Use only the words I, my, mine; avoid using Us, we,
celebration ours, you, yours, they, them – precisely because
it’s your own reflection and experience/s
DEFINITION:
c. Do not proselytize or lecture others  A new way of being a church, as People of God
WEEKLY SESSION:
d. Speak only when it’s your turn to share  A small neighborhood ecclesial communities
1. Procession of the Word of God (The Bible) from the main
e. No contradiction; Avoid debate; Be reflective  A New, Catholic Way of life, living as a Church
entrance to the altar designated for its place.
2. Entrance hymn is sung during procession f. Avoid lengthy sharing, to give chance to others.
CHARACTERISTICS:
3. The Bible is then placed in the altar and the bearer pays (act of charity)
 7-10 households that gather each week to pray
respect by making a vow after placing the Bible. g. Follow agreed time of sharing ______ mins.
h. Do sharing in sub-groups or in pairs if needed  New way of Evangelization through lay participation
4. The Leader then announces the Theme of Sunday
13. Prayers of the Faithful/ community  Family, as the focal point of evangelization
Celebration and makes a short form of encouragement to
 General Intercessions and personal Intensions  Co-Responsibility of Pastoral work & Evangelization
the community to properly dispose themselves in the
14. Offertory (Sharing of blessings or gifts) with songs  Focuses on neighborhood relationships
celebration.
15. Our Father (The Lord’s Prayer)  Church as a dialogue and Communion of Communities
5. Opening Prayer (ACTS) – (moment of silence)
16. Closing Prayer and Sign of the Cross  Neighbors knows each other on a personal level
 Adoration, Contrition, Thanks, Supplications for
blessings and success of the liturgical celebration 17. Community Singing (Recessional Song)
18. Business Meeting with Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:46-47) BASIC ECCLESIAL:
6. Singing of the Alleluia before the Reading of the Gospel Basic – Involving parishioners at grassroots,
7. Reading of the Gospel (slow pace): Husband/Head of the  Announcements of Important Matters
marginalized and the unchurched/ minimal Catholics
Family  Inputs/ Catechesis/ Community resolutions
Ecclesial – Church or parish based, common faith,
 4 P’s Guide  Birthday/ Anniversary Greetings, etc.
nurtured by the Word of God and the Eucharist, united with
a. Pagpamati (listen)  Financial Updates
the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
b. Paghulagway (picture out) 19. Dismissal
Community – relationship with family and proximate
c. Pagsinati (experience) neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40)
d. Pag-ampo (pray)
VISION/MISSION: 5. Continued threat of proselytizing by non-Catholic groups BEC CULTURE:
The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is a renewed mainly by the Evangelicals and Pentecostals.  WAY of LIFE, not a program, not an association, not a
community of Christ’s disciples united in witnessing to an 6. In this age of secularism, the “dying faith” is evident in 1st religious group, not a ministry, but the manner and
Integral faith. world countries. ways of how we live as Christians.
 Model of Catholic Christian LIFE, early Christians, and
OBJECTIVES: DESIRED OUTCOMES of BEC: the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
1. To establish small communities of Christians, usually of a. Realization and acceptance of Christ, in one’s personal life
Families who gather around the Word of God and the and family life. 7 PILLARS OF BEC:
Eucharist that are united to share the Good News and b. Conversion of one’s life to be a better Christian. 1. Awareness as Renewed Christians (metanoia)
Mission of Evangelization with a strong sense of c. Decided and lived a life of a true follower of Christ 2. Communion (koinonia)
belongingness and responsibility for one another. d. Lived a communitarian life as Christian. 3. Word of God (kerygma, catechesis)
2. To form a community of disciples who faithfully live e. Eagerness to assist in the mission of Christ 4. Prayer and the Eucharist (leitorgia)
out their vocation as people of God that actively 5. Social Action (diakonia)
participates in Christ’s prophetic, priestly and kingly BEC STRUCTURE and Sessions: 6. Option for the Poor.
mission.  Family, Cell, Chapel/Village, District, Parish, Diocese 7. Participative Membership and Servant-
3. To assert that all baptized Christians recognize the Leadership.
social teachings of the Church to be part of their STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:
growth and developmental human formation. BEC LIGHTS AND SHADOWS:
1ST: Liturgical Stage – centered on the Liturgy (Word and LIGHTS:
Eucharist), Sacraments, Catechesis, Prayer and Worship  Learning and practicing theology
PASTORAL GOALS of ACDO BEC:
a. Strengthening of ACDO-BEC Ministry Team and  On-going formation
Formation Team. 2nd: Developmental Stage – involvement in socio-  Formation of BEC’s in workplace & establishments
b. Strengthening BEC structure of the Parish and Vicariate economic development programs involving livelihood  Organizing BEC’s in other places
level. projects, IGP, Cooperatives, health missions, micro-
finance, etc. SHADOWS:
c. BEC awareness in the whole archdiocese especially in
 Lack of knowledge and training of leaders to
the city parishes.
sustain BEC groups
d. Re-orientation towards a more integral and 3rd: Transformative Development – involving social
comprehensive understanding of BEC restorative justice, peace, political transformation, care of  Biases and competition of church groups from
e. Deepening of BEC Core values and essentials towards nature and doing Works of Mercy movements, organizations and covenant
Holistic Spirituality. communities
f. Financial System to support BEC programs  Lack of unity among parishioners
HISTORY OF BEC: (refer to BEC Manual pp. 19-23)  Minimalist mentality of parishioners
CONTEXT OF PHILIPPINE CHURCH:  Misconception that BEC are only for women and
1. The persistent high level of Nominalism of Filipino BIBLICAL REFERENCES:
wives, excluding husband and children
 Acts 2:42-47 – Early Christian life
Catholics  Lack of relevant and timely Formation Programs
2. Shortage of Priests and Priesthood vocation.  Acts 4: 32-35 – Communal Life  Dichotomy of Faith and Action
3. Failure of many key programs in Parishes  Romans 12: 4-5 – The Church as body of Christ with  Insensitive to realities and needs of time
different parts and functions
4. The increasing realization that the main problem is not  Lack of support and thrust by the clergy or Parish
theological but pastoral.  Romans 15: 1-2 – support for each other.
Priest