The Basic Ecclesial

Community

Rediscovering A New Way of

Becoming a Church
The Basic Ecclesial Community is
defined as « a new way of being a
Church ».
 The BEC according to PCP
II
It is a
small faith community of
Christians,
gathered together around
the Word of God and
the Eucharist,
striving to integrate their
faith in their daily life,
life
in solidarity with one
another, action for
justice,
justice
and a vibrant celebration of
life in the liturgy.
liturgy
(PCP II 138-139)
Anthropological and
Sociological
Background
 Filipinos are
naturally known as:

 Person-oriented
 Relational
 Community-oriented
 Spirit-oriented
A General View on
the Human Person
 The Subject ( I )
 The Horizontal
(I + You = We)
 The Vertical
(We & God)
 The word « being »
means…
 not something
static but
dynamic.
 not abstract but
concrete.
 not a finished
product but a
process of
becoming.
 not dead but
living.
We are the Church!
 Underlying Key Points:
 The Human Person
 The Community

 The Triune God

 Theological-Biblical
Foundations on the BEC
Acts 2:41-47
Acts 2: 41-47
So those who received his word were baptized, and
there were added that day 3,000 souls. And they
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings
and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and
the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and
many wonders and signs were done through the
apostles. And all who believed were together and
had all things in common; and they sold their
possessions and goods and distributed them to
all, as any had needed. And day by day, attending
the temple together and breaking the bread in
their homes, they partook of food with glad and
generous hearts, praising God and having favour
with all the people.
The BEC, as part of the Church,
share in the 3-fold functions of
Jesus
 Prophet
 Priest
 King
PROPHET
 they devoted
themselves to
the apostles’
teachings
 Kerygma
 Deepening of
their Christian
Faith
(Catechesis)
PRIEST
 fellowship, the
breaking of the
bread and the
prayers attending
the temple
together and
breaking the
bread in their
homes
 Leitourgia
 Prayer and
Worship
 Celebration of the
Sacraments
KING
 And all who believed
were together and
had all things in
common; and they
sold their possessions
and goods and
distributed them to
all, as any had needed
 they partook of food
with glad and
generous hearts,
praising God
 Diakonia
 Service: Faith that
Does Justice
Characteristics of a BEC:
 A Human Community
 Small in number
 A Christian Community
 Unity in the midst of diversity
 Witnessing the Gospel and the
Kingdom of God (God’s Presence)
Conclusion:
A BEC:
 Learns

 Lives

 Loves

 In the Spirit of

Jesus