Diocesan BEC Directors, Coordinators hold national assembly

CEBU City, Sept. 30, 2013—Some 135 diocesan BEC directors and coordinators from 64 dioceses in the Philippines gathered for a national convention at the Holy Family Retreat House in Cebu City last September 16-18.

Organized by the Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the gathering provided a venue for BEC members to learn from each other’s experiences on how to become evangelizing communities.

Bishop George Rimando, chairman of the CBCP-BEC Committee and overall facilitator of the event welcomed participants on October 16. Fr. Amado Picardal, the CBCP-BEC executive secretary, gave the background and orientation to the delegates.
Keynote speaker was Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who also presided the opening Eucharist.
Two other presentations were given to participants, one by Picardal on “The National BEC Profile and Msgr. Manny Gabriel on “New Evangelization and BECs”.
During the open forum, Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan shared his own experience of BECs in his diocese.

Delegates also shared in small groups their own experience of how BECs are becoming evangelized and evangelizing communities. They also shared their best practices in forming BECs.
On September 18, delegates gathered by region for planning and brainstorming and came out with answers to the following questions: (1) their expectations and suggestions for the 2015 BEC National Assembly (theme, process, resource persons, possible venue and dates), (2) how they can enhance their regional networking and cooperation.

After reporting of delegates in the plenary session, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao shared what happened during the Synod of Bishops in Rome which he attended and how BECs was discussed. Fr. Carmelo Diola of Dilaab also was given time to explain the printed material that he was giving to the delegates for the coming barangay elections.

The assembly ended with a Eucharistic celebration presided by Archbishop Valles at 5:15 pm.
After an early supper, many of the delegates joined the “Cebu by Night” tour with two airconditioned buses provided by the city Mayor. (CBCPNews)