2017 is Year of the Parish

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has declared 2017 as the Year of the Parish as Communion of Communities. The CBCP pastoral exhortation “On Era of New Evangelization” describes the focus of this year: “This is a year when we more deeply discern not only the structures of governance of our dioceses and parishes but also of the quality of faith life in the parish, the fellowship, belongingness, and participation by its members.

Explanation of the logo
The circles of people whose hands are intertwined symbolize the communion within the BECs. These communities are linked together by the outline of the cross which signifies the parish as communion of communities.

It also includes other faith communities and organizations that are in the parish that – although trans-parochial in nature- are called to actively take part in the life of the parish and BECs.

The outline of the cross also symbolizes the vertical and horizontal dimension of communion – communion with the Triune God and with each other.

The bread and chalice at the center symbolize the Eucharist which is the sacrament and celebration of this communion.

The bible which is also at the center symbolizes the Word of God that is shared and proclaimed which is the source of faith and basis of communion and which nourishes and build up communion.

The sun rays symbolize the light of Christ that shines in the life of the members of parish and these communities.

The theme: “Forming BECs that are agents of communion, participation and mission” is a call to action for all the members of the parish, the BECs and the trans-parochial faith communities and organizations to work together to build up the BECs where communion is experienced and that actively participate in the prophetic mission of evangelization, in sanctification and liturgical celebration, and in the mission of social transformation and making the kingdom of God – a kingdom of justice, peace, harmony and freedom – a reality. Source: CBCP Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities

(To be continued)