A Day with BEC Leaders

“I am in middle of living saints and martyrs of BEC… Such a wonderful experience… Busog sa kaalaman… Sa tummy… Relax to the max… Wonderful Hotel… And most of all nabusog ang heart sa bawat Eucharistic celebration at sa kapitbahayan ng mga taga Davao… Salamat po BEC Davao… very hospitable ang mga tao… Mabuhay po kayo…

“Our host family, Mr. Roel and Mrs. Shirley Calvo and Family, and parish and chapel na umampon sa amin GKK San Miguel and all Zone 9 Chapels of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Tibungco, Davao City, pagpalain po sana kayo ng aming patron ang Sto. Niño de Pasion.

“Exposure/immersion dami kong natutunan sa GKK in Davao. Hoping in the future Manila will be the same,” says Sis. Marilyn Castillo from the Diocese of Caloocan.

The day started with us fetching the BEC Delegates Sis Marilyn and Sis Nonata Cruz, also from the Diocese of Caloocan from the Apo View Hotel. Originally, there were 3 delegates to welcome but because of last-minute changes we ended having only the two of them. They made a courtesy call at St. Francis Xavier Parish and was welcomed by the Parish Office Staff and Bro. Jenny Cortes, the PSK Parish Coordinator, and they were briefed by Pastoral Coordinator Mr. Jun Galendez about the Parish’s History and how many BEC’s are presently under the jurisdiction of the Parish.

A sumptuous lunch was served at GKK San Miguel of Zone 9 by the GSLs of all the GKKs of the zone. A PowerPoint presentation of GKK San Miguel’s history followed by the Kasaulogan sa Pulong transpired after lunch.

A visit to the nearby school and house of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI), The Cavanis Fathers Seminary and a tour on foot around the vicinity of Zone 9 was also part of the itinerary. To cap the day, they were treated to dinner by the Host Couple.

In the end, it was a tiring day. But it was also heartwarming to feel their amazement and wonder (and were even moved to tears) from the cleanliness of Davao, to the abundant and affordable fruits and the friendliness and hospitality of the Davaoeños; but most of all, of the works of the Holy Spirit not only in Davao but in all of Mindanao when it comes to BEC.

They returned home the following day with good memories of the 4th National BEC Assembly and the hope that someday the BEC Spirit will work the same way in their own parishes, for starters. (Vivien Therese L. Bonzon | SFX Parish SoCCom)