Awit sa GSK
(Titik ug musika ni Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR)
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
nagkahiusa, nagpadayon sa misyon ni Kristo.
Katawhang propeta, pari ug alagad
Ang katilingban sa kabos - Simbahan sa kabos.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
Gihiusa, gilambigit sa atong Ginoo.
Nag-inambitay sa Pulong ug Yukaristiya,
ug mga kabtangan, suod nga mga higala.
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
namati sa pulong sa atong Ginoo
nagsaksi, nagsangyaw sa maayong balita
sa atong kaluwasan ug sa Gingharian.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
nag-ampo ug nagsimba sa atong Ginoo
andam nga mohalad sa'tong kinabuhi
sama ni Kristo, labaw nga pari. (koro)
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
katilingbang nag-alagad sa nanginahanglan.
nagpatunhay sa hustisya ug sa kalinaw
nakigbisog, nagpalambo sa Gingharian.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
gilangkoban sa kabos, nagdapig sa kabos.
Way laing gisaligan, gawas sa Ginoo
Maabtikong nagasalmot sa misyon ni Kristo. (Koro)
Basic Ecclesial Communities:
Ecclesiological Perspective
Rev. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD
Dominant Image of the Church
before Vatican II
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A Church that is massive, highly institutionalized
and impersonal. A church where members live in
anonymity and do not feel a sense of belonging.
A Church that is identified exclusively with the
hierarchy and that ignores the laity.
A Church that is exclusively liturgical and
sacramental, a Church that is not concerned about
the situation of poverty, injustice, violence and the
destruction of the environment.
A Church that is associated with the rich and
powerful, where the poor are marginalized.
Vatican II Vision of a Renewed Church
The Call for Church Renewal
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
John XXIII convened
Vatican II to renew the
Church -- for
“aggiornamento”
It was a council of the
Church on the Church
Ecclesiological Themes in Vatican II
 Communion
 People
of God participating in the
mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet &
King
(Hierarchical Leadership at the service of
the People of God)
Vatican II Vision of a Renewed Church
Prophetic
(witnessing)
Priestly
Kingly
(worshipping)(servant)
Paradigm Shift in Vatican II
From a highly institutionalized model to a
more communitarian model
 From a highly clericalized model to a greater
emphasis on the active participation of the
lay-faithful in the life and mission of the
Church
 From a narrow spiritualistic/cultic outlook to
a holistic perspective which encourages
involvement in the temporal/social order
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Thus, the dominant institutional/sacramental
model has been replaced by a more holistic vision
of the Church.
The Church is not just an institution, it is also a
community whose members are in communion
with God and with one another.
It is not just a worshipping community, it is also a
prophetic and servant community.
Its mission is not only spiritual, it is also temporal.
The Church is not only concerned about heaven, it
is also concerned about the earth and all its
problems.
Thrust of Vatican II Ecclesiology:
Renewed Church
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A communitarian vision of the Church
A holistic vision of the Church – people of God
that is prophetic, priestly, kingly (servant).
Concern for the temporal order (economic,
political, cultural) – for justice & peace
Lay Participation in the Church’s life & mission
Renewal of the Clergy – a more holistic
understanding of ministry
Post-Conciliar Reception and
Implementation
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From 1965 up to the present -- reception and
implementation of the council’s decree and spirit
after the council
The task of renewing the Church now falls on
the local Churches
MSPC as Reception of Vatican II
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MSPC I (1st Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference) in
1971
The theme: The Church of Mindanao-Sulu: A
Witnessing, Worshipping & Serving Community
Note: the communitarian and holistic perspective of
Vatican II in MSPC theme.
The promotion of GKK (Gagmayng Kristohanong
Katilingban)
GKK as worshipping, witnessing and serving
communities. (katilingbang maampoon, masaksihon
ug maalagaron)
MSPC I vision of the Church
and the BECs
Community
Witnessing
Worshipping
Serving
PCP II Vision of the Church
The PCP II has adopted the image of the early
Church in Acts and the ecclesiology of Vatican
II as its basis for its vision of a renewed
Church:
Community of Disciples
living in Communion
participating in the mission of Christ as
priestly, prophetic & kingly people
and as the Church of the Poor
PCP II Vision of the Church
Community of Disciples
Prophetic
(witnessing)
Priestly
Kingly
(worshipping)(servant)
BECs as Expression of the PCP II
Vision of a Renewed Church
“Our vision of the Church as communion,
participation and mission, about the
Church as priestly, prophetic, & kingly
people, and as a Church of the Poor- a
church that is renewed - is today finding
expression in one ecclesial movement. This
is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial
Communities.” par 137
PCP II Vision of BECs:
Community of Disciples
Prophetic
(witnessing)
Priestly
Kingly
(worshipping)(servant)
Description: PCP II
“They are small communities of Christian, usually
of families who gather around the Word of God &
the Eucharist.
These communities are united to their pastors but
are ministered to regularly by lay leaders. The
members know each other by name & share not
only the Word of God & the Eucharist but also
their concerns both material & spiritual
They have a strong sense of belongingness &
responsibility for one another” (par 138)
“Usually emerging from the grassroots among poor
farmers & workers,
BECs consciously strive to integrate their faith & their
daily life.
They are guided & encouraged by regular catechesis.
Poverty & their faith urge their members towards
solidarity with one another,
action for justice
& towards a vibrant celebration of life in the liturgy.”
(par 139)
Characteristics of BECs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Small communities whose members are united to one
another and their pastors (koinonia)
They share the word of God and are guided by regular
catechesis (kerygma) – prophetic community
They gather around the Eucharist and have a vibrant
celebration of life in the liturgy (leitorgia) – priestly
community
They share their material concerns & get involved in
action for justice & peace and social transformation.
(diakonia) – kingly/servant community
They emerge among the poor & empower the poor
Church of the Poor
BECs: Terminology
BECs - generic term for small faithcommunities emerging at the grassroots
(BCCs, SCCs, GKKs, GSK, MSKs,
KrisKa, Damayan & other local names)
Communities
They are communities, not organizations,
prayer groups, societies or associations.
They are not specialized groups but stable
environment. The members often live in
close proximity and interact with each other
regularly.
(family/neighborhood groupings of 8-12
members are part of the community but
they cannot be equated to the community)
Basic Communities
They are basic communities, because of
their size, the quality of relationship
among the members and their social
location (base, grassroots)
Ecclesial
They are referred to as ecclesial because they
are considered as a way of being Church.
They are the church at the microcosm, the
church at the grassroots – in the
neighborhood & the village.
BECs a Way of Being Church
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Through the BECs, the Church is truly
experienced as a community of disciples.
The lay faithful experience communion.
The lay faithful live out their vocation as people
of God that participates in Christ’s prophetic,
priestly and kingly mission
The church becomes truly the Church of the
Poor
The Church as Communion
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The image of Church as communion emphasizes
the communitarian and interpersonal dimension
of the Church.
Ecclesial communion can be lived out in various
levels:
Universal (communion of local Churches)
 Local (communion of dioceses/parishes)
 Parish (communion of BECs)
 BEC (communion of individual members, cells and
families)

BECs as Expression of Communion
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According to John Paul II, the BECs can be “true
expression of communion and a means towards
construction of a more profound communion.”
In the BECs the members have a strong sense of
belonging & responsibility for one another.
The members experience the bond of unity which
is based on shared faith, celebrated in the breaking
of the bread, concretely expressed in the sharing
of material goods.
Living in Communion as BECs
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A new way of being Church means looking at
the parish as network of BECs – a communion
of communions.
The members of BECs experience communion
among themselves, while each BEC is linked to
other BECS.
Although ministered by lay leaders, the BECs
maintain a bond of communion with their
pastors – the parish priests & the bishop.
Church as People of God:
Prophetic, Priestly & Kingly
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Vatican II & PCP II view the Church as a people
of God that is prophetic, priestly & kingly by
nature and mission.
This image of the Church asserts that all the
baptized share in the life and mission of the
Church.
Thus, the laity have the right and responsibility to
actively participate in the prophetic, priestly and
kingly mission of the Church
Prophetic, Priestly, Kingly People
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This provides us with a holistic view of the Church.
It negates the exclusively liturgical/ sacramental
image of the Church.
The Church is not only a worshipping community, it
is also a prophetic and servant community.
This image of the Church can be experienced by
ordinary lay people at the BECs since these are
prophetic, priestly and servant communities.
The Church as Prophetic People
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It has the mission of proclaiming the Good news – a
mission of evangelization & catechesis.
It is also called to be the conscience of society – this is
the mission of denouncing evil and all its
manifestation: injustice, oppression, violence, the
culture of death.
It has announces the Good News of liberation &
salvation, of life, justice & peace.
It witnesses to the Word & calls people to conversion.
The prophetic mission of the church can be exercised
in the universal and local level by the hierarchy and the
laity,
BECs as Prophetic Communities
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It is in and through BECs that lay people can
participate in the mission of the Church.
The BECs come together to listen to the Word, to
proclaim and give witness to it.
They are evangelized and evangelizing
communities, they are witnessing communities.
BECs have the task of evangelizing & catechizing
families, neighborhood communities and
barangays.
It is within the BECs that the Gospel values &
church teachings are learned.
BECs as Prophetic Communities
BECs carry out their prophetic & evangelizing
mission whenever they come together in their
homes and chapels for their bible-service to
reflect/discern on the word of God and their
concrete situation.
The Church as Priestly People
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The Church is a worshipping and celebrating
community.
The priesthood of the faithful is expressed in the
full and active participation in the liturgical and
sacramental celebration.
The lay-faithful can exercise their priestly mission
not only in the parish level but also in BECs.
BECs as Priestly Communities
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They gather weekly in their chapel to celebrate the Liturgy of
the Word presided by lay leaders.
Their monthly or bi-monthly celebration of the Eucharist
with the parish priest is festive and well participated.
They have communal liturgies or rituals for various
occasions (birthdays, planting & harvesting, sickness, wakes
& funerals)
The Kingly/Servant People
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The Church as a Kingly People is called to be a
Servant Church.
The mission of the church is not purely spiritual.
The Church is called to be attentive to the situation
of poverty, injustice, armed conflict, human rights
violation, ecological degradation,
PCP II calls for a renewed social apostolate and for
the Church to actively participate in the work for
justice, peace, development & integrity of creation.
The church is to be involved in social
transformation.
BECs as Serving Communities
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It is in & through the BECs that lay people can
actively participate in the process of social
transformation.
In response to the problem of poverty, they can
set up socio-economic projects (IGP, livelihood,
cooperatives, sustainable agriculture, etc.)
BECs as Serving Communities
In response to the armed conflict, they can establish
peace zones and be part of the peace movement that
pressures the government and revolutionary forces to
pursue the peace process.
BECs as Serving Communities
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To ensure clean and honest elections, the BECs can be
mobilized to help the PPCRV or NAMFREL.
They can help in defending the environment
They can be mobilized to participate in nationwide prayer
rallies and vigils for various causes taken up by the CBCP
or the diocese
The Church of the Poor
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The most popular image of the Church in PCP II –
the Church of the poor
This requires that the leaders and members of the
Church embrace evangelical poverty, live a simple
life-style and share their resources with the poor.
Those who are not poor are called to make an
option for the poor, to be in solidarity with the
poor and to defend their rights.
The poor members are empowered & called to
actively participate in the life & mission of the
Church.
BECs as expression of the Church
of the Poor
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The BECs enable the poor to embrace evangelical
poverty and to actively participate in the Church’s
prophetic, priestly and pastoral mission
The poor are not only evangelized, they also
become evangelizers
The poor are not just passive recipients of aid,
they are active participants in the process of social
transformation.
Conclusion
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The BECs are indeed a new way of being Church.
They are the most local expression of the Church.
Through the BECs, the Church can truly be
experienced as Community of Disciples, whose
members live in communion, and participate in the
mission of Christ as worshipping, witnessing and
serving communities, and as the Church of the
poor.
They are indeed the concrete realization of the
vision of a renewed Church of Vatican II and PCP
II
Awit sa GSK
(Titik ug musika ni Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR)
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
nagkahiusa, nagpadayon sa misyon ni Kristo.
Katawhang propeta, pari ug alagad
Ang katilingban sa kabos - Simbahan sa kabos.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
Gihiusa, gilambigit sa atong Ginoo.
Nag-inambitay sa Pulong ug Yukaristiya,
ug mga kabtangan, suod nga mga higala.
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
namati sa pulong sa atong Ginoo
nagsaksi, nagsangyaw sa maayong balita
sa atong kaluwasan ug sa Gingharian.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
nag-ampo ug nagsimba sa atong Ginoo
andam nga mohalad sa'tong kinabuhi
sama ni Kristo, labaw nga pari. (koro)
Koro: Katilingban masaksihon, katilingban maampoon,
Katilingbang nag-alagad, kini ang GSK (2X)
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
katilingbang nag-alagad sa nanginahanglan.
nagpatunhay sa hustisya ug sa kalinaw
nakigbisog, nagpalambo sa Gingharian.
Kita ang katilingban sa mga tinun-an ni Jesus
gilangkoban sa kabos, nagdapig sa kabos.
Way laing gisaligan, gawas ang Ginoo
Maabtikong nagasalmot sa misyon ni Kristo. (Koro)