Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) – Promotion of Basic Ecclesial Communities BEC as a means of evangelisation through laity and families: this is the intention of a group of Catholic Bishops in Korea who recently invited Catholic clergy and laity from various different countries to explain the structure, spirituality and function of BEC.
At the meeting, one of the guests invited by the Korean Bishops, Father Arthur of Mangalore diocese in India, said: “When people ask me why we need Basic Ecclesial Communities I reply: because they are a good means, in my experience, of communicating God’s love to our neighbour. We must never overlook the community dimension of salvation”.
“Many lay people today think that the work of evangelisation does not concern them personally and that it is only for clergy and religion. This is a mistake. All of us are called to proclaim the Gospel and BEC group are a valid means for carrying out this mission entrusted to us by God”, continued Father Arthur who has vast experience of BEC in India.
He recalls the pillars of the BEC path: reflection and sharing the Word of God, and study and practice of Church teaching; encounter with neighbour to develop deep communion. “Very often we live Christian life as individuals, whereas it is through encounter, charity, sharing that we grow in faith and BEC serve also for this.
Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Jeju diocese, one of the Bishops in the group which invited the BEC experts to Korea, said: “Our wish is to revitalise our Christian communities through the Word of God and community life”. PA (Fides Service 11/9/2003 EM lines 30 Words: 287)
