Small Caring Groups SCG the BECs of Guagua

Small Caring Groups (SCG) the BECs of Guagua, Pampanga

The BEC of Guagua, Pampanga • Started being organized sometime 1998 – 1999 by its parish priest, Msgr. Joel Tubig • They organized weekly Lectio Divina with a few members of the parish mandated groups. • Venue was in the parish. Those who were interested came for the weekly Lectio Divina. This was the parish’s understanding of BEC.

My involvement • I was invited to these weekly lectio divina at the parish sometime February 2000, the Jubilee year. • By April, a number of us from the Archdiocese of Pampanga were sent to San Jose Seminary, at the Ateneo to study what BEC was all about and how to organize them.

• This was led by then rector of San Jose Seminary, Fr. Sim Sumpayco, SJ who had extensive BEC experience in Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga. • Those of us who were sent to attend this seminar were expected to establish BECs in our own parishes.

The Parish of Guagua • 10 barangays • Commercial center in Pampanga • Parish composed of many successful entrepreneurs but most parishioners come from poor families.

• Pampanga was recovering from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. • Guagua was always flooded because rivers have been heavily silted. The commerce in the town was greatly affected.

• After the BEC seminar in San Jose, I was tasked to help in the establishment of the BECs in the 10 barangays. • I was tasked to head the formation of the Parish Formation Team (PFT) that would eventually train the Barangay Formation Team or leaders. • Weekly meetings of (PFT) • Slowly established cells at least one in each barangay.

How is communion lived out in BECs? • BECS are small caring groups. • They are groups of families or sectoral groups that are established first of all to be caring for one another.

• They meet weekly for their lectio divina or ( Jesu. Centro) a weekly study of the Sunday Gospel. • The weekly meeting allows the group to pray together and reflect on the word of God and share their concerns to one another in those weekly meetings.

How is communion lived out in BECs? • As per my observation, the transformation of the individuals in the group really happens in these weekly meetings. • The word of God indeed transforms the members.

• Their knowledge of one another becomes deeper. • Their concern also for one another becomes real, and slowly a real community emerges. • The bonds created by the word of God is palpable. It is the Spirit who creates these communities that begin to care for one another.

Framework for SCG’s Journey towards Communion

Framework of SCG’s Journey to Communion • Then the Lord said, “ I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…” Exod 3: 7 - 8

Verb Groupings in Exod 3: 7 -8 First Observed; Heard Second Know Third Come Down Fourth To Deliver To Bring

First Observed; Heard Sensing Second Know Empathizing Third Come Down Fourth To Deliver To Bring Presencing Acting

Challenges to lived Communion • Leadership : Bishop, Parish Priest, Parish Pastoral President, officers. • BEC Leadership: Dedication of Servant Leaders or Cell Leaders

Challenges to lived communion • Membership • In communities, it is common to have disagreements, misunderstandings, infighting, and all the other relational problems that block communion. • Sometimes, these are resolved.

• Unfortunately, at times, these remain unresolved. • Sadly, those that remain unresolved result in some fallout of members. • This becomes really a challenge to all the members of the SCG, but mostly for its leadership

How are these challenges resolved? • Dialogue • Praying • Waiting

A Paradigm of True Communion

A paradigm of lived communion • Jn 13 : 1 - 38 • Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

• John’s introductory words: “ having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”, speaks of the quality of love that Jesus had for his own. • He loved them in a way unimaginable by human standards. He loved them consumately.

• He knew that Judas would betray him. (v. 2) • He knew that Peter would disown him(v. 38) • They did not understand what he was doing : ” You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand…” (v 7) • Despite all these, he moves to wash their feet as an act of self-gift. • The washing of the feet becomes a symbol (an act) of his consumate love.

• He tells them: “ I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you…” (v 15) • He was asking them to do the same pattern of a teacher and Lord kneeling in self-gift; selfgift in love , even to death. • They will have been loved “ to the end” by one whom they have betrayed and denied.

• God’s love transcends and challenges all human criteria and human experience. • Despite ignorance, failure, betrayals and denials, Jesus would love them consumately. • He asks them to do the same for one another, to love as self-gift even to death.

• God continues to be in communion with us despite our human failings. • This all inclusive and consumate love is the true paradigm of communion.

• BECS should do likewise. In the midst of all human frailties, despite the apparent failures in leadership and members, BECs need to continue looking at Jesus as an example of one who loved his own until the end and continued to be in communion with his disciples even if no one understood that love.

• The Love that Christians have for one another is a real symbol of Christ’s presence in the World. • That is what BECs strive to be.