Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish celebrates BEC’s 3rd Anniversary Foundation

In July 2016, Fr. Rey Jose Rellora, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Peñafrancia Parish initiated the re-animation of the BECs (Basic Ecclesial Communities) in the said Parish. A 2-day training about organizing BECs was given by the BEC Archdiocesan Organizing and Formation Team headed by Bro. William Menes. Immediately after this, Fr. Rellora organized a regular Prayer Leaders’ Meeting which was held every Friday at 6:00 in the afternoon and which continues to this time. After four months, the first Prayer Group was organized. To date, there are 36 Prayer Groups in the three barangays within the Parish.

Last July 14, the Parish gathered more than a hundred parishioners from the different barangays to celebrate its 3rd Anniversary Foundation. The program started at 1:30 in the afternoon with a talk by Fr. Emmanuel Mojica, BEC Priest Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Caceres. The 1-hour talk was a motivating and challenging one. Fr. Mojica stressed the importance of knowing that building and organizing BECs is a way of life. It is not a new organization, neither a religious group. It is oriented to draw people to a more personal relationship with the Lord by placing Christ at the center of our lives, whether it is in the family, in our workplace or in the community or parish. This is done by encouraging people to come together regularly to listen attentively to the word of God and apply it to our daily living. The groups formed eventually develop a deeper relationship with each other. It is here that they learn to be caring, compassionate and empathic towards their neighbor.

The talk was followed by a fellowship which consisted of presentations from the different prayer groups. It was capped by the message of Fr. Rellora who appreciated the efforts of all at re-animating the BECs and challenging them to increase in number in the coming days. The Parish BEC Coordinator is Mercy del Rosario.