By Kampan Chinnam
Guwahati, Oct. 2, 2024: The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) are playing a vital role in transforming the Church in northeastern India.
This was stressed at the 23rd pastoral conference of the Guwahati Archdiocese on October 2, attended by more than 200 priests, religious, and laypeople from 47 parishes.
The participants shared testimonies highlighting the BECs’ positive impact in their communities. A group from Tezpur reported increased participation in social activities, resolutions of land disputes, and support for families in need.
Sacred Heart Sister Pushpa highlighted how the communities have helped families address issues such as alcohol dependency and improved relationships among community members.
The Tezpur delegates also noted significant changes, such as increased literacy and community engagement driven by BEC efforts.
Sashi Lakra, a teacher, testified how participation in BECs has fostered confidence and a commitment to community service.
The meeting noted that the BECs promote inclusivity, allowing community members to engage as active agents of change. The conference emphasized the importance of equal participation, ensuring all voices are heard.
Father Hippolitus Toppo, the regional secretary of the BEC commission, led the conference that focused on the significance of communities in pastoral work.
The conference featured multiple sessions, including group discussions that addressed the relevance and challenges faced by BECs.
Father Toppo outlined the formation, methodology, and models of the communities. He said the communities revolve around the core principles of hearing the Word of God, understanding it, and putting it into action. BECs, he added, are not just pious associations but essential units of the Church with a focus on the Word of God.
He asserted that for the Church to be meaningful today, it must adopt BECs.
The conference appealed to the Church in the region to embrace BECs as a new model for church life, essential for renewal and transformation in the Northeast.
The program ended with a recollection talk by Father Toppo, followed by Eucharistic Adoration, confessions, and a fellowship meal.
Notable dignitaries attending the program included Archbishop John Moolachira and Father Amalaraj, deputy secretary of the regional bishops’ council.
BECs became part of the Indian Church’s national pastoral priority in 2000, with encouragement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. Currently, more than100,000 BEC units are active nationwide, particularly concentrated in northeastern India, which is divided into five zones.
The vision for 2033 aims for every Catholic family in the region to become part of a community, aligning with the celebration of BEC silver jubilee in 2025.