BECs find the Seven Step Method helpful for gatherings

This survey was conducted in 2009 and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held during the month of February in 2010. Five parishes were selected out of 158 parishes in the diocese and from each parish, 15 respondents participated along with their parish priests. In all 75 respondents took part. BEC gatherings are held monthly, mostly on Sundays, with around 30 persons attending.

The 7 step Gospel sharing method is regularly followed, with concrete service action of attending to the needs of the community members.

For the quantitative part the mean score is used to present the data. For the qualitative part, the more predominant trends are listed.

Mean score of 1.5 would indicate more than 50 per cent where as scores below 1.5 would be less than 50 per cent. Mean 3 would be 100 per cent.

Communion
Gospel Sharing (GS): Gospel sharing was emphasised right from the beginning.

As a result of this, it appears that the BECs have been very fruitful.

Out of 75 respondents 98 per cent say that Gospel Sharing is IMPORTANT.

They are more familiar with the 7-step Gospel sharing than with any other method.

Personal reading of Bible:
The majority say that they are familiar with Gospel texts. 2.76 (92 per cent)

Impact on Personal prayer :
— Can pray from the heart: 2.88 (96 per cent)
— Spend more time in prayer: 2.45 (81 per cent)
— Pray for important matters: 2.59 (86 per cent)
— All I do for Glory of God

Impact on Family Prayer: 2.77 (92 per cent)
–Treat others as Christ would: 2.175
— Also as Christ to non Christians: 1.97
— Feel as Christ’s brother/sister: 2.85

Other points related to impact of Gospel Sharing:
— Art of listening, learn when to talk.
— Empathise. See from the eyes of God.
— Appreciate family. Open to all, even non-Christians. Learnt meaning of evangelisation etc. In all 86 per cent

Links to parish and diocese:
All the facilitators unanimously say that the parish priest is supportive (3.00). Very many say the initiative to have BEC was taken by the parish priest. (2.11)

Facilitators say that the PP gives a free hand (2.87), helps BEC develop a life of its own (2.61)

When asked about the style of leadership of the Priest, the majority say that it is participative, servant, encouraging, animating. They also describe that the priest gives moral, spiritual, financial, social and advisory support. All say that priests are convinced of BECs because they support all activities of the BECs, they participate in BECs, give training and show interest and leaders’ work is appreciated.

Expressions of Communion:
In the qualitative part, the respondents say that as a result of BECs they have better relationship with their neighbours and wish to “become a member of a wider family”. The BEC “helps improve the growth of the’ community,” starting from the family.

Unity through structures (PPC) & training:
As regards the question whether the BEC coordinators are trained to reach out to non Christian neighbours, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) states that “reaching out to them” may not be a good phrase. “They too have leaders in all areas like us. We collaborate with them and they with us…

We Christians are a minority. There are leaders in the secular: socio economic, political and other fields in all religions, as efficient as we are… However the training of the BEC coordinators and members helps them to be ‘leaven’ in society.”

Mission

Participation in activities
The feeling that it is the mission of the Church in neighbourhood is seen 2.89 (87 per cent). All share 2.43 (68 per cent) All say they lead the Gospel Sharing and keep a prayerful atmosphere 2.93 (98 per cent).

While praying for the families is done (92 per cent), sessions on family are hardly conducted at BEC level. A few children participate (43 per cent), since the focus of BECs is the adults. Only 33 per cent say that some activities are conducted exclusively for children. Seventyeight per cent say that visiting the sick is conducted. Twenty-five per cent say that activities for youth are organised. Seventy per cent say that they became aware that families should become agents of evangelisation. Only 10 per cent say that they meet with the nearby BECs.

On Liturgy
Helps to get closer to Christ
Helps me to see Christ in others 2.53
Inspires me to accept Non Christians 2.17
Eucharist more meaningful 2.89
Inspires to attend Sunday Mass 2.51
Whole family goes for Mass as before 2.97
Deeper appreciation of the Eucharist: 2.54
Holy week services are meaningful: 2.77,
Prepares for Sunday Liturgy: 2.97,
Sunday Mass more alive: 2.77, changes in Liturgy: 2.03,
Lectors are from the BECs: 1.84,
Liturgy more Christ centred: 2.67,
Integrates faith and life: 2.64.

Ministries / Regular Outreach
Visiting the sick and healthcare: 2.32,
Cleaning the environment: 1.83,
Clean houses for the poor: 1.28,
Political consciousness raising: 1.97, etc

Service Projects/ Interfaith activities
Gospel sharing has made them more open to others by sharing tasks to serve the neighbourhood. The Liturgy encourages them to transmit Jesus’ message to others.Thus they learn to integrate faith with life.

Understanding the Mission:
Various missions listed are: “Care for the environment, cleanliness and sanitation, tree planting, awareness of ecology, healthcare, assisting to build houses, taking the sick to the hospital, constructing toilets, free labour, promoting political awareness, free and fair election, etc.

Source: AsIPA VI report

To be continued

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online