With a deep commitment to strengthening Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), also known as Small Christian Communities (SCCs), in Goa, the Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat (DPS), which coordinates the BEC ministry in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, organised an overnight BEC training programme on 15 and 16 August at the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa.
The overnight residential programme brought together 30 participants from across Goa. Fr Crisler Perumbully, Secretary of BEC for the Western India Regional Council from the Diocese of Amravati, and Sr Jennifer Fernandes, a member of the National Service Team of BEC, served as main resource persons.
The programme began with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by Fr Leo Fernandes and concelebrated by Fr. Crisler Perumbully, followed by the Enthronement of the Word of God, setting a prayerful and spiritually enriching tone for the formation programme.
Sr. Jennifer explained that a BEC is a living Church within the neighbourhood, rooted in everyday life, where people pray, celebrate and live their faith together. She highlighted its four key marks: its members are neighbours; Gospel sharing is at the heart of the BEC; it remains connected to the Catholic Church; and its members act and work together, inspired by their faith. These four marks enable members to put into practice what they profess in the Creed: “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” making the Church’s faith visible and lived in the daily life of the community.
Fr Crisler traced the origins of BECs to the early Church, when Christians gathered as one family for the breaking of the bread and shared their lives in faith and communion. He emphasised that BECs are neither prayer groups nor associations, but small communities of the Church called to carry out its mission in their neighbourhoods, drawing inspiration from the Word of God. He also highlighted the qualities required of a BEC animator.
A practical session on the Seven-Step Method of BEC was conducted by Sr. Justina Alemao HC, followed by an evaluation by Sr Jennifer Fernandes and feedback from the participants. A group discussion through ‘conversing in the spirit’ enabled participants to listen to one another, seek guidance from the Word of God and work towards a common vision for carrying forward the mission of Christ in the Archdiocese.
At the end of the Holy Mass on 16 August, the Liturgy Booklet on Mother Mary, Bhavarthancho Nomuno, was formally released. Fr Crisler and Sr Jennifer were also welcomed, presented with shawls and felicitated for their dedicated service and valuable contribution towards strengthening the BEC ministry. As a token of appreciation, they were also presented with a memento of St Francis Xavier.
The initiative reflects the collaborative efforts of the CCBI BEC ministry at the national, regional and archdiocesan levels. At the national level, the ministry is led by Rev Fr George Jacob Palackaparambil SAC, in keeping with the CCBI Pastoral Plan. At the Western Regional level, it is coordinated by Fr Crisler Perumbully and Sr Jennifer Fernandes, while in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes serves as Director (DPS), with Fr Leo Fernandes as Executive Secretary (DPS) .
At the conclusion of the programme, Fr Leo expressed gratitude to His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão for his continued support towards BECs and to the DPS, Fr Crisler and Sr Jennifer for their valuable contribution to the training, Rev Fr George Jacob Palackaparambil SAC for his continued guidance, and Auxiliary Bishop Simão Fernandes for celebrating the Eucharist despite his busy schedule. He also thanked Fr Henry Falcão and his team for making all the necessary arrangements at the Centre and for their hospitality and support.
The training was not merely an exercise in learning, but a renewed call to build communities where the Word is shared, faith is lived, neighbours become family and the mission of Christ comes alive in every neighbourhood.
The DPS also invites parishes and deaneries that wish to deepen and strengthen their BEC ministry to get in touch with Fr Leo Fernandes and his team to organise BEC formation and training sessions at the parish or deanery level. Together, let us move from being communities that gather to communities that live, share and witness to the Gospel.
Fr. Leo Fernandes
Executive Secretary – Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat
