CATECHETICAL LESSON 4: MISSION: MADE HIM KNOWN
I pray for those who will believe in me through their message. (Jn 17: 20)
Introduction
The parish is an old and established structure of the local church which has an indispensable mission of great contemporary importance. The parish creates the basic community of the Christian people, initiates and gathers the people in the accustomed expression of liturgical life, conserves and renews the faith in the people, and serves as a school for teaching the salvific message of Christ. The parish also puts solidarity in practice and the humble charity of good and brotherly works (Christifideles Laici 26). This is also a reminder for the ecclesiastical authorities to give more pastoral care to sustain and make productive the mission of the universal Church. Pope Francis reminds us that the parish remains the center of pastoral ministry because it fulfills the pastoral needs of the faithful. However, the parish has to review and renew its nature when it does not create an environment of communion and participation, and when it fails to become mission oriented. Pope Francis values BECs as a source of enrichment for the Church and as a center for new evangelization. It has the capacity for dialogue through which the Church is renewed. Referring to the parish as a communion of communities, makes BECs a basic platform for the task of evangelization. It brings the Church nearer to home and makes them springs of renewal (EG 28). The Pope also mentions that BECs bring new fervor to evangelization. Pope Francis insists on the union of BECs to the parish. BECs are to participate in all the pastoral activities of the parish since the real root of the BEC is the parish (EG 29). BECs nurture communion among Christians and they are the best place to build up a genuine fraternal communion and care for one another. BEC serves the neighbors in need and witnesses the Gospel values through love of neighbor. The Pope writes, “I especially ask Photo from the Diocese of Cagayan De Oro every Christian in communities throughout the world to offer a radiant and an attractive witness of fraternal communion. Let everyone admire how you care for one another and how you encourage and accompany one another” (EG 99). BEC is a new way of being Church and a new way of living the faith. BEC is a community of believers who read the Gospel and try to implement it in their daily lives. The Pope comments, LESSON 4: Mission: Made Him Known -241-
