A New Way of being Church
AsIPA 5th General Assembly, 20 – 28 October 2009
By Bro. Michael Thinaratana Komkris fsg. Ph.D.
Part I Our Journey since 2006
1.1 General Situation
The Catholic Church in
Thailand comprises 2 archdioceses and 8 dioceses, with around700 priests and over 1580 religious women and men.
The number of Catholics is just a little over 300,00 among the population of around 66 millions.
Since AsIPA 4
th General Assembly,
A New Wayof being Church in the
Thai Church has gained some ground in one archdiocese with 431 groups in 74 parishes.
Another diocese has taken NWBC as basis for diocesan renewal by the end of the Diocesan Synod in early 2009, but still to actualize in the coming years. There are sporadic interest in one archdiocese and seven dioceses, judging from the few BEC groups in a few parishes each.
Since starting BEC is often left to individual pastor’s interest or initiative, most group came to a premature end once the pastor is transferred to another parish.
1.2 Coordination
National coordination came to a standstill after a Team Training workshop held early 2007 for 24 BEC animators from 6 dioceses.
Role conflict was the main obstacle in making the National team function.
Apart from the one archdiocese which makes NWBC its policy and the animation team is fully organized, at least 2 other diocesan teams have been set up formally since, 3 other dioceses also loosely set up their BEC teams, while progress is said to be minimal as a whole.
Other cases are just left to certain individual interest of the BEC animators.
In 2007, five more BEC coordinators attended Pastoral Theological Course on SCCs at
Nagpur, India.
Exposure programs organized by other dioceses to learn from our pioneer that NWBC is possible in
Thailand create incentive among those interested to start BEC.
More coordination is expected to sustain such enthusiasm.
Regular training program for BEC leaders is a must, especially on the skills to conduct local meeting regularly, as well as more Awareness Program on a systematic basis.
Diocesan Core Team trainings have been conducted regularly in at least 2 dioceses.
The AsIPA texts in Thai, already translated for years, are still to be revised and published.
The only text book on an Introduction to NWBC, was published in 2006, and 3000 copies are sold out.
The interest on NWBC seems to be at its ebb right now.
Due to a lack of national coordination, not much investment is seen presently.
1.3 Interest and road block on our journey
Through individual animators’ initiative, at least 6 seminars for parish pastoral councils have been conducted during the past few years, using basic Awareness Program, while the interest often lopsided for lack of on-going formation for BEC leaders. Oftentimes the AsIPA methodology could not take off since it requires proper follow-up by the animators, as well as consistency in the diocesan policy on NWBC. While most of the priests have been informed on NWBC, the skills to initiate it stage by stage are required to make it operative from the grass root level of the parishes. This is perhaps one of the main road blocks we are facing.
1.4 Success Stories
There are isolated success stories in all dioceses, while in the archdiocese where NWBC becomes its prime policy we can record the happy achievement felt by all. There are regular monthly BEC meeting for the past 3 years since the inauguration. Unity, co-operation, mutual help and fraternal love become evident. We do not deny that there is still a small percentage of not fully successful outcomes. The success is very much due to self-less coordinating team. Regularly, the team conduct training sessions for leaders at all levels, including priests and religious Sisters. Regular visits to local teams help to solve the difficulties to the point. There are monthly Newsletter as well as monthly BEC meeting manual. Coordination with other diocesan commission enables the team to organize trainings for a proper understanding of BEC. Community radio program is also of great help.
Is the attempt really a success? Only time will prove it. Apart from cooperation required of all to make it, we are aware that the establishment of NWBC is God’s work, and we are confident of Jesus’ promise to be always with us till the end of times. So, “Why are you afraid !”
1.5 Benefits gained
Wherever there are BECs in our parish communities, we notice a number of fruits arising from introducing NWBC. Some significant ones as expressed by BEC members themselves are:
- The communion within the group becomes real as expressed in mutual help and concern.
- Their living faith urges them to shoulder and share different parish activities with a true sense of belonging.
- They value the word of God and live it out in daily life, as well as share such experience with each other.
- The needy are cared for materially and financially, also with fraternal attentiveness.
- The fraternal atmosphere among the laity, the parish priest and religious Sisters could be felt as they approach each other with care and concern.
- The laity become more verbalized in expressing themselves and sharing faith experience during gospel sharing.
- An awakening of Christian living is felt, with a hope of better future parish community life.
- Those not practicing their faith are visited and invited to join parish gatherings and religious activities more and more.
- Community spirit becomes vibrant within each BEC.
- Pastoral visits are made possible as the priest attends different BEC meetings.
1.6 Contexualized Approaches in starting NWBC
Within Thai setting, and with our own traditional and cultural background, our effort in introduce NWBC come in a variety of ways, such as:
- Whenever NWBC could not be realized at once as a policy within a diocese, the BEC coordinators set up model BECs in their own parishes to show that it is possible with benefits gained by the members.
- Awareness Program at the diocesan level has to be followed by setting up BEC committee at different levels, along with leaders’ skill training and formation.
- A program is being drawn up to initiate NWBC for school children. This results in a healthy relationship among students including in-religious aspect with their Buddhist friends.
- In general, within Thai cultural way of life, a sense of local community is already an asset on which we can very well built NWBC. As for city setting, where parishioners are scattered, a different sense or concept of parish community will determine new type of BECs. Alternatives have already been tried out in some areas. More effort in this venture has to be invested.
1.7 Our Future
There is a new hope arising along with CBCT new Pastoral Plan 2010 – 2015 on the future
of NWBC within the Church in
Thailand.
The Church is participatory in nature through the one and the same baptism when all believers participate in Christ’s missions of Priest, Prophet and Shepherd – King.
Many dioceses see NWBC as a necessary option on which to build on other missions and pastoral activities.
A new paradigm on the part of the pastors about lay involvement is also needed to open up to the 99.3 % of believers who are laity, so that the latter will actively own the local parish communities as their own.
Such an awareness can only be achieved through the use of AsIPA methodology at all levels, progressively and consistently in the coming years.
Efficient diocesan and national coordinating bodies for NWBC are a must for such a venture.
Part II Bread broken and Word Shared in BECs
(A) How the Word has become the center of BECs, using Gospel sharing methods.
2.1 The CBCT has announced 2007 – 2010 to be “The Years of the word of God.” It was well accepted by one and all. Diocesan efforts were seen in organizing strategies to make the word of God alive in every home and heart of Catholics. The new version of Thai New Testament has been printed without limit. NT is within the reach of every one by now. There are bible study groups, bible sharing groups and bible courses conducted for the laity. The Year of St. Paul in 2008 – 2009 was also welcomed with enthusiasm. The wind is set to blow while making the living word of God become alive in every Christian. Most likely this policy has to be prolonged in the near future. The Bishops’ Synod on the word of God in 2008 was another incentive toward this goal. The vision to make Jesus the center of every family and community through the word of God is gaining momentum.
2.2 Promoting the reading of the word of God regularly in the family and at every gathering is our first strategy, thus making the Word the center of our daily life. The living out of the Word concretely in acts of charity to the needy is encouraged consistently. Bible enthronement in every home and office is also being promoted. Short passages from the Scripture are read out by Village News Radio, or have them written boldly wherever they can be easily seen by all. These help us to reflect frequently on the word of God. Different creative means are employed to promote the reading of the Word personally and as a group. Moreover, the Church teaching is also used to express her concerns in faith formation through the word of God.
2.3 The sharing of the Word is but a “living faith sharing” of how we live out what is inspired by what we read. This is not easy for beginners but we keep insisting on it. Parents are urged to introduce their children to love of the Word through family reading of the Scripture and prayer. We train volunteers to bring the Word to the mass through one-to-one contact, as well as in groups or organizations. AsIPA methods of gospel sharing used are mostly The 7 Steps, and the “Look, Listen, Love.” Normally, we integrate sharing of the Word with family evening prayer and hymns. We make it a point to end the sharing with commitment to put the word of God in action. Many gospel sharing groups have been formed, even for years, but unfortunately a good number of them remain such, and have not developed into NWBC fully, because the AsIPA texts B-C-D series have not been utilized.
2.4 The pastors and committee members attend Biblical formation program so as to be able to lead the BEC to live simply and honestly, thus strengthen the community bond by having the Word as their life source. BEC members bear witness to the Word in their daily life, as well as learning the simple art of proclaiming the Word through songs, sport, assisting other community activities. Bearing witness through inter-religious dialogue of life is also shown by participating local common charitable projects.
2.5 In the midst of secularism, materialism, consumerism in our globalized mentality, to be able to stand firm against such torrent needs the word of God as our leading light, guiding our foot steps. Initiation into deepening love of the Word through reflection, case conference, retreat and sharing of life-experience help one and all to accept one another better, to become sympathetic and forgiving.
We have also found out that the laity come to love the Word more and more, and are
yearning to know the Scripture better. They see Christ in the people-in-need and develop
a positive attitude towards all life events. They attend more to their parish activities with
responsibility with a true sense of shared-services. Better understanding among family
members is being created through the Word. Thus, little by little, Christ become alive and
the center of parish community as a whole, or in any BEC wherever it is established.
(B) How the Eucharist is lived in the daily life of BEC members.
2.6 The Church tells us that the Eucharist Sacrifice is “the fount and apex of the whole Christian life.” (cf. LG 11) In order to build up strong BECs, we have to go back to the source and foundation of our Christian living. It begins with a warmth family relationship, e.g., having means together, praying together and attending the Eucharist together in a family spirit. We agree that this has already been realized in many parish communities, and yet still have to be urged.
2.7 Relationship within the local Church community leads all to show concern for one another, e.g., as expressed in traditional joint harvesting, group visit to the sick, attending BEC monthly meetings and other joint projects. Such atmosphere helps us meeting God together and becoming a true community of “communion” where Christ is the source and summit of all missions locally. Coming together to celebrate Christ presence in the Eucharist makes us become aware of that sense of belonging to one another. We share different roles in preparing the liturgy, as well as celebrating family anniversaries, health recovery events and the like. This shows forth that we are the one “People of God, united as one in love.” (Thai Vision statement) More and more we hope that our parish communities will truly become renewed communities centered on the Word and the Eucharist.
2.8 Growth in communion within the BEC brings about warmth and belongingness to a community of Christ’s disciples, as were the believers in early apostolic community, where they come to pray together, broke bread together in the home and praising God together. That communion with Christ through his Word and the breaking of bread shows forth in such acts of love as cooperation, sharing, caring and attending to one another. Each BEC has its own patron saint, and when the Eucharist is celebrated in one of the home on such patron’s feast day, they sense deeper communion vividly.
2.9 In our Thai context, we feel the need to create an awareness among all believers that “Eucharistic life after the Eucharist” is as important as the Eucharistic celebration within the community itself. A prolongation of such a celebration is carried out in their day-to-day life in the family, working place and in fact in all their daily social interactions. Such an attitude and understanding needs to be inculcated progressively by a corporate effort, especially among the lay faithful.
Long live Jesus Christ
Long live BEC
