DAVAO CITY, March 9, 2009—Religious Education (ReEd) teachers said that the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) play a vital role to draw the attention of the students in the activities of the parish.

Assumption College of Davao (ACD) ReEd Coordinator Miguela J. Dagoy said that BEC should provide an avenue for students and other young people to express themselves and encourage them to serve the Church.

“If the BEC will only develop the interest of the students in their community to become active collaborators in Church activities then we can see more responsible young people working in the Church during Saturdays and Sundays,” she said.

“We can tap the students to serve as choirs or become part of the Knights of the Altar Servers (KOTAS) or youth ministry helping in catechism and even active in family groups like the Family and Life Apostolate (FLA),” added Dagoy.

She also said that parents should also encourage their children to become active in church activities. “Parents play a great part in deepening the awareness of the students about the role of the Church.”

Dagoy added that BEC should become part of the Christian’s way of life so that it will nurture the minds of the children to respond actively in Church programs and activities.

“In a BEC the people are the believer and Jesus is the foundation, believers are inspired to actively participate in the activities of the Church,” she said.

Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) ReEd Coordinator Nancy Braga said that as believers of Christ and as one Church, people need to build a community where they could exercise their faith in small groups.

“In BECs everyone is considered equal and thus inspires us to do our duties sincerely and actively,” said Braga.

Though it is not a program in HCDC, Braga said that BEC is part of the school curriculum since it is being discussed in ReEd III that has one of the subjects with course description, “The Church.” (Mark S. Ventura)