Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of Tugeugarao has released a pastoral letter emphasizing the central role of families and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the mission of the Church.
The letter, titled “On the Family and the Basic Ecclesial Community,” aligns with the archdiocese’s 50th jubilee theme: “Celebrating Fifty Years of Grace, Journeying Together in Synodality.”
In the letter, Archbishop Baccay highlighted the family as the “first and vital cell of society and the Church.”
He stresses the need for all pastoral programs to prioritize the family as the heart of the Church’s mission, saying, “Our programs should aim to strengthen marriages, support parents as primary educators in faith, and nurture the spiritual growth of each family member.”
The Archbishop also underscored the significance of BEC, describing it as a “microcosm of the universal Church.”
These small, faith-based communities, he explained, allow members to live out their baptismal call through prayer, sharing the Word of God, and mutual support.
“The BEC is a space where families can gather to build relationships that mirror the divine communion of the Trinity. It is an arena for discerning the signs of the times and responding to the needs of our neighbors in a spirit of solidarity and compassion,” said Baccay.
The pastoral letter also addressed the importance of synodality, a concept central to Pope Francis’ papacy.
Archbishop Baccay emphasized the call to “embrace synodality, which involves listening to one another, discerning together, and moving forward as one body in Christ.”
He described synodality as essential for building a more inclusive, participatory Church that reflects the true essence of communion and mission.
In his pastoral directives, Archbishop Baccay laid out several commitments for the Archdiocese as it moves forward.
Among these is a renewed focus on family evangelization and a restructuring of parishes into a “communion of BECs to ensure a more integrated and participatory model of Church life.”
He also called for the development of a “spirituality of stewardship, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and that we are called to manage these gifts wisely.”
The jubilee celebration, which includes various activities and spiritual events, aims to deepen the Archdiocese’s mission of service, especially by promoting strong family and community ties rooted in faith.
“As we move forward in this jubilee year, let us commit to: Fostering the family as the domestic church, a sanctuary of life and love where each member participates in the life and mission of the Church as priest, prophet, and servant-king,” the Archbishop said.
