Volume : 7, Issue : 8, August - 2018

BASIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES AND PASTORAL COUNCIL IN ARCHDIOCESE OF TRIVANDRUM.

J. R. Anoja

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;The launching of the Basic Christian communities in the Arch diocese of Trivandrum is a milestone in the history of</p> <div>the diocese. The organization of BCC is the smallest cell of the church. It was originated in Philippines in 1965. A</div> <div>similar system had been in vogue in Latin America years ago. The involvement of the bishops, priests, religious and laity was very thoroughly</div> <div>felt and they were understood to have committed to its formation wholeheartedly. Consequently, the bene􀃶t went to all sections especially</div> <div>the laity. The entire BCC was concerned about the promotion of the pastoral mission of the church which is the temple of the Holy Spirit,</div> <div>Body of Christ, a Building of God and it was a sole and necessary gate way to reach the Christ. The study aims at estimating the value the laity</div> <div>possessed in the new set up. Since people themselves became their own rulers, focus was made on studying the structural changes that</div> <div>were effected in the administration of local church which is understood as the diocese according to the new code of law. In a way, it has given</div> <div>people the power, and thus ful􀃶lling the norms of democracy. In those days parishes had barely 5% percentage of the laity who was involved</div> <div>in the group apostolate. They belonged to one or several organizations like, Vincent De Paul, Legion of Mary, and Parish Council etc. What</div> <div>happened to the other 95%?The study also aims at inging to the fore such people to participate in the building of BCCs. Animators and</div> <div>villagers were assigned with the task of collecting data and the obtained data was analyzed and made use of later.</div>