Diocesan Pastoral Team (DPT)

Diocese of Penang         

 

Pastoral Letter  :   Diocesan BEC Census 2008

 

 

Dear Fathers, Religious, Brothes and Sisters in Christ

 

                    Coming to the end of the second year after the Peninsular Malaysian Pastoral Convention III (PMPC III) of 2006, as your Bishop,  I count it all joy to be able to journey with each and everyone of you in the various Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) at both the parish and diocesan level.  I share in your sufferings and disappointments, and also rejoice with you in your triumphs and successes in building your BECs. 

 

                     Do remember that everyone in your BEC, and  parish must be accounted for and no one must be left either behind or out  in our  effort to build BECs.  As in the Book of  Exodus, when the people of God journeyed, they moved together, helping and encouraging one another along the way.   “ ……  the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitudes also went up with them, and very many cattle, both flocks and herds…….”  ( Exodus 12: 37 – 38 )  With God’s Grace, we can journey together as a BEC,  as a parish and as a diocese.

 

                     However, this necessitates the implementation of the  Diocesan BEC Census to update the aged diocesan demography so as  to enable us to realistically overview the Catholic population in the various BECs,  parishes and the whole Diocese of Penang. This census searches, reaches out and records the parishes and diocesan demography, ensuring that everyone is counted and included.

 

                       In our on-going priorities in areas of  unity, formation, integral human development, inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue, youth, family, social communication and other areas of concern, the Diocesan BEC Census directs, identifies, pin points and quantifies the target parish/es, community/ies, group/s, team/s or committee/s, for effective ministering, dialogue, training, formation, planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up.

 

                       The Diocesan BEC Census is also a useful tool for all clergy and lay leaders in our effort to evaluate the efficacy of the present structures, strategies and methodologies. This will help  to revamp and improve, in order to meet the identified needs in the areas of concern and in addressing the key issues.

 

                       With this in view, the DPT and I need your invaluable help to take the BEC census of your parish. A Census Kit containing  a Master Census Form, MyChurch  data base diskette and a guide to census taking is provided to facilitate your arduous task.

 

                        May the Good Lord, Jesus Christ and His mother, Mary, help us on our  journey  with our BECs.

 

 

With the Love of the Lord,

 

 

Bishop Antony Selvanayagam