Priest on Sorsogon BEC Day: ‘Service comes from humility’

Drawing on the theme of the 9th Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Day in the Diocese of Sorsogon, a priest stressed how the true source of service is humility.

In his talk on “Servant Leadership amidst BEC,” Fr. Jude Raymund Festin, SVD, SVD-PHC provincial superior, stressed that the source of service is humility.

“An authentic servant-leader has Jesus as model and example,” he added.

3 characteristics

According to Festin, a servant-leader has the following three characteristics: “the prioritization of the least, the last, and the lost; a listening ear and hands that are not afraid to ask for help; and the joy in service.”

Inspired by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)’s declaration of a Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, “Servant Leadership amidst BEC” was chosen as the theme of this year’s diocesan BEC Day celebration held on April 28 at the covered court of the Peralta Park at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Donsol, a town known for its “butanding” (whale sharks).

Meanwhile, Fr. Pol J. Lagco gave a sharing on “BEC within the parish setting,” focusing on his current experiences in the parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Irosin.

Diocesan thrust

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, presided over the holy Mass for the participants coming from 31 parishes and five vicariates of the diocese

The building of BECs is the thrust of the current 6th diocesan ecclesial and evangelization program of the Diocese of Sorsogon, in line with the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II), and in response to the recommendations of priests, religious and lay faithful of the diocese during its Second General Pastoral Assembly at the start of the current quinquennium held five years ago. With reports from Rochelle Opalalic and Raquel Dollison/CBCPNews