Mangaluru, July 5: The Commission for Catechism, in collaboration with the Sunday Catechism teachers of St. Sebastian Church, Bendur, successfully organized a Training Session on Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) for children at the St. Agnes School Hall on Sunday.

The programme commenced with the enthronement, blessing, and veneration of the Holy Bible, signifying the centrality of God’s Word in Christian life. This was followed by a brief reflection by Fr. Joel Monteiro, In-charge of Sunday Catechism, who encouraged the children to actively participate in the life and mission of the Church. He also imparted a special blessing to the participants with the Holy Bible.

The resource persons for the day, Mr. William Colaco and Mrs. Asha Monteiro, from Shakthinagar parish were given a floral welcome by Mrs. Jasmine Vas, Coordinator of Sunday Catechism.

The training session introduced the children to the concept, vision, and mission of the Basic Ecclesial Community. Through interactive activities, the participants gained hands-on experience of the Seven-Step Method of the Basic Ecclesial Community, enabling them to understand its practical application. The resource persons also shared valuable suggestions on making ward meetings more meaningful, participative, and spiritually enriching.

The programme concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Rev.Fr Walter D’Souza, Parish Priest of St. Sebastian Church, Bendur.

The training programme received an overwhelming response from the students, with 175 participants taking part enthusiastically. The initiative proved to be a fruitful step in nurturing the faith of children and encouraging their active participation in ward meetings.