In response to the messages of Aggiornamento 1976, Fr. Anthony Chan initiated the formation of BEC in HRC. Then the Church in West Malaysia reinforced the concept of BEC at a seminar in Port Dickson in 1980. About 3 years later, with more encouragement from Fr. Philip So, BECs began to take more shape. It started with 13 families in Taman Desa and 12 families in Damansara Heights. Bangsar which had already started in the late 70s gathered more momentum. Our senior parishioners may recall Michael Tan knocking on doors campaigning “little churches” in Taman Desa, Alex Loo strumming his guitar to the tune of BEC at Damansara Heights while the late Maria Ch’ng and her bevy of ladies led the charge in Bangsar.
In 2000 Fr. John Gnana gave more push. He was steadfast and resolute with the BEC vision in transforming HRC into a communion of communities. Over the years, Monsignor Daniel Lim sang the same song and with his patience, was made busier with home Masses at BEC meetings. Fr. Joachim Tan continues to carry the torch, rather the cross, this time to instill more pastoral growth in BEC and the parish.
The formation of BECs started with some pain and resistance, then went through challenges like zoning and re-zoning within the parish and with neighbouring parishes, and more restructuring to resize from 100 families in a residential area to smaller units of about 20 families. This evolution has brought about the form and face of BEC today.
The BEC Core Team (BECCOT) meets monthly with the parish priest to plan, preview and discuss the reflection papers for BEC the following month. These meetings are formative sessions for BEC coordinators who will then conduct their respective monthly BEC meetings accordingly.
BEC take turns to animate weekend Masses. BEC are the main organizers of parish celebrations, festivals and events. The parish priest works through BEC. Our BEC have become a main pillar of the church, indeed a communion of communities.
In 2013, during this 110th anniversary, there are a total of 16 BECs covering Bangsar Baru, Bukit Bandaraya, Bukit Damansara, Federal Hill, part of Sri Hartamas, Happy Garden, OUG and Taman Desa. Though some groups may be more active than others in terms of monthly participation, it is imperative that our ultimate aim and focus is to come together in prayer. Jesus has said “for where two or three come in my name I am there with them.”
In the Acts of the Apostles, God opened the door of faith for the early Christians in their homes. The Basic Ecclesial Communities is a continuation of that opening which Jesus has paved for us to emulate. Jesus broke bread with his disciples and at the homes He visited; our Best Eating Club continues the tradition.