BASIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES AND PASTORAL COUNCIL IN ARCHDIOCESE OF TRIVANDRUM.

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

J. R. Anoja

The launching of the Basic Christian communities in the Arch diocese of Trivandrum is a milestone in the history of

the diocese. The organization of BCC is the smallest cell of the church. It was originated in Philippines in 1965. A

similar system had been in vogue in Latin America years ago. The involvement of the bishops, priests, religious and laity was very thoroughly

felt and they were understood to have committed to its formation wholeheartedly. Consequently, the bene􀃶t went to all sections especially

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,

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

possessed in the new set up. Since people themselves became their own rulers, focus was made on studying the structural changes that

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

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

in the group apostolate. They belonged to one or several organizations like, Vincent De Paul, Legion of Mary, and Parish Council etc. What

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

villagers were assigned with the task of collecting data and the obtained data was analyzed and made use of later.