Last 19 July 2008, the first neighborhood
community consisting of ten (10) families was formed in the parish. The
next day, two other communities were formally introduced to the community
apostolate program of the parish, the "Divine Mercy Family
Evangelization Program". Five more communities consisting of ten
families each were formed. Through this program, the parish hopes to
strengthen already existing Basic Ecclesial Communities, and form new
communities. The program is hinged on the popular devotion of the parish,
which has gained a wide acceptance among the parishioners, the devotion to
the Divine Mercy.
The basic understanding of the Basic
Ecclesial Community falls on the following, as expressed in the
Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly (1997): it is a small community whose
members are united with each other, and to their pastor; it is a community
which gathers around the Word of God and nourished by the Eucharist and
the Sacraments. Most of these communities emerge mostly among the poor at
the grassroots. What then is the "Family Evangelization Program" and
what role does the devotion to the Divine Mercy play in the formation of
these neighborhood Christian communities?
The first community formed called themselves
"Kapayapaan Uno" because the families come from a certain geographical
area called "Purok Kapayapaan" in Barangay Anonang. The ten families have
been neighbors for a long time, bound by blood relations, primarily, and
informal association. Hence, they have known each other for quite a while.
The underlying factor that would keep the families together, and hence,
that will provide a common, continuing activity of the families is the
devotion to the Divine Mercy through the "Visitation of the Image" from
one house to the next. The image of the Divine Mercy will stay in one
family for a week, after which, it will "visit" the next family. While the
image stays in one house, the family is encouraged to pray daily the
Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and the Three o'clock prayer, both elements of
the devotion.
On the first day, the members of the family
welcome the Image. Together with the other families, they pray the
devotional prayers welcoming the image, as well as the consecration of the
family to the Divine Mercy. After a week, the ten families gather together
at the home where the image is. They will hold a Bible Sharing, i.e., they
share the Word of God. The sharing of the Word is a basic activity of the
community. This is also the opportunity for them to discuss relevant
issues affecting their lives. It is also in this Prayer/Bible Sharing that
Catholic Doctrines and Practices will be discussed and lived. The parish
team provides the families with the catechism and questions to be
reflected upon for the week.
The
Divine Mercy Family Evangelization Program Pamphlet. (.pdf) in
Pangasinan.
