The population of Palo is predominantly Catholic. Approximately, 80 to 85% are Catholics and almost 15% belong to the Baptist Church, Seventh Day Adventists, Jesus of the Latter Day Saints, Iglesia ni Cristo, Ang Dating Daan, Christian Fundamentalists (Born Again), etc.

Most Catholics in Palo still stick to the old practice of just attending the Holy Masses during Sundays and Holy Days of Obligations. Also, as much as possible, each Catholic family in the parish sees to it that members of the family have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick (whenever necessary) and Sacrament of Marriage. Others show their devotions to the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that of the saints as well as their devotions to the different feasts honoring Jesus by attending the nine-day novena and the celebration of the Holy Mass during the feast days. Praying the Holy Rosary is also a common practice. The dramatic celebration of the Passion of Christ during the Holy Week which is well participated by the parishioners has become a tradition wherein people within and outside the parish go out of their ways to attend this grand celebration.

Integration of prayer and action is not so clear among the parishioners despite of the wide arrays of church activities they get involved. Individual parishioners are not aware of their responsibilities towards their co-parishioners who compose the Church and how they can help one another to develop a strong relationship that will help establish the kingdom of God in their respective communities. Sad to say, most of them are just concerned with their individual spiritual life and salvation and seldom extend this concern to other members of the church not even to the other members of their families.

In order to reach its vision (A community of God’s disciples nourished and transfigured by His Words) the mission of the Our Lord’s Transfiguration Parish of Palo is for the parishioners “To commit themselves towards a renewed integral evangelization through His word by building small faith communities.” Its goal is “To promote a life of integration in the parish.” A life of integration will not only involve spiritual formation but also the development of one’s personal life so as to help one another to feel the presence of God within and among them. Hopefully, this will lead to the establishment of the Basic Ecclesial Communities who will play important roles reaching the vision of the parish and to operationalize its mission and goal through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Church is growing. The BEC is the answer to the yearnings of most Christians to be part of a living community rather than a building. Their dream is to be part of a Church that responds to the yearning of lively liturgy, a real feeling of fraternity and active missionary participation. The BEC can help to achieve this dream the pains that the parishioners will experience to reach such dream should not be discounted. The BEC puts emphasis on the commitment to one’s family, to one’s work, to the neighborhood and in the local community. For example, if one is a farmer, he works everyday in his farm taking into consideration the talents given to him by God so he can help his family and neighbors as well as the community in their needs such as food. He is not only working for himself and his family but for the other children of God in the community.

BEC is renewing the Church at the grassroots level through the faith of the believing people and through Jesus and His Spirit. The BEC concentrates in itself all the fundamental elements of being church: faith, worship, communion, apostolicity, liberation and salvation. It is the first fruit, the sign and the sacrament of the Kingdom of God. It is totally oriented towards a mission. The BEC’s actions should always be geared toward evangelization and conversion for everybody’s salvation.

To quote Msgr. Oscar Romero in his 4th Pastoral Letter to his parishioners in El Salvador, August 1979, "To live in community is not an option, but one of vocation. Christianity, by its very nature, demands the formation of community. Christianity cannot be conceived without relating to others, and relating to these people in fraternal love. Of course, in terms of specific forms of community, nothing is revealed. It is the historical moment and the needs of the time that will indicate what form the community should take. But what remains unchangeable is the ultimate goal) which is the formation of groups of Christians committed to the Church and committed as Church in each respective society."

This program design will serve as a road map in the organization and operationalization of the BECs that will help evolve a renewed parish of Our Lord’s Transfiguration.

People in the community organize themselves as BEC, (composed of clusters of families) shepherded by the Parish itself. BEC is the model Church at the grassroots level, renewing the church by means of faith of a believing people and through Jesus and His Spirit. Being a shepherd, the Parish should see to it that the BEC has all the expected characteristics of a Church at the grassroots that provides a place where people grow in their experience of new interpersonal relationships in the faith and in deeper exploration of the Word of God. It should also bring about an evaluation and renewal of lifestyle and reflection on the reality in the light of the gospel.

With their guidance, the parish should extend little autonomy for the BEC to enhance the power within to bring a community to life: to share in the life of God through the experience of love among brothers and sisters lived out in the solidarity of a common history. What we are saying here is that, the BEC should be given the opportunity to determine or identify the image of Jesus Christ that they value most in life. This determines the spirituality and pastoral spirit of the ecclesial community, dictates its course of action and determines in the final analysis how and where it develops. It takes charge of its own spiritual and human existence in a spirit of fraternal solidarity through the Holy Spirit.

The BEC should also be in communion with other BECs to gain more insights for them to adapt in order to strengthen their spirituality as well as their Christian life. Their communion should also expand to other religious organizations of the Church, other sectors within and outside the community to gain support not only to strengthen the BEC but also for its sustenance.

1. The BEC is a "sacramental" event within a global process of renewal and the introduction of a new style (model) of Church life. The effort towards pastoral renewal now being undertaken (especially since Vatican II) is both grassroots and universal processes.


2. The BEC emerges from the Church's pastoral activity and not in opposition to it. It starts and develops with the help of laity, religious, priests and bishop, and gradually takes on social as well as ecclesial functions.


3. The BEC can and should be prophetic and should bring forth prophets. But it does not present itself as the only possible means of salvation, nor does it expound the view that it wants to establish an earthly enduring kingdom different from the Kingdom of God).


4. The BEC is not confined to any one culture, people, race, language or family. Any one of these aspects, however, can provide a valid starting point for the formation of the BEC.


5. Reflection, prayer, community and interpersonal relationship constitute the core elements in the life of the BEC without any one of these taking precedence over the other. The BEC is not a specialized group for carrying out concrete activities. It exists to be Church, to assume all the ecclesial functions and activities, although it does necessarily express the totality of all those characteristics at any given time.


6. The BEC is neither an apostolic movement nor a pious association. A movement in the church involves the grouping together of a certain number of the faithful who wish to live out one or other aspect of the Church (e.g. a certain type of spirituality or a certain missionary dimension). A movement accentuates something that belongs to the Church but which is not the whole church, nor its entire spirituality, nor its mission. On the other hand, the BEC is called to live out all the aspects of the Church, its complete spirituality and mission. As such it is not simply another group of the church.


7. The BEC does not provide answers to all the ills of our day. The BEC is the pilgrim Church, with all the limitations and sins that this implies. There has never existed a totally sinless ecclesial community. Therefore, there will always be difficulties and failures present in the BEC. The BEC, as a basic level of Church, re-evaluates and reinterprets the Church’s way of being and acting. It does this in the light of its own origins and the action of the Spirit, and from the perspective of a new, liberating, salvific commitment in response to the urgencies of the time.

General: To build Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Parish of Our Lord's Transfiguration that create a power within to share in the life of God through the experience of love among brothers and sisters, lived out in the solidarity of a common history.

Specifically, the program aims to achieve the following objectives after five years:

1. Parishioners have gained more knowledge on the true essence of the Basic Ecclesial Communities or BEC.
   • BEC and the Word of God:
     • Creates a greater acceptance of the Word of God.
     • Provides a place where "people grow in their experience of new interpersonal relationships in the faith, in deeper exploration of the Word of God".
     • Brings about an evaluation of lifestyle and reflection on the reality in the light of the Gospel
     • Celebrates the Word of God in daily life.
     • Seeks to be nourished in the Word of God.
     • Spreads "family catechesis and adult education in the faith in forms more adequate for ordinary people".
     • Expresses, values and purifies popular religiousity.
     • Assumes responsibility for catechesis at every level.
     • Stresses the faith that is shared more spontaneously in small communities.
   
   
   • BEC the community that celebrates FAITH:
     • Leads to the participation in the Eucharist.
     • is responsible for worship as an expression of the faith.
     • is proof of the laity's desire for participation in the liturgical assemblies and in apostolic works.
     • Celebrates events and festivities with gatherings of prayers and songs which evangelize the community and provide it with evangelical force.
     • Integrates personal and communal prayer in its program of evangelization.
     • Responds to the yearning for lively liturgy, a real feeling of fraternity and active missionary participation.
     • Uses varied expressions of faith and of the existing Christian devotions.
     • Seeks to interpret authentic intuitions, to respect various expression of faith, to provide an opportunity for full participation and help avoid religious syncretism.
   
   
   • BEC: a community of SERVICE to the world:
     • Permits a greater commitment to justice within the society in which it exits.
     • Challenges the egotistical and consumeristic roots of society.
     • Becomes a center of human development and promotion.
     • Constitutes a dynamic force for liberation and development.
     • Results in an integral liberation for many segments of the people of God.
     • Is an important starting point in the building of a new society.
     • Stimulates ... so that the members can more generously be leaven among the masses.
     • Has a commitment to transform the world.
     • Emphasizes the commitment to the family, to one's work, to the neighborhood and to the local community.
     • Holds a different attitude to material wealth from the rest of society.
     • Makes efforts to establish participatory forms of organizations and structures, capable of blazing new trails towards a more human form of society.
     • Avoid being caught up in the political polarization and ideological disputes of the day.
   
   
2. Parishioners in each of the 21 barangays will organize themselves as Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) with the following characteristics;
3. Members of the BEC have nurtured themselves in strong adherence to the teachings of Christ & the Magesterium, committed to the BEC that they belong, gets involved and finds enthusiasm in carrying out activities by and for the BEC.
4. BEC members have established stronger relationship among themselves and with the members of other BEC within and outside the parish.
5. Organized BECs are strengthened and sustained kingdom of God.

1. Spiritual and Human/Personal Development. BEC can help its members to enhance the power to change their spiritual and human life through the Holy Spirit in order to acquire the following gifts which are needed by them to grow as children of God. These are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Activities for spiritual growth and human/personal development of the youth should also be given emphasis. The following activities may be conducted for the enrichment and enhancement of the spiritual growth and human development for the members of the BEC:
   1. Bible Study
   2. Teachings on the concept of the BEC
   3. Teachings on Spiritual Formation (Topics to be identified in the development of the detailed implementation plan)
   4. Teachings on Human and Personal Development (Topics to be identified in the development of the detailed implementation plan)
   5. Conduct of Prayer Meetings
   6. Sharing of Testimonies
   7. Attendance of Recollections (Monthly or Quarterly)
   8. Attendance of Holy Retreat
   9. Participation of Outreach Activities
   10. Team Building Activities
   11. Parish Youth Day
   12. Youth Summer Camp
   13. Inter-BEC Youth Encounter
   14. Conduct of Catechesis


2. Social Mobilization. This happens when people in the community put their acts, talents and resources together to achieve a common goal. The following components are needed:
   1. Assessment. This is needed to assess the historical "avalanches" that threaten evangelization and Church life. There is a need to alleviate with some urgency our Church of certain historical "overloads" which are worthwhile in themselves but are retarding the progress of the Church and which under circumstances could provoke a catastrophe. Also, members of the Church should be prepared, in some cases, to sacrifice certain projects, although good in themselves, for the greater benefit of the whole. In relation to this strategy, the following activities may be conducted:
      1. Participatory Rapid Assessment using the Focus Group Discussion
      2. Program Implementation Review
      3. Regular monitoring (monthly)
      4. Evaluation (Quarterly, Semi-Annually, Annually
      
      
   2. Behavior Change Communication. Since BEC is a venue for positive spiritual and human transformation, behavior change communication activities are needed for metanoia to happen in each of the members. Metanoia means repentance and total change of ones mind and heart, an experience of conversion The following behavior change commuication activities may be considered:
      1. Interpersonal Communication (Counseling & spiritual direction—individual and group), Brainstorming, Focused Group Discussion, Community Assembly, etc.)
      2. Development of BEC Newsletter or BEC Magazine
      3. Development of BEC Newsboard or BEC Wall Newspaper
      4. VTR Production
      5. Composition & Compilation of Religious, Social, Animation Songs
      6. Conduct of Development Theater
      7. Conduct of Puppet Shows
      8. Conduct of Video Showing
      9. Conduct of Youth Forum
      10. Conduct of Couples Forum
      11. Conduct of BEC Radio Program/School on the Air
      
      
   3. Capability Building. In order to achieve the characteristics of the real model Church which is the BEC, members of the community should be capacitated to do all the activities needed for them to grow spiritually and to establish good relationship among themselves through the Holy Spirit. The following capability building activities may be conducted:
      1. Training of Trainers
      2. Training of Facilitators
      3. Training of Animators
      4. Training on Public Speaking or on How to Conduct an Effective Presentation
      5. Training on the Conduct of Prayer & Business Meeting
      6. Training of Prayer Leaders
      7. Training on the Conduct of Advocacy
      8. Training on Interactive Individual or Group Counseling & Spiritual Direction
      9. Training on Peer Counseling
      10. Training on the Development of Community Newsletter, Newsboard, Wall Newspaper.
      11. Training on the Development of Theater and Script Writing
      12. Training on Leadership and Management
      13. Training on Project Management
      14. Training on Financial Management
      15. Training on Networking
      16. Training on Resources Utilization and Conservation
      17. Training on Income Generating Activities
      18. Training of Catechists
      19. Training on the Conduct of Meetings, Conferences, Assemblies, Forum.
      
      
   4. Advocacy. The present day Church is alive and proactive in attending to the spiritual needs and human growth of its parishioners. The BEC will play a great role in encouraging its members to serve the Church with enthusiasm and commitment and to set as an example of a way of living together in which freedom and solidarity are successfully combined. Advocacy activities are needed to encourage active involvement in the BEC. The following advocacy activities may be conducted:
      1. Conduct of Advocacy Forum, Assemblies, and Meetings on BEC with the Youth
      2. Conduct of Advocacy Forum, Assemblies, and Meetings on the BEC with Couples
      3. Conduct of Advocacy Forum, Assemblies, and Meetings on the BEC with Single Men and Women
      4. Conduct of Advocacy Forum, Assemblies, and Meetings on the BEC with other stakeholders
      5. Conduct of Advocacy Forum, Assemblies, and Meetings on the BEC with the different sectors of the community
      
      
   5. Community Organization. BEC is a community organization in itself with its distinct purpose and culture as well as spiritual and human values that are all centered on Christ. If it is not Christ centered, then it is not BEC. The organized BEC should have the characteristics distinct from other Church organizations. The following activities may be conducted:
      1. Assessment of issues, problems and needs of the community.
      2. Master listing of Families
      3. Establishing Family Profile
      4. Clustering or Grouping of Families to establish cell of families to organize a BEC.
      5. Organizing the BEC: selection of servant leaders; identification of ministries; definition of roles and responsibilites
      6. Planning
      7. Implementation of the developed plan
      8. Teambuilding Activities
      9. Teachings on Spiritual Formation
      10. Conduct of Regular Prayer Meeting
      11. Regular Celebration of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist
      
      
   6. Networking. The BEC, being the local expression of the Church and the institutionalized Church (being universal and unique in character) can be easily distinguished from one another, but neither is separate from, nor opposed to, the other, as both are manifestations of the same community of the Lord. The BEC seeks also to be the fundamental point of reference for the coming together, convergence and integration of the different movements, associations and groups within the Church, giving them the fundamental experience of a basic ecclesial community, but allowing them to pursue their own spiritual or pastoral specialization. This does not deny the validity of these different movements and associations having their own centers of administration and organizations which are different from those at the grassroots level. With this in mind, the BECs should network with these organizations, with the other BECs within and outside the parish and with the hierarchy of the Church as well as with the other sectors in the community for support and for sustenance. The following activities may be conducted:
      1. BEC intervisitation
      2. Celebrate with other religious organizations the feast days of the Church – that of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the saints.
      3. Attendance of other religious activities of the parish.
      4. Attendance of assemblies organized by the Parish
      5. Initiate activities that will converge different BECs together as well as with other church organizations.
      
      
3. Resource Utilization. God is so good to His people that he prepared everything before Man was created. There was already the sun, the moon, planets, wind, air, water, land, fish, birds, all kinds of animals and other natural resources for man to use to meet his daily needs. God has also provided each one of us with talents which when utilized will enhance God’s love for each one of us. There is a need for the BEC to utilize these resources (natural and human resources) in ways that God wants these to be utilized. The following activities will be conducted to better utilize the God-given resources for whatever purpose they may serve:
   1. Training on some industries utilizing local resources
   2. Implementing income generating activities to augment family income such as: basket weaving, furniture making, cooking native delicacies, fan making, mat weaving, food processing, virgin coconut oil making, etc.
   3. Organizing cooperatives
   
   
4. Monitoring. Activities of each BEC should be monitored regularly to ensure that activities conducted are within the bounds of the characteristics of BEC. Regular monitoring will help each BEC to solve immediately possible problems as well as needed guidance can be extended immediately by the pastor or shepherds assisting them. A monitoring tool should be developed to be utilized by the monitoring team.
5. Evaluation. This should be conducted quarterly, semi-annually or annually to improve and strengthen the organized BEC. Evaluation can also be utilized to identify ways to sustain the BEC. An independent evaluation team should be organized to avoid bias.

NOTE: Since this is only a program design, a detailed implementation plan should be developed for implementation. The program design will serve as a guide for the development of the detailed implementation plan (DIP).