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The Church of the Poor in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II): Its Concrete Expression in Basic Ecclesial Communities

Submitted: March 29, 2026 | Published: June 30, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63130/hijcre.v3i1.237

Authors

Keywords:

Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), Church of the Poor, Ecclesiology, Inculturation, Lay Participation, Renewed Integral Evangelization, Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II)

Abstract

This study examines the vision of the “Church of the Poor” as articulated in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (1992) and its concrete expression through Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Philippine context. Grounded in the enduring realities of poverty and inequality, the paper situates the Church’s mission within the broader call to justice, solidarity, and integral human development. It draws theological foundations from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), particularly its vision of a renewed, participatory, and mission-oriented Church, alongside the principle of the preferential option for the poor. Employing a theological and critical interpretive approach, the study explores the nature, structure, and mission of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), grassroots communities characterized by communion, participation, and mission. It argues that Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) embody a participatory ecclesiology in which the poor are not merely recipients but active agents of evangelization and social transformation. Central to this dynamic is Renewed Integral Evangelization, which integrates catechesis, liturgical life, and social apostolate, fostering both personal conversion and communal renewal. The study concludes that Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) provide a vital and transformative model for realizing the Church of the Poor in the Philippines. By promoting lay participation, inculturation, and a socially engaged faith, Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) serve as concrete expressions of ecclesial renewal, despite ongoing challenges in implementation across diverse local contexts.

About the Author/s

Maria Lourdes S. Antonio

Maria Lourdes S. Antonio is an assistant professor at the University of Santo Tomas Institute of Religion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from the University of Santo Tomas-College of Education and a Master’s degree in Theology from the CICM Maryhill School of Theology. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the UST Graduate School. She teaches specialization courses, including Ecclesiology, Articles of Faith, Retreat and Recollection, and Instructional Materials in Religious Education. Her research interests focus on ecclesiology, catholic social teachings, spirituality, and religious education and pedagogy.

Fred Jr. F. Antonio

Fred F. Antonio, Jr. is a college instructor at the University of Santo Tomas Institute of Religion, where he teaches Theology courses. He earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and his Master’s degree in Religious Studies from Saint Louis University in Baguio. He is pursuing his doctorate at the UST Graduate School. Driven by a deep interest in how faith intersects with local culture, his academic research primarily focuses on inculturation, mariology, popular piety, and religiosity.

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Published

06/30/2026

How to Cite

Antonio, M. L., & Antonio, F. J. (2026). The Church of the Poor in the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II): Its Concrete Expression in Basic Ecclesial Communities. Hitik: International Journal of Catechists and Religious Educators, 3(1), 174-190. https://doi.org/10.63130/hijcre.v3i1.237