“The most rewarding experience (of being in a BCC) is the wonderful, long term relationships that our BCC has formed. We all share strong faith, we pray together, we struggle with each other, and we are committed to each other.”
– Melinda Brown
A Basic Christian Community (BCC) is a small group of people, usually about 8 to 20, who share Christian values. They meet on a regular basis to faith-share, support, socialize, or provide services to the parish or needy. A BCC is what each group decides it should be for them. It can be social, educational, service-oriented, or a combination of the three. The key is to involve prayer and spirituality since this is unique to a Christian group.
Since the very beginning of Christianity, small communities of Christians would gather together in their mission to follow Christ. They prayed together, broke bread together, and built God’s Kingdom on earth together. The community of believers was of one heart and one mind (Acts 2:42, 44, 46). In his 1998 post-synodal exhortation Ecclesia in America, Pope John Paul II recommended small Christian communities as a way to reestablish human relationships in church communities.
Parishioners are invited to form their own BCC groups. Each group can decide their own dates/times/location of meetings, or the manner in which they would like to work and grow in their faith lives.
If you would like to start your own BCC but aren’t sure how or have questions, just fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you!