Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, D.D., called on Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) to let the seed of faith bear fruit through care for their communities and the environment during the Archdiocesan BEC General Assembly 2026 at the San Andres Complex in Manila on September 19, 2026.
Presiding over the Holy Mass for the assembly, Cardinal Advincula reflected on the imagery of the seed in the First Reading and Gospel, asking not only what seed of faith Christians have received but also what fruit it produces in their lives.
Connecting his reflection to the assembly theme, “Nagkakaisang BEC: Sama-samang Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan, Tanda ng Paglago sa Pananampalataya,” the cardinal identified three areas for reflection: PUSO, KAPWA, and KALIKASAN.
On PUSO, Cardinal Advincula taught that care for the environment begins with examining one’s own heart. He reminded the faithful that concern about dirty surroundings should also lead to personal responsibility, noting that people may complain about litter while contributing to the problem themselves.
He emphasized that care for creation is not only about waste but also about malasakit. A heart transformed by God, he said, learns to look beyond itself and toward others.
On KAPWA, the cardinal explained that a BEC is not simply a gathering for prayer but a community where people move from “ako” to “tayo.” He called on communities to recognize the needs of elderly neighbors, struggling families, children in need of guidance, people who are alone, and families affected by flooding.
Cardinal Advincula stressed that genuine unity is expressed not only through shared prayer but also through shared action. He then connected this communal responsibility to KALIKASAN, teaching that creation is God’s gift entrusted to humanity, including water, air, trees, plants, rivers, and seas.
The cardinal also called for prayer to be accompanied by responsibility, noting that Christians cannot simply pray for protection from floods while contributing to clogged waterways through improper waste disposal. “Kailangan natin ng panalangin at pananagutan,” he said.
He encouraged BECs to begin with concrete and manageable actions, such as household waste segregation, planting trees, community cleanups, and teaching children proper waste disposal. “Maliit na binhi. Pero kapag sama-sama, malaking bunga,” he said, urging communities to begin in their homes, BECs, barangays, and parishes rather than attempting to change the whole of Metro Manila at once.
Cardinal Advincula concluded by returning to the three words of his reflection—PUSO, KAPWA, KALIKASAN—praying that BECs become good soil where the seed of God’s Word grows and bears fruit through love of neighbor, community unity, and care for creation.
Photo by John Noel Guarte / RCAM Media | Photogallery
