Taking off from the recent words of Pope Francis for the Filipino nation, the young couples of CFC ventured into setting their hearts on dreaming for their families. Gathered at St. Paul Pasig Convention Center on the 28th day of February, a young generation of couples engaged themselves in an interesting evening of inspiration and insight.
Truly, Couples for Christ bursts in fervor with our love for God through serving a community of families. Young couples eager to take part in the mission of CFC started the evening with a heartfelt worship led by Bro. Geoff Galias, from West B. With spirits ready to listen to the message of God, the couple Bro. Aldy and Sis. Joy Katigbak of South B, led the evening session with the talk entitled “Defining Your Family Vision”. With companies successful through striving towards the vision, Bro. Aldy starts of the
discussion with putting a question in the hearts and minds of the couples.“Why not have a vision for the family?” Families are surrounded by different influences today that threaten not only its values but even its essence in building a good society. The role of families is definitely vital in shaping today’s society. “Effective family life does not just happen. It is a product of three (3) things, (1) Deliberate Intention; (2) Determination; and (3) Practice --- but most of all, we need God’s Grace”, Sis. Joy stated.
“Husband and wife need to sit down together, mentally and spiritually creating their own future. To lead our families well, we are called to have a compass, a flight plan, and lastly a clear destination – all manifested through the having a family vision.” Where is our family going? How do we know that our family is going in the right direction? And so, Bro. Aldy proceeded to answering these questions with explaining the concept of a Family Vision. WHAT IS A FAMILY VISION? Bro. Aldy stated, “ A vision is the result of dreams together with actions”. Thus, a family vision is “a clearly articulated, compelling statement of your family’s desires or future state. It has values and principles that guide and shape your family life. It is the desired ideal future state of the couple and the family’s relationship with God“. Truly, the participants of today’s assembly were filled with hope upon listening to the possibilities that one can receive if one were to have and effectively live out their family vision. In this, Sis. Joy emphasized the importance of having a family vision in shaping the growth of our families. “A deep sense of purpose, through having direction and proper focus. It serves as a moral compass for each individual, aligning the lifestyle of each family member towards the vision, and further towards being a family for God. It provides the parents a moral authority, and the ability to measure the actions of our children. Fostering parent and child involvement, it inspires, creates passion, and excites the family with something to reach for and attain”.
“This visioning session should come from us”, Bro. Aldy firmly stated, stressing the importance of parental headship. A Family Vision should be comprehensive, detailed, positive and inspiring, shared and supported by each family member. Bro. Aldy went further by describing the ways on how to create a family vision. The first step in writing the vision is to have a “Family Dreamstorming” through creating an activity for the family to bond. Each family member is asked to take part by having the opportunity to state their dreams, as one writes it down for the entire family. After a free-flowing discussion, parents are now encouraged to lead in drafting a family vision. “We are family evangelizers” is the heading statement of the Blas-Katigbak family vision. However, Sis. Joy reminded the young couples, “Your vision is a living vision. It can change as your family dynamics change”. Because the life of a family is both dynamic and vibrant, each parent must remember and be prepared to adjust the family vision from time to time. After having a clear family vision, what comes next? The greater challenge is in living it out. How do young parents of CFC take on the challenge of upholding the vision that has been set? Clearly, the key is in consistency, through having a creative planning session, regular assessment and updating of what has been set. Such consistency is needed to continuously foster the spirit of oneness and unity in achieving this vision together by doing things together.
HANDS ON THE MISSION, STEPS TOWARDS THE VISION The young generation of family leaders take on the call as quickly as they could. Together with their spouses, guided by Bro. Aldy and Sis. Joy Katigbak, couples excitedly engaged in a heartfelt discussion, applying what they have learned on creating a family vision. Each couple received a Family Vision Worksheet, a quick, simple, and user-friendly guide to shaping their dreams and creating a future for their loved ones. Though unsure and mostly first-timers, couples start of each discussion by lifting their plans to God, hoping to receive the grace to be sensitive to His leading. All dreams often seem difficult to achieve upon desiring them. The dream to have a family that is not only happy, but also holy can seem to be a farfetched thought these days. However, the call of the Lord for these young couples is to start early, and to start now. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the intercession of the Holy Family, these young couples left this assembly confident and ready to fulfill the vision that the Lord entrusted to them.