CBCP Monitor
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May 25 - June 7, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 11
The News Supplement of Couples for Christ
The Love Project:
A Sign Of Good Things To Come Team Serra, the “guest” family on the talk show, gave three simple steps for the kids to follow so they could fulfill their project to love: First is to kiss and hug their parents every day. Next is to pray with them every day. And lastly, to always tell their parents “I love you”. To reciprocate this love, parents were also given three pointers: Family adventures need not be expensive and it can be done, as long as they give emphasis on quality time. Second is to treat their home as their first household, their kids being their first household members and they as their kids’ first household leaders. They must also not forget the tradition of having daily prayer time as one family.
By the IKV Docu Team
THREE thousand people parents, couple coordinators, and the littlest members of Couples for Christ, Kids for Christ - gathered at the University of San Agustin covered gym in Iloilo City last May 1 to 3, 2015 for the 18th International Kids Village (IKV).
The gym was a sea of color as the kids and their parents, coming from different Metro Manila sectors, provinces and even from abroad, experienced joy and excitement in fellowship, prayer and learning. The heat of the sun was intense but the anticipation and the energy inside the gym was even more intense. The first day of the 18th International Kids Village started with worship, led by RJ Lovandino from Metro Manila followed by the recitation of the Oath of Sportsmanship led by Mark Jay Nery from Laguna. The kids then proceeded to different venues around the campus for the Creative Challenges such as Rhyme and Pitch, Rock ‘n Beat, and Family Acoustic Band. The kids, together with their parents, showcased their gifts in dancing, playing different instruments, and singing. The Family Duet, Family Dance Showdown, Little Kids Can Duet, Glee Showdown, and Step by Step Dance competition were held in the University Auditorium. Other creative activities included the Little Saints Competition, a portrayal of different heavenly heroes, the On-theSpot Poster Making, and the Family Art Project, together with the Essay writing, Captured (Photography), as well as Bible Spelling and Catholic Kiddie Quiz Bees and fun games. Fr. Jessie Tabobo, OSA was the main celebrant of the Holy Mass on Day 1. In his homily, Fr. Jessie shared that before one
More Ways to Love
Day 2 opened with Fr. Espiridion Celis leading everybody to the wonderful celebration of the Holy Mass. After the Mass, John Gabriel Nero, ROCK facilitator from Cebu, led everyone in an energetic and affirming worship, after which the kids proceeded to the second session titled ‘Discover More Ways to Love’. The session was delivered via an interactive skit, which let the kids into the Knowledge for Children Museum. Inside, the kids were led to different rooms to solve puzzles. Each puzzle led the characters to understand love and respect for God, sharing, good stewardship, love and respect for parents, forgiveness, and letting go of bad thoughts and feelings, among others. can discover more ways to love, which is the goal of the three-day conference, “It is important for us to remember the most basic and fundamental truth of our faith: God loves you so much! God loves you beyond your imagination! God loves us all! And it is because of this love that God has for us that we are able to love in return. God loved us first, and now He is asking us to show our love to our families, to our parents first of all, and to our siblings; to all our relatives, our teachers, and without
forgetting our yaya (nanny) or anybody who helps us.” To the parents, guardians, and teachers in the crowd, Fr. Jessie had this to say: “It is important to show our kids how to love others in return. To do that, the kids must remember that love begins in the home.” Before ending his homily, Fr. Jessie made a special request from the KFCs in attendance: “Listen, actively participate, and be aware of the people around you. They will help you discover how to love more.”
Little dynamite missionaries The Love Project
In the first session of the IKV, the participants were treated to an interactive talk show titled “Knowledge for Children”. Hosts Sarah, Josh and Dane introduced stories in the form of cartoons to let the participants know more about Jesus Christ and the goodness that He is sharing, especially in the most important areas of life – in the family, with friends, and the Kids for Christ ministry.
The third and last session of the IKV, “Project Accomplished”, was a kiddie dose of Evangelii Gaudium. Through a short skit, which featured talk show hosts Sarah, Josh and Dane, the kids learned about loving God back, reaching out to their families, friends and the KFC community, and being joyful in loving. According to CFC KFC International Coordinator Nic Escalona, since 2011, KFC has taken on the direction of actively THE LOVE PROJECT / C2
The 1st National Mission Conference: Envisioning a Community of Missionary Disciples CLOSE to 400 missionaries—clergy, religious and laity—attended the first National Mission Conference last May 18 to 21, 2015 at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, Cavite. The NMC was organized by the Episcopal Commission on Mission of the CBCP, together with the Philippine Catholic Mission Council (PCMC), on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Vatican II’s Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes. The theme of the conference was “Gifted to Love”, inspired by the verse "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." (Matthew 10:8b)
The Conference consisted of presentations and workshops which dealt with the history and the theology of Ad Gentes and present-day challenges MISSION CONFERENCE / C2
CFC Elders Assembly Revises By-Laws THE CFC Elders Assembly (EA) performs important functions for the community as part of their role as the representative voice of all the members. Among these functions are: to elect the members of the Board of Trustees and to approve amendments to the By-Laws and the Articles of Incorporation. On May 17, 2015, the EA gathered to decide on the proposed amendments to the By-
Laws, among them: 1. Starting June 2015, to elect all nine (9) members of the Board of Trustees for a term of two (2) years instead of the existing election of only three (3) out of nine members of the BOT annually for a term of three (3) years. 2. The change in the composition of the Board of Elders -- Effective June 2015, the members of the BOE will be all former BOT members who will serve ex-officio and for life and additional members to be appointed by the current BOT for a term of two years, coterminous with the appointing BOT. 3. The delineation of functions of the Chairman (who will be the EA / C3
For details on registration, attendees, and contact persons per event, please visit the Calendar of Events at www.couplesforchristglobal.org/home.
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May 25 - June 7, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 11
Tell Me You Love Me: Couples Discover Their ‘Love Language’
TLC For Newbie Husbands And Wives MORE than just seemingly bite-size crash courses in Marriage 101, the CFC Young Couples program is an accessible wellspring and avenue for shared wisdom, care and formation for young couples who are at one of the most crucial stages of their marriages.
A HUG or taking out the trash? A dozen roses or telling your wife she’s gorgeous? On May 23, 2015, at the CFC Young Couples Assembly at the Unilab Bayanihan Center, some 430 young couples discovered that the best way to say “I love you” is to say it in their spouse’s love language. “As long as you know the love language of your spouse you can
always have their love tank filled,” main speaker Rachelle Arguelles emphasized. Bboy Arguelles, Rachelle’s husband, and Sector Head for Metro Manila Central A, joined her in conducting the session which employed a combination of psychology and cinema to explain the mechanism of being “in love”, and the glorious feeling that everything is perfectly all right. “When you are in that feeling of ‘in love’ like in (the movie) ‘Dear John’, anything that happens is ok. Everything is beautiful. [But] most psychologists say, that is only temporary; feeling in love lasts only for two years. When reality sets in…
that’s when it is important to know the love language of your spouse,” Rachel explained. Earlier, the couple outlined the main differences of men and women, showing that men tend to be more analytical and have “compartmentalized” brains, while women are multi-taskers whose brains can be compared to the internet— where everything is connected. “We are different but we can bridge these differences by knowing our love languages. Making our spouse feel loved is the way to make our marriage last,” Rachelle said. The speakers discussed the five Love Languages, namely: Physical
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Touch, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Words of Affirmation. Explaining that people with different love languages express and receive love in various ways, the couple emphasized that everything eventually falls perfectly into place and at the end of the day, it’s not the “battle of the sexes” but the harmony of complements. Bboy explained, “We are a match made in heaven… Your spouse is God’s plan for you. We complement each other. It means at the end of the day, we are supposed to be better individuals just by being together. Out of our differences goodness comes out.”
CBCP Monitor
“When you look at CFC, you see that there is a need to address the transition of Singles for Christ to Couples for Christ,” said Rommel Ancheta, CFC Young Couples program coordinator just before the 3rd Young Couples assembly at the Unilab Bayanihan Center, Pasig City on May 23, 2015. The objective of the Young Couples program is to empower young CFCs, he said, and at the same time, to address the needs of married people, especially in the early years of marriage, which are often the most prone to separation and marital troubles. Healing marriage emergencies before they happen
More than the infamous seven-year itch that is said to threaten most marriages, recent studies show there is a 4-year itch and even a 12-year itch. The result? Odds seem to be stacked against young couples even before they warm up to the idea of wedded bliss. “They need a community that will help them and in turn, [form them to] help other couples as well. They should seek the guidance and the wisdom of the older couples,” said Ancheta.
Gateway evangelization
This is backed up by no less than St. John Paul II, who wrote in his encyclical Familiaris Consortio: “Young married couples should learn to accept willingly and make good use of the discreet, tactful and generous help offered by other couples that already have more experience of married and family life.” “(The family) should be helped and trained in their responsibilities as they face the new problems that arise, in mutual service and in active sharing in family life,” the then Pope added, stressing this is especially true for young families, who are adjusting to new realities in their first years of marriage. For Ancheta, the Young Couples program is not just gateway evangelization at its most intuitive, but it is both strategic and exactly what modern society needs. “There is an increase in annulments... The age group [of married couples] who get separated is getting younger and younger,” he noted, citing a study by the Office of the Solicitor General, which showed that there has been a 10% increase in annulments in the Philippines since 2002. Attack on young couples
The “attack on young couples” is worsened, Ancheta believes, by modern, external influences like social media, mainstream media, advertising, and the like. This is exactly why the aim of the Young Couples program is to empower the young CFCs, as well as to address the needs of newbie husbands and wives. And that may yet be the best news for marriages.
Keeping the Love Alive
for the Philippine Church. Among the noted speakers in the Conference were Fr. Michael Layugan, SVD, PhD, Rector of the Divine Word Seminary, who talked about the history of Ad Gentes. Fr. Layugan shared, "Every Christian is a missionary. By virtue of baptism, all Christians are partners with God in mission." On the other hand, Fr. Andrew Recepcion, STD, President, International Association of Catholic Missiologists, spoke on the “Concept of Mission in Ad Gentes”. Fr. Edgar Javier, SVD, STD, Director, Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS), Sr.
Imaya, OSB, and Rouquel Ponte of the Couples for Christ, all spoke about “Mission and the Local Church According to Ad Gentes” from the perspective of the clergy, a religious sister and a lay missionary, respectively. Finally, Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, DD, from the Archdiocese of Sorsogon, and Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Mission, delivered the “State of Mission in the Philippine Church and Challenges”. Quoting Pope Francis, Bishop Bastes reminded the delegates that to be a missionary, one must have faith based on a personal encounter with Jesus.
On the morning of the last day of the Conference, Fr. Socrates Mesiona, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Philippines, presented to the plenary the results of the workshops. At the end of the Conference, the missionary delegates came to a common resolution: to develop a deeper commitment to mission and to promote “formation for mission” in all situations. The concluding Mass, which included a “mission sending” ceremony, became a joyous celebration. After all, the basis of mission is Evangelii Gaudium, the joy of the proclamation of the Gospel. (Alma Alvarez)
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forming the youngest missionaries in the community. “We teach the kids to go on mission, to reach out to others, to be leaders even though they are so young, to set good examples for their friends,” he explained. Session 3 taught the kids that truly “the Word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in Him ‘to go forth’; communion and mission are profoundly interconnected.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 20, 23) The session also showed that prayer should lead us to serve and love others. Czarlyn Ariza of Cebu had this to say about the session: “I’ll try to pray [more] so that the Lord will know that we love Him.” She also shared that she will continue to tell her non-KFC friends about the IKV and kids’ camps. EA / C1
Chief Executive Officer) and the President (who will be the Chief Operating Officer). The proposed amendments were a result of several discussions by the International Council with the Board of Elders, the Elders Assembly, and leaders on the ground. They were also the fruits of several consultative assemblies held over the past years, including the Pastoral Congresses of 2007. The amendments were voted on by 253 members present or voting by proxy using electronic ballots. The
results of the voting, which was done line by line were: 1. Election of nine members of BOT every 2 years – 249 Yes votes vs. 4 No votes or 98.4 % 2. BOE Composition – 226 Yes votes vs. 27 No votes or 89.3 % 3. Chairman/President – 242 Yes votes vs. 11 No votes or 95.7% The election for the members of the Board of Trusteed will be held on June 19, during the 34th anniversary week.
The News Supplement of Couples for Christ
George B. Campos IC Oversight
Zenaida A. Gimenez Editor-in-Chief
Deomar P. Oliveria Layout Artist
Alma M. Alvarez Associate Editor
Evangeline C. Mecedilla Circulation Staff
The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., with editorial offices at 156 20th Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 23 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856 www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com
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@CFChrist
SINCE the launch of the CFC Seniors Program last year, the movers of the Program have constantly put together activities for senior members, which have enkindled and rekindled their passion to serve the Lord through CFC, despite their advancing years.
One of the exciting activities this year was ‘Love Alive!’, the CFC Senior Couples Marriage Enrichment Retreat held last May 16 and 17 at the St. Paul Renewal Center, Tagaytay. Couple speakers spoke on five different topics to help the senior couples in CFC see and understand the beauty of God’s plan for
them at this time and beyond and enable them to have meaningful and fruitful lives even in their old age. In Session 1, titled “Faithful Through the Years” Eric and Carina de los Reyes discussed the marriage cycle and what the changes which occur in marriage have meant for them. For Session 2 (“Looking Through the Eyes of Love”), Joe and Mila Yamamoto tackled the empty nest syndrome and how couples can rejuvenate their relationship at this stage. The session also dealt on changing relationships with married children, managing changes in interests, work life and physical decline. Rouquel and Nina Ponte talked about hurts, healing and rekindling the spark of love in Session 3 (“Rekindling the Love”), while Joe and Babylou Tale gave a discourse on
“Living Life To The Fullest” (Session 4), to help couples grow old together with the right perspective and attitudes. The last session, “Celebrating God’s Goodness through Our Marriages” by Jess and Emy Marasigan, gave pointers on empowering couples to face the challenges of the senior years and help them envision and plan their future. During the retreat, there were emotional moments, moments of looking back and looking forward to a great future, and fun moments. The couples especially enjoyed singing “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” and the Filipino version of “Grow Old With You” (“Kasama Kang Tumanda”). Indeed, after the retreat, the senior CFCs vowed to move towards keeping their love alive. (A. Alvarez)
CBCP Monitor
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May 25 - June 7, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 11
T.E.A.C.H. Expo Year 4: A ‘YES’ to Love More
MC TEACHING
RENEWING THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO POPE FRANCIS
THE MISSION Core Teaching Night, held every third Tuesday of the month, is always a rich source of inspiration, learning and guidance. The session last May 20, held at the Christ the King Parish Church in Greenmeadows, Quezon City, was once again a rich pastoral lode. Guest speaker for the night was Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, Director of CBCP Media Office, who spoke on “Renewing the Church in Pope Francis’ Vision of a Church of the Poor.” SOME 300 new Cornerstone volunteers from CFC, SFC, HOLD and YFC gathered at the Singson Hall of the Ateneo de Manila Grade School last May 16 and 17 for the 4th annual T.E.A.C.H. Expo. T.E.A.C.H., which stands for Through Education Anything Can Happen, is Cornerstone’s rallying expression for new and existing Cornerstone volunteers who embark on one goal: to help school children improve in school and love learning. Jimmy Ilagan, ANCOP Presi-
dent, honored the volunteers for the growth of the Program over the years, and challenged each one to allow God to use them in His great plans for Cornerstone by opening the Program in more schools as a concrete expression of the year’s theme to Love More. Carmela Oracion, PhD., the Executive Director of ACED of the Ateneo de Manila, likewise expressed her appreciation to CFC and CFC ANCOP for addressing, through Cornerstone, the many issues surrounding public school education in the Philippines. CFC Chairman and one of the pioneers of Cornerstone, Joe Tale, also addressed the plenary in the morning session, inspiring the volunteers to go on with the mission and to inspire more volunteers to join them. Meanwhile, the parenting Workshop for CFC and HOLD volunteers was held in a satellite venue. Other skills workshops were also
conducted for SFC and YFC volunteers after lunch. To end Day 1, Fr. Jayboy Gonzales, SJ, of the Ateneo High School, celebrated an anticipated Mass. In his homily, Fr. Jayboy reminded the volunteers of their roles in education: “We as parents, mentors, teachers must believe that they, our students, can do things better.” On Day 2, Arcie Mallari, founder of Silid Aralan Inc., a non-profit organization geared towards educating the underprivileged students at the bottom of their class, shared their best practices and opened opportunities for collaboration with Cornerstone in the area of public school education. The volunteers went home to their Metro Manila Sectors and provinces fired up not just with new skills, but with a fresh perspective on how they, through Cornerstone, can embody the call to love more. (Alma Alvarez)
Msgr. Quitorio began with an excerpt from one of Pope Francis’ writings: “The poor is at the center of the Gospel, at the heart of the Gospel. If we take away the poor from the Gospel, we cannot understand the whole message of Jesus Christ.” Tracing his own humble beginnings as a son of poor fisher folk who hardly had anything to their name, he explained that he had only one reason for entering the seminary in his teens – to escape poverty. He expressed wonderment at how God made a crooked line straight in his case, how God used poverty to define his future. Recalling the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Tacloban airport in the midst of a severe storm, Msgr. Quitorio spoke of the joy in the faces of the pilgrims. He emphasized that the poor did not find meaning in the relief goods and the financial aid they received; they found it in the message of the Pope: “Whatever you are experiencing now, be assured that Jesus suffered it too.” The poor have always been used as either an excuse, for not persevering in life, or as an ideology, as in Liberation Theology. However, Msgr. Quitorio explained that Pope Francis now talks about the poor no longer as an ideology, a philosophy, a target or an objective, but as the core of the Gospel.
Expounding on this, he recalled that Jesus did not say: “Come follow me and I will remove all your problems.” Rather He said: “Come, take up your cross and follow me.” This means that we emulate Jesus in His response to suffering, and that being a Christian is not easy. “How can loving happen if we are all rich?” Msgr. Quitorio asked. He explained that loving only happens if there is poverty around us, if we have to undergo storms, if we suffer through the desert of our existence. Decrying what he called our being “catechized by the corporate world,” where we are all enjoined to work for a comfortable future, Msgr. Quitorio instead offered the joy of the Gospel as a more valuable alternative, an even greater treasure. This treasure must be experienced in the home, he said, for it to be further nurtured. As he put it, life is not insured by the abundance of material possessions. Msgr. Quitorio enjoined everyone to work with the Church in addressing social concerns because if we ignore them, poverty will continue to be a social injustice. Referring to Cardinal Tagle’s message to the Pope, when he spoke of the “peripheries,” Msgr. Quitorio said this does not mean geographic limits or somewhere very far. Rather, this could mean even members of our own families who could be morally bankrupt. To the Chairman of the CFC Institute who said that the Institute is trying to fully define what Church of the Poor really means and asked what it would need for CFC to build the Church of the Poor, Msgr. Quitorio replied: “The answer is in only one word: Witness! Do not use methodologies or strategies but make witnessing a way of life.” The message of Msgr. Quitorio, based on Pope Francis’ vision of what the Church of the Poor really means, was short and sweet. Everyone left the venue inspired by the message and energized by the renewed call to love, even if it indeed means “going to the peripheries.”
PERSONAL TESTIMONIES
The Joy of Serving In Cornerstone
God’s Hand was Holding Mine By Njeri Makonnen (as told to Malou Clarito, CFC Canada)
I AM from Kenya but the international organization I work for had assigned me to Somalia.
By Katzy Teodoro, Cornerstone Team Leader – TS Cruz Elementary School SFC South A1d - Chapter Head
WHEN I was asked to go on mission, specifically to conduct Cornerstone Training in Bulacan, I immediately said yes. I had gone there last year to conduct the same training but this time I knew it would be different because now I have more to share. I am currently serving as a Chapter Leader in SFC South A and Cornerstone Team Leader at TS Cruz Elementary School. Handling two different roles may seem like a handful but I have accepted that the Lord is calling me to a higher level of service by spreading His love and sharing my experiences through missions such as this. Our team gathered at around 4 AM on a Sunday at a local McDonalds. By 7:30 AM, we arrived at the venue of our training. Since we were too early for our schedule, we decided to hear mass at Barasoain Church. I was so sleepy that I struggled to understand the readings. But the Lord's message to us was loud and clear. The Responsorial Psalm that day was "Batong dating tinanggiha’y siya pang naging saligan." Sheh and I immediately looked at each other and we both said "Cornerstone!" (The stone that the builders rejected
has become the Cornerstone." Mark 12:10) It was an affirmation that Christ, our Cornerstone, was with us in this mission. After the mass, we went back to the venue (CFC Provincial Mission Center in Malolos, Bulacan) where we were greeted with the warmest smiles and hospitality. The room was filled with excited participants from different ministries (YFC, SFC, CFC and HOLD). After a brief discussion of the Cornerstone Overview, the participants were divided into groups. I was assigned to the Reading Tutorial group composed of SFCs and transitioning YFCs. It was overwhelming to see the Bulacan team very eager and open in accepting the Cornerstone program. A series of talks and workshops ran throughout the day. As much as the participants learned and understood the program through the sessions that we facilitated, I think it was I who learned a lot from them. The generous CFC leaders in Bulacan even gave us “pasalubong” as a token of gratitude. Tito Angel and Tita Josie also treated us to a sumptuous dinner. But the more important “baon” was the entire experience itself. New friendships were built and the special bond that exists in our team was further strengthened. More than the technicalities, the roles and responsibilities, I think that the most important aspect is being able to share the love of Christ to the kids. By teaching them to read and write, we are bringing them hope for a better future. Being able to be a part of the mission team is a very humbling experience. It was an honor to be able to share this program with our fellow SFCs; it is my prayer that they may also experience the joy of serving in Cornerstone.
April 24, 2015, as usual, promised to be a busy day for me. That morning, the van carrying the organization’s employees was on its way to pick up the last employee before proceeding to the office, when suddenly there was a huge explosion. The van shook violently and we were jostled against one another. Shouts and the sound of gunfire followed right after. I knew immediately that we had been attacked. But I was alive! I was bloody but I didn’t know whether the blood was mine or my co-workers who lay unconscious beside me. I would later find out that four of them were instantly killed. I don’t know where I got the presence of mind to close my eyes
and pretend to be dead, hoping that the attackers would just pass us by. Silently I started praying the rosary. Each decade of the rosary made me stronger and stronger, my spirit was lifted and I felt the Lord’s hand really holding me. Occasionally I would open my eyes and peek but mindful of the still existing danger, I remained unmoving, waiting for the gunfire to cease. I do not know how many decades of the rosary I prayed. In between, I also prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet over and over. Strangely enough, in the midst of the dangerous situation, I felt at peace and knew without a doubt that I would be saved. I trusted in my weapons – prayer and complete reliance on the Lord. I do not know how long I remained inside the van but finally, there was quiet. And suddenly, my rescuers were there, removing me from the van and rushing me to the hospital. It was all a blur from then on. Days later, when I was stable, my doctors agreed to have me flown to Nairobi for further
treatment. I was so happy because I could be with my loved ones, especially my husband David. It was a happy reunion, not just with my immediate family but with my CFC family. My husband David was formerly National Director and now member of the National Core Team of CFC Kenya. I had many CFC visitors. I thank the Lord for this miracle and I believe that when we serve Him, He will be with us in our hour of distress. Why did He spare me? I think the Lord wants me to do a lot of work in His vineyard and I will obey. After my recuperation, I will continue to proclaim His goodness everywhere I go and to everyone I meet. I ask my CFC family to please pray for peace and more love in the world. Please pray for my co-workers who are still confined in hospital and especially for the four who were killed. Truly, when God is with us, when we call upon His name, He will be there to hold our hand.
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May 25 - June 7, 2015 Vol. 19 No. 11
Love More Goes to Europe
CBCP Monitor
CFC UK Joins Diocesan Celebration of Marriage By Edna Nidea
ON Saturday May 9th 2015, a diocesan celebration of Marriage took place at the St Mary's Cathedral. Over 450 people attended the celebration.
During the Mass, all the married couples present r e ne w e d t he i r marriage vows.
Bishop Seamus celebrated the Holy Mass, which was attended by other parish priests from different cities,
among them Fr. Michael McCoy of St. Joseph Parish of Sunderland United Kingdom, the Spiritual Director of Couples for Christ UK. One third of the total attendees were members of Couples for Christ. Recognizing this, the Bishop called the Country Head of Couples for Christ UK,
Bong Nidea, to the front of the altar to explain to the congregation what the Couples for Christ community is all about. At present, Couples for Christ is present in most parishes in the United Kingdom. It is truly a blessing to be serving hand in hand with the UK dioceses.
By Roger Santos
PARIS, France - Some 320 members and leaders of Couples for Christ (CFC) from 17 European and other countries converged in this city on May 1-3, 2015 and joyfully conducted this year’s CFC European Conference guided by the 2015 CFC theme, “Love More!”
Attendees came from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Isle of Man, Monaco, The Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA and France. For three days, the delegates listened to CFC pastoral talks, conducted team-building exercises and contests and had the usual
food festival and colorful flag and costume parade participated in by delegates from each country. As always, worship was part of the daily activities. The following competitions and respective winners were: 1. Early Bird: Belgium 2. Most Inspiring: Israel 3. M o s t V i b r a n t a n d Friendly : Spain 4. Most Cooperative: Austria 5. Super Special : Special Events team 6. Super Special : France 7. Food Festival • 1st place – France • 2nd - Austria • 3rd - Italy 8. Praise Parade • 1st place – France • 2nd - Austria • 3rd- UK 9. Banner Competition
• 1st place – Austria • 2nd - Spain & Switzerland 10. Costume : Greece - Luis and Marietta Ilagan 11. The Boys • 1st place –UK • 2nd - Spain • 3rd Belgium 12. Dance Competition • 1st place –Austria • 2nd - Ireland • 3rd - France Delegates from Manila included special guests CFC International Council members Joe and Mila Yamamoto and Arnel and Bing Santos, Regional Coordinator for Southeast Europe Mon and Gandie Carpio, Regional Coordinator for North Central Europe Nolet and Mila Ladrido, and Country Coordinator of Austria Art and Edna Valdellon. CFC USA was represented by Roger and Josie Santos (Country Coordinator-Greece).
CFC SG AT 28: A CELEBRATION OF FAITH & LIFE
The CFC Northern California Family Day
showed “modern hip hop” electrifying moves.
By Weng Maniclang
CFC Singapore celebrated its 28th Anniversary last May 9 at the Singapore Silat Federation with the theme “2celebr8 Faithand Life #LoveMore”. It was a fun-filled and vibrant event with dance presentations from different eras, ranging from the 60s to the present. It was wonderful to see every sector go up on stage, wearing their stylish costumes, performing as the “Jackson 5”, “Charlie’s Angels” and “Bee Gees” of Serangoon, the “Bagets of the East”, the “Cool 90s of the West”, and “Earth Wind and Fire” of the North. Not to be outdone, the Singles for Christ performed the “cane dance;” the Handmaids of the Lord danced wearing 80’s stylish attire, and the Singles for Christ
The event was organized by East Chapter, Unit 4 headed by Weng and Beng Maniclang together with their Unit Households and the full support from the East Chapter members. The event kicked off with an opening message from East Chapter head, Gerry Falsado and followed by Spirit-filled praise and worship led by the East Music Ministry . Some of the highlights of the events were personal testimonies from Kayee Ablanque for the Family Ministries, focusing on “Receiving Love”; Don Reyes for ANCOP; International Missions by Uly Abad, focused on “Giving Love”; Jhun Frias for Evangelization, sharing on how to “Be Love”. Dinner was catered by Jollibee, much to the delight of the children who joyfully danced with the restaurant’s mascot. The food was better enjoyed because of the medley of songs performed by the best talents of the West Music Ministry. The anniversary message from Theodore Olsen, the new CFC Singapore National Director, inspired everyone to be grateful and give glory to God for His faithfulness in guiding and leading the Singapore community to grow in faith, love and service. A mini praisefest formally closed the day’s celebration.
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
CFC Vietnam Goes on a Love More Mission By Ed Ubaldo, CFC Vietnam ANCOP/ BCOP Head
IT WAS a fine Friday morning, the 1st of May, 2015, when Chito Durban, CFC - Vietnam Country Head, and wife Nesnie, Cleofe, CFC HOLD Volunteer, and I took a 45-minute flight to Daklak, a province
CFC in Wonderland
located in the Central Highland of Vietnam. We were all so excited about what was going to happen and the people we were going to meet and serve. When we finally touched down in Daklak and on our way to the church where we will be staying, we were amazed at the beauty of
the place. The countryside was so peaceful and quiet. The volunteer doctors and dentists arrived early from Ho Chi Minh City. Fr. Nicolai and our brother Joachim welcomed us and briefed us on the medical mission. According to them, there were about 700 indigent natives of a remote community in Daklak who were coming to avail of the free medical-dental services being offered to them by the CFC Group. We boarded a big bus and headed to the mission area, some 30 minutes away. When we arrived, the welcome we received (people clapping and everyone smiling) was heartwarming. The team of dentists and doctors immediately got down to work. Chito and I found ourselves taking photos where the action was. And we were so amazed at what we were witnessing—a great
By Diana Banasan
ristic Society in Sunol, COUPLES for Christ of in Northern California. Northern California cel- About 300 members of ebrated its 23rd anniver- CFC and its ministries sary last Saturday, May came to celebrate. The outdoor festival started with 16, 2015 via a Family Day worship and exercise, followed by themed after Alice In various activities such as a magic Wonderland. CFC and show and watermelon-eating conits Family Ministries test. Other attractions included gathered at a beautiful bounce houses, an arts and crafts booth, retailers, and food vendors. property owned by the Those in attendance were encourDivine Mercy Eucha- aged to arrive in Wonderland community all united in the love of God! Nesnie and Cleofe and Chito and myself gathered at the busiest room of all—the pharmacy room—reading prescriptions, sorting and packing the pills and distributing them to the seemingly never-ending queue of patients. It was mid-afternoon when we finished our task and only then did we realize that we had all gone without lunch except for water, fruit juice and a serving of sweet potatoes. I myself have a serious medical limitation, so at one point, I prayed to God to sustain me so I may continue to serve. God is good - I made it through. Every one looked so exhausted, but no one complained. At the end of the day, it was clear to all of us why we were there—to offer our service and love for the Lord.
costumes. The day ended with the early bird drawing of raffle tickets, one of the CFC's fundraising incentives for its members. The first Family Day was in May of 1996, just four years after the founding of CFC in Northern California. This year's celebration welcomed Lito and Linda Tayag (CFC USA Country Coordinator), Rod and Canyl Bustos (members of the CFC USA National Council), and Ricky Coronel (CFC Southwest-A Regional Head).