Ugnayan December 19-31 2016

Ugnayan

THE NEWS SUPPLEMENT OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST CBCP Monitor. Vol. 20 No. 31

December 19 - 31, 2016 C1

CFC IC, BOE Meet for Communal History Retreat-Workshop

By Bernie Cuevas

CFC at 35 is definitely a major milestone for CFC. As the year was about to end, the International Council members were inspired by the Holy Spirit to take a long look at our history as a community. The International Council (IC) mandated the CFC Institute to document the 35-year history of CFC, a task that was completed this December. The first volume of the history book will be launched in January of 2017.

But more than just writing the facts in the chronological history of the community, the IC discerned the need to take a long look at the spiritual journey of the community. God’s guidance and direction were clearly manifested when Rouquel Ponte and George Campos met Father Vic Baltazar, SJ, the Executive Director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) during the GMC Retreat handled by CIS. When the proposal for a communal history process was presented to Joe Tale, it was also discerned that the members of the Board of Elders (BOE), all of them past members of the IC, should take part in the process.

The CFC IC-BOE Communal History RetreatWorkshop was realized last December 5-7, 2016, facilitated by Fr. Vic together with the CIS team composed of four (4) senior facilitators/spiritual directors. The theme of the retreat was “Listening to God Tell Our Collective Story”.

Praying over the CFC communal history is part of a remote preparation for communal discernment that the IC continues to undergo.

Important in this preparation are: • healing of past wounds and promoting freedom of heart; • articulating more clearly the gifts of the com-

munity and how the Lord wants these gifts disposed in responding to needs of others in ministry; • clarifying the shadows of community which affect common life and derail common mission; • confessing vulnerabilities of individual members and entrusting these to a companion for greater accountability; and • noticing from the trajectory of communal story where God is calling CFC and leading it in mission.

The process led the CFC elders into covenantmaking, a personal prayer on communal life line, sharing in generation groups, communal life line mapping in plenary, reflecting on gifts and shadows, and listing of concerns for discernment.

The whole process was done in prayer, with Fr. Vic fostering a contemplative stance among the leaders, bringing about an honest yet sensitive expression of the present status of the community, and the status of the relationship among the leaders. The discussion of the communal life line and the gifts and shadows brought about by both joyous and painful events experienced by the community heightened the elders’ love for CFC. All those present truly valued their relationships.

There was also a deep realization that the past emotional hurts and fears experienced during the separation experiences of the community needed to be surrendered to the Lord for all to be truly free to move forward in love and unity.

The healing of memories and relationships was very much evident during the last Eucharistic celebration where each one was able to deeply express forgiveness, love and care for each other.

As the brothers and sisters sang Hiney Mah Tov after the healing activity, there was a great sense of joy experienced not only by the participants but all those who facilitated the retreat. Indeed the CFC IC and BOE are one body in Christ, and one as Couples for Christ.

The International Council members and the Board of Elders take time out for a family picture on the last day of the retreat. Lower photos show them united in prayer during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

CFC missionaries share Christmas joy with neighbors Last December 12, 2016, the Couples for Christ Global Mission Center staff held its annual gift giving program for 200 resident families of Brgy.

Mangga, Cubao, Quezon City in Sitio Pacmac .

The activity started with the praying of the Rosary followed by Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Jonathan Letada. The residents were entertained after the Mass by Christmas carols sung by the GMC GIFT GIVING, C3

JANUARY

8

GMC administrator Eric Ylagan (in polo shirt) lead GMC employees during the gift-giving activity.

SUNDAY

MCG Members

14

CFC Leaders Conference

15

EA Meeting

GLEC

8:00am-5:00pm

TUESDAY Teaching Night

7:00pm-10:00pm MCG Members & Intl Mission Leaders

All CFC and Family Min members

20-22

Christmas is a season bursting with lessons, laughter and love. For the kids who usually congregate at the corner of 20th Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City, it was as if Christmas had arrived earlier than expected.

The children, ranging in age from 5 to 19 years old, have a history of substance abuse, with many of them homeless. But on December 10, all their worries and bad memories were erased and replaced with fun and games and eventful memories.

The staff and pastoral workers of Couples for Christ Global Mission Center threw a Christmas party for them and allowed them to experience what loving and caring mean.

The program formally started at 9:00 AM with the children lining up at the registration booth manned

by Karen Mangulab, CFC Singles for Christ full-time worker, and BATANG 20, C3

SUNDAY

Elders Assembly 8:00am-5:00pm

11-13 16&18

MM Mission Core Weekend

SAT-SUN MM MCG

SATURDAY

‘Batang 20’ gets a Christmas Party

The street children of 20th Avenue listen intently as they are taught about Christ and love.

17

MM Mission Core Gathering and First Fruits Offerings

Members

JUNE

Mission 101

24

Foreign Deligates

36th Anniversary Celebration All CFC and Family Min members

FEBRUARY

17-19 2017

CFC SFC International Conference

Iloilo, Philippines

2017

7-9 2017

MARCH

24-26

APRIL

CFC SOLD International Conference

Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines

21-23 2017

CFC YFC International Conference

Ilocos Norte, Philippines

CFC HOLD International Conference

TBA

For more information visit www.couplesforchristglobal.org or call 02.709.48.68

C2

December 19 - 31, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 31

CBCP Monitor

UNDERSTANDING ADVENT, C3

Invitation to ponder For the Greeks, pondering is thinking deeply, profoundly, analyzing all angles. But for the Hebrews, to ponder is “to hold, to carry or to transform tension so as not to give it back in kind, knowing that whatever energies we do not transform, we transmit”.

Scripture describes Mary pondering as “keeping all these things in her heart”.

Mary thinks about it, digests it, lets her thoughts linger.

An example of Mary’s pondering is when she stood at the foot of the cross, trying to understand what was happening to her Son. The cross had the energy of violence, anger, punish-

ment during the time of the Romans. But she was standing (a sign of strength), and she was just trying to understand, accepting everything that was happening. She could have burst in anger against the men who were there. But Mary pondered, and instead of sending back the violence and anger to the people who did those things to her Son, she did not. Like a water purifier, she transformed all the negative energies of the cross.

This is one way for us to celebrate the Advent season.

And as a final note, I encourage you to form HABITS: H – Habit: Start with 10 minutes of daily prayer and watch it grow over

time to an hour.

A – Accountability: Be transparent with at least one friend who will hold you accountable to being a disciple.

B – Bible: Let God’s Word transform your mind and connect you to Jesus in prayer and study.

I – Invest: Tithe and serve in the mission of the priests.

T – Tell: Courageously tell others about your faith and invite them to faith in Jesus Christ.

S – Sacraments: Participate as frequently as you can in order to receive the grace to grow as a disciple.

The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

Michael C. Ariola 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 31 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856 www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com

facebook.com/CFC.Global.Mission

For comments, suggestions, contributions and feedback, please email globalcommunications@couplesforchristglobal.org.

@CFChrist

CBCP Monitor

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December 19 - 31, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 31

Foreign Policy discussed at STMA Forum

Understanding Advent Excerpt s from t he Ad vent recol lection given by Msgr.

Al len Aganon for CFC Metro Manila Mission Core members last December 4, 2016 at t he St. Paul 's College, Pasig City.

Ambassador Anota explains foreign policy during the STMA breakfast forum.

The CFC St. Thomas More & Associates Breakfast Forum once again gathered last December 10, 2016 at the Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan. The forum is held every month to discuss significant issues affecting the country. The December forum featured Ambassador Belen Anota (ret.) who spoke on the topic "Foreign Policy in the Political Economy."

Her talk generated such in-

terest that many questions were asked after the session.

Questions such as “How is our foreign policy shaped?”, “What does our Constitution say about how it is supposed to be?”, “What are the current realities that impose constraints on what we seek to achieve?”, “What can ordinary citizens do to help?” were asked. Ambassador Anota, a career diplomat who has been posted as Philip-

pine Ambassador to Israel, Singapore and Australia, gamely answered all the questions.

Ambassador Anota is an active member of Couples for Christ now serving in foreign missions in Baghdad and Jordan.

The STMA Breakfast Forum is organized by the Couples for Christ to serve as avenue to provide an opportunity to ventilate Christian values visa-vis current issues.

CFC ANCOP USA leaders (from left) Roger Santos, Toffee Jeturian (CFC USA National Director) and Rod Bustos paid a courtesy call on the newly designated Papal Nuncio to the United States, His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Louis Yves Georges Pierre (3rd from left) in the latter's offices in D.C. BATANG 20, C1

Dan Berja, CFC ANCOP social worker. As with any CFC activity, the program was opened with prayer led by JM Zamoras, CFC Kids for Christ fulltime pastoral worker.

The children were given a brief orientation after which they were treated to a firehose bath, courtesy of the Cubao Zion Fire Rescue Volunteer Team. The firehose bath is a traditional part of the Kids for Christ annual conference and something the kids eagerly anticipate. From the look of joy on the children's faces, it was an activity they thoroughly enjoyed as well.

After the firehose bath , the children were given clean towels and a change of clothes. The

children were especially excited to wear the T-shirts that proclaimed “Jesus loves me”.

When everyone had settled down, they all gathered at the CFC Co-ops for Christ Ugnayan Hall where Zamoras led the kids in praise songs. Everyone was hyped up, obediently following the actions and the words of the CFC Kids for Christ song, “I’ll Follow Jesus”.

The next part of the program was a session given by Mac Quinto, a CFC Youth for Christ missionary. Quinto talked about the Christmas story and its true meaning by breaking down each letter of the word “Pasko” into: P Pamilya (Family) A Alay (Offering)

S Salamat (Thanks) K Kristo (Christ) O Okasyon (Occasion) As a special treat, and to the delight of the children, a crew from Jollibee then entertained the children with a couple of fun parlor games and dance performances. Lunch was then served - fried chicken, spaghetti and rice, truly the essentials of a kids’ party.

The activity ended at 1 PM, and the kids left, with their party favors in hand, their stomachs full and their spirits lifted.

The activity was led by Paskee Natividad, Phil de Guzman, and CFC Global Mission Center Administrator Eric Ylagan. (Christina Quiambao)

GIFT GIVING, C1

chorale. Jimmy Ilagan, a member of the CFC International Council, gave the Christmas message after which Barangay Captain Cesar de la Fuente, an active supporter of CFC activities in the barangay, gave an inspirational message.

The short program was followed by games which everyone participated in and throughly enjoyed and the givREFORM, C4

the gospel of Matthew.

He shared his insights about how Jesus started His healing ministry— from teaching them about the beatitudes, on being salt and light, about the laws, handling anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, how to love one’s enemies, almsgiving, how to pray (The Lord’s Prayer), fasting, storing treasures in Heaven, God and money, and dependence on God, among others; to

ing of the Christmas packs prepared by GMC staff.

This simple act of kindness, though modest, is but one of many sincere expressions of self-giving and generosity inspired by Jesus' teachings. With this activity, Couples for Christ aims to share the joy and love of Christ not just to members in the community but also to its neighbors. showing His disciples how healing is done; to forming His healing team and sending them off.

Apolo proceeded to share seven important factors Jesus considered in forming His healing team, using the acronym H.E.A.L.I.N.G.:

A – forming a ready team L – organizing the largest capacity available and multiplying it I – installing authority to leaders N – need clear steps and instructions G – being generous and humble

H – having a healer’s heart (compassion) E – being empowered by prayer to the Father

In the last part of the planning, the volunteers were divided into four brainstorming teams which

planned formation schedules, formulated ways on how to cascade the project to the areas, come up with a basic module for the care of the addicts, and design monitoring and reporting systems.

Each group was asked to report their recommendations, which will be looked into further by the program core prior to implementation.

(Alma Alvarez)

We are still in the Advent season, and it is good that we are asked to pause for a while and reflect on the meaning of what we are doing as a community.

We are preparing the way of the King. The Scripture considers Jesus as the King of kings.

In our society, Christmas begins in September.

Therein lies our problem.

By September, everything is already in place, even before the feast of Christ the King. Unfortunately by the time December 25 comes, Christmas is over for us. In the Church liturgy, it has barely begun, which is why we are not in sync. So this is what is happening in our time.

What’s happening now is what we call secularization.

Secularization is when holy things, sacred activities, are taken and then stripped of their religious being.

For many people, Christmas is time for shopping.

Christmas has slowly lost its meaning because of secularization which is why what you see or what you hear in our Christmas songs are all about Santa Claus, gift giving, about missing someone and we use all that as the center of our Christmas celebration. We fail to remember that the “belen” is the real center of the Christmas celebration.

Let us look at a very beautiful song that we usually sing on Christmas—O Holy Night. It tells us about the real meaning of Christmas. O hol y night, t he stars are bright l y shining. It is t he night of t he dear Savior's birt h.

Christmas is not about Santa, it’s not about the gifts, it’s not about the Christmas tree, or white Christmas or someone you miss. Christmas is about a Savior, and how a Savior was born.

And it came because of the situation of man: Long la y t he world in sin and error pining, til l He a ppeared and t he soul felt its wort h.

When Christ came, man's life, which before was taken for granted, had meaning.

So His coming meant hope for the weary and hope for a new beginning. That is Christmas.

There is also a Christmas song about a shepherd. A shepherd's work is not glamorous. In the time of the Old Testament, New Testament, shepherds were also considered as thieves, and so they were shunned and considered as second-class citizen. But, on the first Christmas, the first to visit the child and to give homage were shepherds. This tells us that this Savior will accept and value even those considered by society as second-class. That’s why we see Jesus walking with sinners and those considered as outcasts of society. That’s how the first Christmas was announced, literally to the people without worth.

Let us take a look at the second stanza, Led by t he light of Fait h serenel y beaming. Wit h glowing heart s by His crad le we stand. So led by light of a star sweet l y gleaming.

Here come t he wise men from Orient land. The King of Kings la y t hus in lowl y manger. In al l our trials born to be our friend. The wise men of the East, they were the rich, they were sorcerers. They made incantations about anything. But they came to see Jesus and they gave everything they had to the king – their frankincense, gold and myrrh.

These are tools that they used in their life and their trade, so when they offered these to the baby Jesus they were actually saying, “We offer them to all you.” By

giving these to the King, they were saying, “I offer myself to you.”

There are other persons that we see in the Gospel -John the Baptist and Herod.

Herod, when he heard that a king had been born, he understood. He knew what the prophets had foretold. But instead of rejoicing, he was afraid because he thought he would be ousted from his position. He would lose his throne. He was going to do everything to keep it. That is what history tells us.

He knew what was going on but he stayed behind and sat on the throne. He knew this boy would be the King of kings.

John the Baptist—Advent personified Now John the Baptist is advent personified. There are three things about John the Baptist that we need to reflect on - the first is the desert, the second is about his proclamation of ‘Repent!’ and the third is about idolatry.

The desert is a symbol, a place of simplicity and poverty. When you go to the desert you leave behind distractions and attractions in your life. The desert at the time of John the Baptist was a place where you can be alone. So Advent is a way for us to go to our desert and leave behind the distractions and attachments so that we can, as the Gospel says, listen to the word of God, listen to the voice of God. We have to create this desert. We are all busy at this time – with Christmas parties, with shopping, even for many of us, with attempting to complete the Simbang Gabi. But if we really want to have a meaningful celebration of Christmas, we have to make for ourselves a time and a place where we can be simple, without so much attachments or distractions. Even in your own homes, you need a corner where you can pray, because there are times when you cannot go to Church everyday. As John taught us, in his life, he went to the desert to listen to the voice of God. Now, about repentance.

Repentance or metanoia is to have a change of heart, to transcend the mind, change one’s way of thinking. When we change our hearts, we must accept, as Bishop Robert Barron says, that our life is not about us, but about God. Let us change our perspective in life. What we are doing is part of God’s plan, it’s part of God’s way of building his kingdom. As St. Paul said, “no longer I, but Christ living in me.”

The simple meaning of idolatry is worshipping and loving someone or something that is not God, or loving someone or something more than Him. But idolatry in our lives is this: we believe in God but we are not secure enough to trust only in Him. Pope Francis said, “The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is idolatry.” Why? Because faith is to trust in the presence of God in our lives. When you lose faith in God, you will attach yourself to other things or someone that will make you feel secure.

That is why covetousness is an idolatrous behavior. It pushes us to want this and that, and if we do not get that one thing we are coveting, we become anxious.

So here we have St. John the Baptist telling us to repent, to go back to God and to trust Him no matter what. That is the meaning of faith that he encourages us to have.

Like him, let us go into the desert and spend some time to listen to the voice of God. Let us always be aware of our values and attitudes that can lead us away from God, and take the necessary actions in order to embrace the values and attitudes that will lead us closer to Him. Mary is Advent personified too The second person whom we must consider Advent personified is Mary, the new ark of the covenant, the one who bore Jesus in her womb, the one who brought Jesus to us.

We have three feast days of Mary during this season— the Immaculate Conception, the Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the celebration of Mary the Mother of God, her most important title as it is the one that points us back to Jesus.

We can look at Mary in terms of time as kairos. This is the time of God, the God who comes.

Mary’s actions come from the sense of awareness of the presence of God in her life.

When she found out Elizabeth was expecting a child, she set out immediately. As a community, we should be aware of God’s presence, and our actions must also be a way of making others aware of the presence of God. Waiting is also a way of ka i ro s —not waiting passively but actively. A very good model of active waiting is the expectant mother.

While she is pregnant, she is awaiting birth, but not passively. She is aware of every movement of the child in her womb. Waiting is being attentive in the present moment, and how God acts in that present moment.

Mary was always attentive to what was happening in Jesus’ life. When she found out that there was no more wine at the wedding at Cana, she immediately told Jesus to do something about it, whispering to the waiters to ‘do whatever He tells you.’

The time to be led is also a way of kairos. Mary allowed herself to be led by Joseph, bringing her to Bethlehem for the census, and eventually giving birth there. When Herod threatened to kill baby boys, she again allowed herself to be led by Joseph to go on exile to Egypt.

Sometimes, we have a tendency to always take action, to think that we are always in control. But oftentimes, being passive is kairos.

While Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” This means 1) He has done everything that the Father has asked Him to do; and 2) He has allowed all things that were needed to be done to Him in order to fulfill His mission (kairos).

When we accept being led to be a part of God’s plan in our lives, then that is kairos.

UNDERSTANDING ADVENT, C2

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November 7 - 20, 2016 Vol. 20 No. 29

CFC KFC Takes the Family to the Heart of Mission

CFC Families learning, listening and putting their faith in action during the CFC "Families on Mission" conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

Last December 10, 2016, 250 delegates from Seychelles, Canada, USA, Uganda, UAE, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and Kenya—60 families on mission—flew to Nairobi, Kenya for the firstever celebration of, what else, but “Families on Mission.”

The event, which used to be called the International Kids Village, gathered hundreds of families from all over the world to experience the joy and gift of doing mission as a family.

The 8-day KFCFOM was opened with a simple welcoming activity last December 10, followed by the Kids for Christ Kenya Fam-

ily Conference on the 11th, where KFCs and their families from all over the globe experienced the first ever KFC Family Conference in the African continent.

The following day marked the beginning of the threeday Build My Church Activity and Immersion, wherein all participants joined in cleaning the church and its grounds. At the same time, chosen families were given the privilege to visit families and the elderly in the slums of Huruma, Muringa, and Parklands. The Build My Church activity ended with a visit to the Missionaries of Charity where delegates

spent time with children with disabilities, abandoned children, mothers and their children.

December 15 was the Historical and Cultural Encounter. The family delegates enjoyed a cultural and historical tour of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, providing them with a better and deeper understanding and appreciation of Kenya’s colorful roots.

The exciting Nature Safari on December 16 allowed the delegates to witness Kenya’s world famous wildlife.

CFC Kenya Family Day on December 17 coincided with the KFC Global Day of

Service. This was held at the Remand Home Children.

On the last day of the KFC Families on Mission last December 18, Cardinal John Njue blessed all families at the Sunday Mass in Holy Family Basilica as the concluding activity.

It was a tiring yet fulfilling mission, particularly since the ministry relied on a lean team to organize everything.

But with the grace of God, the fond memories created by each member of the family made the Families on Mission an event for the books, where God’s love flowed from one family to another. (CFC

CBCP Monitor

UMAK Stands for Zero Drugs The war against drugs of the current administration demands a positive response from all sectors of Philippine society. The Guidance and Counseling Center of the University of Makati (UMAK), together with CFC Project ReForm of Couples for Christ (CFC), responded to the challenge by conducting a Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention and Awareness Seminar at the University of Makati Grand Theatre last November 9 and 10, 2016. The two-day seminar was filled with useful and practical learnings which benefited the approximately 3,000 senior high school students and 3,000 college students from the university.

The Director of the Guidance and Counseling Center of UMAK, Dr. Analiza F. Arcega, in her opening remarks, reminded the students of the adverse effects of drugs and challenged them to take a stand and say no to illegal substance abuse. She emphasized that her office will never get tired of helping the students to stand firm in their decision to shun illegal substances.

Police Senior Inspector Allan T. Esquillo, the incumbent head of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council, delivered the first session about drug abuse prevention and control.

Specifically, PSI Esquillo taught the students about the classification, nature and effects of illegal drugs.

He also discussed the unlawful acts and their corresponding penalties under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.

Michael Lobrigo and Floro Almacen, former drug dependents and currently active members of CFC, shared their past struggles with illegal substance abuse and how they were able to overcome their addiction through the help of their families and CFC. Both Lobrigo and Almacen testified about the necessity of having a support group that drug dependents can journey with as they break free from their drug addiction.

Standing as firm advocates of Zero Drugs, Alvin Genese and Earl Yambao, lay missionaries from CFC Youth for Christ, talked about the underlying causes of drug addiction and the preventive measures that can be done to confront the triggers of addiction such as peer pressure, family and relationship problems, curiosity and depression. The two lay missionaries also testified that the youth of today can indeed take a stand and be one in the war against illegal drugs, not just in our country but in every part of the world.

The symposium ended with the students’ hearts full of new learnings and armed with the conviction to continue their journey towards a future with Zero Drugs. (Earl Justin Yambao)

Global Comm)

CFC Laguna celebrates Pearl Anniversary CFC Laguna celebrated 30 years of being in community last November 30. It was not just a celebration of a major milestone, it was a celebration of a whole generation of loving and caring.

It was in 1986 when the first Christian Life Program (CLP) was completed in Laguna through the initiatives of brothers and sisters from Metro Manila. Since then, CFC Laguna has become a major force in the evangelization front under the Diocese of San Pablo. It has grown to more than 70 chapters in six (6) sectors, with established complete family ministries and programs across the province.

CFC Laguna, with its family ministries and programs, look forward to actively responding to the greater challenges of the CFC community, the Church and the world by making earnest efforts to Build the Church of the Home and Build the Church of the Poor. It hopes to further strengthen its conviction to defend the family, the flagship concern of Pope Francis and the Church.

Pearl Anniversary Ball As a tribute to the hands who toiled in bringing CFC Laguna to where it is right now, the community, led by its Provincial Area Governance Team, gathered for an evening of songs and dances during its Pearl Anniversary Ball held on November 30, 2016 at The Mills Country Club in Canlubang, Calamba City.

The night started with heart-warming worship led by event organizer, Noel Noma, AGT - ANCOP, assuring the Lord that whatever He planted in our hearts will never die.

The affair, enlivened by the music of the Manila Mission Core Music Ministry, was attended by 420 members of CFC Laguna, all clad in formal attire. To make the occasion more memorable, the organizers recognized CFC Laguna leaders who have gone to serve in other provinces and international CFC areas.

Likewise, the community paid tribute to the families who contributed a greater piece to the Church by sending their sons to priesthood as well as those whose sons

and daughters are now fulltime missionaries of the community.

Three generations of families of CFC Laguna who continuously serve in the community were also acknowledged. The warm fellowship and the dancing further added to the excitement of the night, with old-timers renewing acquaintances.

CFC Laguna @ 30 - Gathering of Families The celebration continued with the gathering of families of CFC Laguna last December 10, 2016 at the Laguna Sports Complex, Sta. Cruz, Laguna/ Family members were treated to pizza, pasta, shakes, massage and harana (serenade), among others. Families were given the chance to express their love for each other through the joy of sending messages via the post office, telegrams, flowers and gifts.

About 2,000 family members attended the event.

The main celebration started at 1:00 PM with the praise parade of CFC families by chapters. The opening worship was led

by Barugs Belada, a second

generation leader. The welcome remarks was given by Provincial Area Head for Laguna, Eric de los Reyes.

The affair was highlighted by a pastoral activity dubbed as "CFC families... creating happiness." It presented the testimonies of three (3) families about faith, hope and love with creative touches like poetry, personal song rendition and performances by some CFC Laguna families as well as the schoolbased CFC Kids for Christ and Youth for Christ of St. Scholastica School.

The day was completed by the anniversary message of CFC Chairman Joe Tale and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist led by Bishop Buenaventura Famadico and concelebrated

by Msgr. Jerry Bitoon.

The concluding praise fest was led by Bert Detroz, likewise a second generation leader of CFC Laguna.

As it looks forward to the next 30 years, CFC Laguna commits to employ a proactive stance amidst greater challenges ahead, banking on strong relationships and faith in God and with each other. (Butsch Borja, CFC

CFC Project ReForm: Learning from Jesus in Setting Up the Ministry

Laguna Communications).

Taimtim na panalangin at masusing paghahanda.

These words became the rallying statement of the volunteers of CFC Project ReForm at the end of the twoday recollection and planning activity they attended last December 10 and 11, 2016. The gathering, held at the Maryridge Good Shepherd Convent in Tagaytay City, was attended by 30 counselors and healers who have volunteered to minister to drug surrenderers.

Project ReForm (for Rehabilitation and Formation) is a project of CFC's Social Development Program headed by former International Council member and now Board of Elders member Arnel Santos.

On the first day, the volunteers were treated to sessions on

contemplation, given by the tandem of Sr. Mary Niere, OCD and Marivie Dalman. The group learned how contemplative prayer is able to help both counselor and counselee in the ministry on caring for victims of drug abuse.

Sr. Mary and Dalman guided the participants on the merits of contemplation as a means to aid the drug abuser become aware of his or her addiction, and recognize that only by going deeper into prayer would he or she be able to surrender his or her addiction.

According to Sr. Mary, as counselors and healers, each volunteer must likewise take the time to come into silence. After her sessions, she led the participants into silent prayer.

On the second day, Santos presented the various activities Project ReForm has endeavored so far since it was organized last August. He likewise presented materials from media which affirm the direction CFC Project ReForm is taking. Borrowing the words of Manila Times columnist Ricardo Saludo, he described Project ReForm as a project of “faith and family to free addicts”.

He encouraged the volunteers to present their evaluations on what the project has accomplished and to share about their personal reflections as volunteers.

In the afternoon, Jojo Apolo, a leader from CFC Indonesia, prepped the volunteers for the planning with an exhortation from REFORM, C3