CFC MILESTONES | 2006
The theme for the year was “Show His Power and Majesty” (Tobit 13:6). On June 25, 2006, an estimated 80,000 Filipinos and participants from many parts of the world, gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila to celebrate 25 years of Couples for Christ. The milestone event crowned a month-long series of activities centered on prayer, dialogue, fellowship with the poor, home-building, and reconnecting with brothers and sisters from across the globe—ultimately giving thanks to God for the gift and mission of CFC.
With the launch of GK777, a significant portion of the community’s resources was directed toward Gawad Kalinga, aiming to accomplish its goals within a seven-year period. As this focus intensified, tensions gradually began to emerge within the community.
CFC MILESTONES | 2007
“Hope in the Lord” (Lamentations 3: 24). The most prophetic of all themes, this year saw the community indeed going through lamentations as the crisis between the top leaders grew. But still the community hung on and found hope in the Lord.
Amid ongoing tensions that led to the departure of top leaders from CFC, dialogues and negotiations were held to seek resolution. After careful discernment, the bishops understood that the most acceptable option at this point is separation, without closing the door to reunification in the future. They exhorted the two groups to continue dialogue and relate to one another in love, humility, and concern.
In response to the issues that resulted in the split, CFC took an unprecedented step by convening a Pastoral Congress. This initiative aimed to provide a space for leaders to reflect deeply on the situation and to recommend measures to prevent similar conflicts moving forward.
Despite these internal challenges, CFC remained strong in its global mission. CFC continued to be strong in Africa, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The Philippine Missions and Metro Manila Missions went about its evangelization and formation. Having reached its 159th country that year, CFC created the International Missions Office to address the concerns of foreign missionaries and to expand the mission work to other areas.
CFC MILESTONES | 2008
The theme for the year, “Love One Another” (John 13:34–35), came as a gentle yet powerful response to the challenges and wounds of the previous year. Coming in the aftermath of all the negativity of the past year, the commandment to love one another was a soothing balm that enabled everyone to exercise humility and servant leadership and to indeed practise the virtue of loving even those who have hurt them.
In January of 2008, Joe Tale delivered “CFC’s State of the Mission Address” where he outlined one of the most significant results of the Congress—the expansion of the CFC vision and mission.
On April 25, 2008, during the first African Eucharistic Congress was held in South Africa where members of Couples for Christ Africa and CFC leaders from various parts of the world participated, Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III, CBCP Media Office Director, who had flown in from Manila to address the Congress, said: “Couples for Christ, you are on the right path. You are expressing God’s love by living the Eucharist and by your service to the families, the Church, and the poor.”
CFC affirmed its oneness with the Catholic Church at the CFC-initiated Bishops, Clergy, and Lay Relations Congress held at Valle Verde Country Club. This was again in accordance with the results of the Pastoral Congress that sought closer and more collaborative ties between CFC and the Church hierarchy. CFC would hold regular Clergy and Lay Congresses over the next years.
CFC MILESTONES | 2009
The year’s theme “Forward in Christ” (Philippians 3: 13–14) is a call forward and to forget what lay behind, setting its eyes on the prize that is Jesus Christ.
Couples for Christ International Council announced that it was relinquishing the governance and corporate structure of Gawad Kalinga, the flagship program for the poor that it established more than a decade before. Citing GK’s need for greater freedom so it can expand more rapidly and interact with more people, Executive Director Joe Tale, speaking for the entire International Council, called the move a “letting go.” ANCOP or Answering the Cry of the Poor was relaunched as CFC’s work with the poor initiative.
With a major shift in evangelization, instead of looking at evangelization as a mere numbers game, CFC changed the approach of evangelization to personal and active witnessing of how God has transformed lives in community.
CFC officially launched its Build My House campaign intended to raise funds for the purpose. The target for moving to CFC’s new home was during the community’s 30th anniversary in 2011.
CFC MILESTONES | 2010
The theme for this year inspired us to be filled with thanksgiving as we are called to have “Fullness of Life in Christ” (Colossians 2:6-7). After weathering the storms, the community came to accept the truth that everything transpired according to God’s plan.
On October 31, 2009, upon the invitation of His Eminence, Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, three members of the International Council, namely: Joe Tale, Joe Yamamoto, and Rouquel Ponte, attended a preparatory meeting that would serve as a consultation meeting of representatives of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities in view of the scheduled Congress of the Catholic Laity in Asia, to be held in Seoul, South Korea from 31 August – 05 September 2010. CFC was elated to be selected as one of the presenters at the said Congress. It was affirmation of CFC’s mission and vision.
Couples for Christ conducted a Global Missions Congress.The theme of the Missions Congress was “Building our CFC Global Community Life in Christ”. The participants were reminded that in the face of disunity, they should actively defend the community, protecting it so that it can move forward in its mission. Future plans for the community were also revealed in the Congress, including the establishment of a Pastoral Institute and a Leadership Institute. CFC was elated to be selected as one of the presenters at the said Congress. It was affirmation of CFC’s mission and vision.
Stay tuned as we continue to share our story—our history, growth, and God’s faithfulness—as we journey toward our 45th year as one family.
#CFCJourneyTo45#CFCOneFamily#Happy45YearsCFC
Reference: Journey of Family Evangelizers – Moved by the Holy Spirit (Volume 1)
