CFC MILESTONES | 2016
“Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks” (Philippians 4:4-7) was the perfect theme to express the community’s joy and gratitude for the Lord’s faithfulness through the triumphs and challenges we experienced as a community. Coinciding with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, it was also a fitting reminder to CFC to always exercise mercy and compassion.
For the very first time, Singles for Christ held their annual International Conference (ICON) outside the Philippines. On February 26-28, thousands of SFCs from all over the world gathered in Singapore for 3 days filled with activities talks that ignited the singles to make them unstoppable in their evangelization missions in their areas.
It was also in February of 2016 that the CFC Vatican Office was blessed by Fr. Gregory Gaston, Rector of Collegio Filippino in Rome. The office located at Via del Cottolengo 19 was a request granted by the Vatican and would be a strategic base where CFC could actively participate in the formulation and implementation of directions for the lay faithful, particularly in the areas relevant to CFC as a family renewal movement, as an active evangelization and mission movement, and as a vehicle for integral human and social development.
During the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar, papal legate to the IEC, exhorted the Philippines and rallied Filipinos to multiply their missionaries and populate countries where Christianity is becoming minorities. This was an affirmation of CFC’s vision.
On Valentine’s day, thousands of CFC members and its Family Ministries convened at thee SMX Convention Center to declare what a beautiful gift married life is. Workshops on family, marital life, parenting, and other family related topic were conducted.
Partnering with ABS-CBN Channel 2, CFC decided to launch Pluma, a 30-minute program featuring stories of transformation of ordinary CFC members in order to inspire more people.
CFC MILESTONES | 2017
In 2017, CFC was called to be one with the Church in standing firm for the faith. Anchored on Corinthians 16:13-14, the theme for the year was “Stand Firm in the Faith”.
Pluma, the TV program produced by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation Inc. won Best Religious Program at the 39th Catholic Mass Media Awards held at the Star Theater, Pasay, on October 25.
Couples for Christ was asked by the Roman Archdiocese of Manila not only to send participants but more importantly, to spearhead the tracks on the Family for the three concurrent sessions of the 4th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE), held at the University of Sto.Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion last July 28-30, 2017.
CFC MILESTONES | 2018
The 2018 theme was “Rekindle the Gift. Fulfill Your Ministry” (2 Tim 1:6, 4:1-5). It was a call for the community to re-ignite the gift given to us, whose light diminished. CFC was invited to respond to the call by asking the Lord for the grace to be able to prioritize and balance time with God, family, work, and community.
CFC all over the world joined the annual March for Life, which advocates for pro-life education. In the Philippines, the event organized by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, walks happened simultaneously in different provinces with lay faithful calling for protection of life against the threat of a looming charter change.
As CFC soldiered on with its mission of evangelization, the community continued to witness how the seeds they’ve planted continued to bear fruit. In Colombia, for example, the local CFC community was able to conduct their first Marriage Enrichment Retreat. In the Philippines and all over the world, conferences and summits that catered to various family ministries and highlighted the community’s advocacies were continued to be held.
CFC Milestones | 2019
For the first time, the theme for the year stayed the same: “Rekindle the Gift. Fulfill your Ministry” (2 Tim 1:6, 4:1-5). The International Council deemed it crucial in purpose, relevant in timeliness, and expansive in scope that they discerned the desire of the Lord to continue in 2019 a journey of pastoral discovery.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources partnered with CFC n an initiative to plant one million trees under the government’s Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP). Under the MOA, the CFC has committed to contribute to the national reforestation effort by planting one million forest tree seedlings from 2019 to 2021, and maintaining and protecting the planted seedlings during that period.
CFC Milestones | 2020
In 2020, CFC was “Called to Holiness” (1 Peter 1:15), as it was discerned that being holy was a requisite to fulfill our mission. It was also a call—not just for a privileged few—but a vocation to be embraced by all.
As it was the onset of the global pandemic, COVID-19, the community also had to adapt to the call of the times. The world went virtual, and so did our conferences, teachings, and other activities. In the time of great distress and uncertainty, our mission to evangelize and accompany one another was fully alive.
On September 25 2020, the CFC Migrants Program and its partners launched “Hatid Pag-asa sa Pamilya”. This catered to displaced Overseas Filipino Workers during the pandemic. The objective of the program was to lessen the OFWs’ dependence on government dole-outs and to reintegrate the family into society equipped with livelihood skills.
Live Catholic is an advocacy of Singles for Christ that promotes living out the beauty of the Catholic Faith. This was also the beginning of Live Catholic Online, a podcast series broadcasted live, in which the richness of the Catholic faith is professed.
#CFCJourneyTo45 #CFCOneFamily #Happy45YearsCFC
Reference: Journey of Family Evangelizers – Moved by the Holy Spirit (Volume 1)
