ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Proclaiming the Gospel with courage, as a family: the path of "Couples for Christ"

Monday, 24 June 2019 family   evangelization   mission   missionaries   society   catholic movements   ecclesial movements  

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Proclaiming the Gospel with courage, as families living faith: this is the invitation addressed to the ecclesial movement "Couples for Christ", CFC by Mgr. Broderick S. Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, speaking at the convention on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the movement. As Agenzia Fides learns, at the closing mass of the meeting, celebrated in Manila in recent days, in front of more than 50,000 people, the Bishop said: "Your journey is a call to live and spread the Good News that is Jesus, that is offered in the Holy Eucharist, destined for all because only He gives true life and satisfies the deepest desires of the human heart". "Praise God for 38 years of overflowing grace that He has given you. Let us continue to respond to His fidelity by rekindling our gift and filling the world with His light", said the Bishop to those present.
Many members of the movement shared their personal experiences, talking about "God's overflowing grace in their family life and in the community". Melo Villaroman Jr., a Catholic layman and President of the CFC, urged families to "be a gift": "Praying and remaining united in Jesus - he said - the light of God will be within every family. Parents will be like light and guide in the home and children are the recipients of this love and light. As a single community, the families of CFC are sparks of light that, once lit together, become a shining beacon for other families anywhere in the world".
Jesuit Father Jun G. Bargayo, speaking of the mission of the family, said that "the mission is the work of God himself", while Nic Escalona, coordinator of evangelization and of CFC, encouraged the members of the movement "to remain steadfast because the Lord is a victorious God".
The missionaries of the CFC movement talked about the transforming action from the grace of God that led them to respond to the call to become missionaries. "The infallible love of God makes the mission worth living, even in difficulties", they said. Joe Tale, CFC representative to the Holy See, shared his missionary experience and encouraged his fellow missionaries to "lead others to Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit and God's love".
Michael Ariola, president of CFC, concluded by inviting everyone to "take to heart life as a mission", recalling that "from the beginning God had called them to walk in CFC" and that "missionaries can evangelize thanks to the light and to the love of Christ". Ariola encouraged CFC to "continuously support the dignity and beauty of the family".
"Couples for Christ" is a Catholic movement which started in 1981 in Manila, Philippines, within a community of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and is now present in 110 countries. In 1995, the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines approved the movement as a private association of lay faithful and in 2000 the Holy See recognized it as an international private association of lay faithful, of pontifical right. (SD) (Agenzia Fides, 24/6/2019)


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