Couples For Christ (CFC) Mindanao Conducts Weekend Retreat

After two years in the pandemic of conducting various Couples for Christ (CFC) activities online, its members from all over Mindanao finally gathered at SMX Lanang last May 21 & 22, 2022. Hosted by CFC-Davao, the Mindanao Leaders’ Weekend Retreat (MLWR) was attended by approximately 2500 participants who were able to be part of the ministry’s first biggest face-to-face mass gathering in the island since the pandemic started.

The day and a half Spirit-filled activity was geared to allow participants to reconnect, renew and refresh their relationship with God and others to become more equipped Christians and evangelizers. The retreat content and message was based on CFC’s theme for 2022: “Christ Heals” with its anchor verse: “If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Started in 1981, the (CFC) is an international Catholic lay ecclesial movement whose aim is to renew and strengthen Christian values. Couples for Christ’ aims to renew and strengthen the Christian family life. In relation to this direction, the kids who were with the participants during the event were also facilitated by the Reaching Out Christ to Kids (ROCK) facilitators – Davao through pastoral-related activities on the first day and kids’ assembly on the following day of MLWR. The CFC is now in more than 100 countries.

Its leaders and members as enunciated in its vision and mission commits: “We are Couples for Christ. We are committed to live in God’s righteousness and holiness, evangelizing people through a life of love and service; we shall work for the renewal of families that will serve God and build generations of Christian leaders; and, we shall pursue Total Christian Liberation through social justice, respect for life, and work with the poor.

In the words of Archbishop Romulo Valles, D.D., during his homily: “We are greatly loved and with that truth and belief, we will be healed”, we are affirmed of God’s fidelity, mercy and unceasing love. In the midst of our trying times and the threat of division within our families, community and our country, we are to bring forth tenderness and compassion and make it an outward expression of God’s healing. (Art Maderazo | CFC Mindanao PFO Coordinator)