What is couples for Christ?

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of family life.  It is an association of Christian men and women who have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another, so that they may grow into maturity as sons and daughters of God, and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up their families under the lordship of Jesus Christ for all the service of the Kingdom of God.

How did Couples for Christ Begin?

CFC began in 1981 in Manila when a Christian community tried out a new approach in evangelizing married couples.  The method brought together a small group of prospective couples in a private home.  There they were brought to a living relationship with Jesus Christ and to renewal of the power of the Holy Spirit through a series of weekly informal discussions of the gospel in a social setting.

Soon, CFC became a Christian family life renewal program made available to parishes and groups of married couples who wished to live out their Christian life in an active, supportive relationship with one another.

What is Couples for Christ Foundation for Family Life?

The CFC Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL) is a gathering of concerned CFC brethren looking to the restoration, preservation and strengthening of the authentic Couples for Christ charism, focused on evangelization and family life renewal.

CFC-FFL is a missionary body, and the families that make up this association are to be families that will be instruments of the Holy Spirit in renewing the face of the earth.

Why is such a Ministry necessary?

It is god's plan that the family be the basic unit of society, such that the condition of families determine the condition of the society.  However, there are many forces in the world today that wittingly or unwittingly destroy the very foundations of the family.  CFC-FFL wants to rise in defense of the family which is God's work.  CFC-FFL wants to bring God's strength and light to those who are struggling to be truly Christian families in the modern world.

How does CFC-FFL work for Christian renewal?

CFC-FFL intends to carry out its work by focusing on three specific objectives:

1. Individual Renewal.  Before one can even consider the whole family, the husband and wife first need to renew their commitment to God.  CFC-FFL takes the basic message of Christianity and proclaims it anew so those who hear it can make a renewed commitment to God in a way which will allow them to receive a fuller experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
2. Family Renewal.  As couples renew their commitment to God, they also renew their commitment to one another and to their Christian family life.  Gradually, the new life they find in the Lord filters down to all their family relationship.
3. Church Renewal.  As individual families are renewed, they form a network of equally committed Christian families which not only support one another but also strengthen the Church of which they are members.

Who can become members of CFC-FFL?

Any married couple can become members of CFC.  Single individuals can join appropriate CFC-CCL family ministries.  CFC-FFL and its ministries draw their membership from all sectors of society, young and old, rich and poor, etc.  CFC-FFL transcends all cultural, economic, educational, social and other distinctions.

Those who want to join CFC-FFL go through a seminar which is called a Christian Life Seminar (CLS).

What is the Christian Life Seminar?

The Christian Life Seminar (CLS) is an integrated course intended to lead the seminar participants into a renewed understanding of and response to God's call to them as Christians.  The seminar has a total of 9 separate sessions, usually held once a week.

The CLS has three modules of three sessions each.  The first module presents the absolute basics of Christian life.  The second module presents the kind of life that God calls us to, and helps individuals, wherever status they are in, to make a reorientation of their lives around Jesus.  The third module helps these individuals to appropriate for their lives the power of the Holy Spirit, and provides the basis for continuing spiritual growth.

What happens after the CLS?

Right after the CLS, the participants are not asked to make a commitment to join CFC-FFL.  Rather, they are invited to experience being a part of a small cell group called a household.  The household is composed of 5 to 7 couples who meet weekly for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian life, under the direction of a household leader.

After three months of participation with a household, the participants then participates in a Covenant Recollection and then they are formally invited to make a covenant with CFC-FFL and formally dedicated to the CFC-FFL.

Is CFC-FFL recognized by the Catholic Church?

Yes, CFC-FFL is a servant and lay arm of the Church in the work of renewal, and ha a number of bishops as its Spiritual Directors.  Furthermore, CFC-FFL is present and operates in many different parishes and dioceses, fully recognized by and operating under the authority of the parish priests and bishops.

You can learn more about this community by visiting our web site at www.cfcffl.org.

 To learn more about this community, please contact Ruben Coson at 630-759-9532.