In Appreciation to our Clergy

The Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life, Calgary has honoured our clergy in an appreciation dinner conducted last Tuesday, July 26, 2016.

It was envisioned to be different from the previous ones as we wanted to deal more on who we are and what defines us as a community. The night started with a simple cocktail and a 10 minute presentation of CFCFFL in pictures that aim to project how alive the community in pursuing our vision and mission and living out our core values and our covenant.

Fr. Marino, the outgoing spiritual director led us to an invocation, blessing of food and a welcome exhortation which among others gave us a glimpse of his 5 year stay as spiritual director. It was followed by a welcome dance to the tune of God is Good by the fraternal and Cluster households. The food was excellent as expected with a lot to spare for seconds and even thirds.

We have heard as a video message our Servant General, bro. Frank emphasizing the Live Christ, Share Christ Movement as our response to the call of new evangelization, giving a very good insight that excites not just the members of CFCFFL but most of the clergy who are present. It was followed by a short video narration on the history of CFC in its most simplest way that really appeals to the heart and common sense by our sister and wife of our SG, sis. Gerry.

sis. Gerry Padilla, CFC History

As we (me and sis. Nida Guillermo acting as program emcees) narrate our own stories of joining CFCFFL, we have shared our hands on experiences on how God has used the community to touch the lives of many individuals and especially couples. People we know whose lives have been changed for the better. This led to another video presentation on the life of bro. Dennis and sis. Melanie Arciaga of CFCFFL Edmonton. Though most members have seen this video more than once, it did not stop us from being touched and emotional again on the powerful conversion story.

Fr. Malcolm, Pastor - St. Mark's

As our ministry grow and we come to understand more the CFCFFL way of life that God has called all of us, we were happy to note most of the clergy whom we have started to work with, initially as individual volunteers to our own parishes, have seen us grow in our service, commitment as couples and as a community as a whole. Fr. Malcolm, Pastor of St. Mark's have enthusiastically addressed his brother priests and ask them not to be afraid in tapping the resource that is within CFCFFL. Fr. Edmund, outgoing pastor or Sacred Heart and incoming pastor of St. James, has narrated his own account and called it a model of parish engagement for any ecclesial group what we CFCFFL has done in Sacred Heart in the last 7 years.

Fr. Edmund, Pastor-Sacred Heart

Fr. Avi, Pastor of Ascension Parish, as we was not comfortable giving a video message stood and thank CFCFFL for all that we are doing. Equally recognizing the importance of our ministry in the life of the Church.

The night ended with the short update report from our Cluster Servant, bro. Toto Palencia followed by a closing exhortation our bro. Boyet Altura, Western Region Coordinator and requested all the members present to join him in praying over the clergy especially those who are present with us that evening.