Couples for Christ (CFC) in India

Couples for Christ - International Catholic Community

What is Couples for Christ (CFC)?

COUPLES FOR CHRIST (CFC) is an International Catholic Community constituted canonically as a private international association of pontifical right recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. This Catholic community sees itself as a missionary community committed to the work of global evangelization and renewal, with the goal of winning the world for Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It started in June 1981 in Manila, Philippines, where presently its International headquarters are based. Today it attracts over 1 million members in around 158 countries.

COUPLES FOR CHRIST carries out its mission of renewal throughout the world by focusing on three basic areas--evangelization, family life renewal, and Church renewal:

1) EVANGELIZATION

COUPLES FOR CHRIST is called to a work of evangelization that is rapid, massive and global.

2) FAMILY LIFE RENEWAL

COUPLES FOR CHRIST's work of evangelization, formation and support is situated in the context of Christian family living.

3) CHURCH RENEWAL

COUPLES FOR CHRIST seeks to build a network of committed Christian couples and families throughout the world. It is committed to building up vibrant Christian communities in the parishes, dioceses and localities where its members congregate.

COUPLES FOR CHRIST draws its membership from all sectors of society--young and old, rich and poor, educated or illiterate, etc. It transcends all racial, cultural, economic, educational, social and other distinctions. Those who want to join COUPLES FOR CHRIST go through a seminar called a Christian Life Program

CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM (CLP)

The CLP is an integrated course leading into a renewed understanding of God's call to Christian couples, to a personal response of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to receiving a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their lives. After the CLP, those who finish are invited to join COUPLES FOR CHRIST by making their commitment to "The covenant of the Couples for Christ" and are then integrated into the body. They are then made part of a small cell group called a household. The household is composed of from 4 to 7 couples who meet weekly for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian life, under the direction of a Household Head. With a view of fulfilling its mission of Building the Church of the Home

COUPLES FOR CHRIST has established its Family Ministries. These are CFC Kids for Christ (KFC), CFC Youth for Christ (YFC), CFC Singles for Christ (SFC), CFC Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) for widows, older unmarried women, separated or divorced women, and women whose husbands are abroad, and CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD), the counterpart of the HOLD for the men. More recently COUPLES FOR CHRIST has established its Social Ministries to work for the Building the Church of the Poor.

COUPLES FOR CHRIST has developed a systematic syllabus for the formation of its members. Using a variety of methods viz. weekly community meetings, monthly teaching nights, recollection days, live-in retreats, it offers its members opportunity to grow in Christian maturity.

COUPLES FOR CHRIST is a laity based programme. Lay persons here are highly motivated to fulfill their God-given role in the church. While recognizing, deferring to and actively submitting to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and to the teaching of the Magisterium, it nonetheless believes that family based communities are best governed by lay people. All members whether men or women, adults or youth or even kids are trained to take on responsibility and serve the
community in accordance with their gifts.

In India, COUPLES FOR CHRIST operates in over 30 States & Union Territories.

In Maharashtra COUPLES FOR CHRIST operates in the following Dioceses (1) Mumbai Archdiocese (2) Vasai, (3) Pune, (4) Nasik (5) Sindhudurg and by the year end its mission is to reach other diocese such as (1) Amravati (2) Aurangbad (3) Chanda (4) Nagpur & (5) Kalyan

Couples For Christ has a plan to reach out all the Parishes in Maharashtra within next couple of years

Couples for Christ in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, the CLP's are given in English, Marathi & Konkani. Kindly get in touch with the following couples to start CLP in your parish

(1) Frank & Nancy Ferrao (English) 26838791/9820551837
(2) Elias & Louiza Alvares (Konkani) 28343567
(3) Peter & Pramila Rodrigues (Marathi) 28310342/9324524536
(4) Robert & Cynthia D'Souza (English) 32516218/9322927187

Couples for Christ in Mangalore

In Mangalore you can get in touch with:

(1) Alex & Lynette Serrao 0824-2217332/9845459593
(2) Mervin & Ruby Saldanha ( Kallianpur /Udupi area) 0820580442/9448129120
(3) Herald & Josephine D'Souza (Bantwal) 08255232132
(For Kerala) get in touch with Paul & Theresa Andrade 08242435163/9845589743

for more details please visit our global site: cfcglobal.org.ph

Posted by Walter Crasta