Special wedding and Christmas gathering in the SouthWhen it rains it pours! During December 2022, CFC South Thailand experienced a multitude of blessings and these happened because we decided to follow God’s will and let His blessings pour upon us. The first blessing came upon Arnel and Vicky our unit leaders in Phuket. They have been married in the civil court and have wanted to get married in the church for many years but too many constraints have piled up upon them putting the church wedding on hold. But God’s grace could not be contained specially since the couple were sincerely seeking this sacred Sacrament. On 3 December 2022 with the help of CFC community in Phuket and Bangkok the couple received the sacrament of matrimony. All the constraints that were keeping them away from God’s grace were broken through with the help of the community who have not only made the event happen but made the celebration a victorious statement of love and respect. Each member of the community shared a part of themselves, their time, money, skills and services. Everyone was a service team and a guest at the same time. It was beautiful celebration of love and respect.
The 2nd blessing was the outpouring of generosity and love. After the wedding the whole CFC South including members from Phuket, Krabi, Surathani, Thung Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok and a CFC member from Malaysia together with Fr. Joseph visited the home for the aged to provide some of their daily needs like rice, canned goods and noodles, drinking water, toiletries and laundry items. Despite financially suffering for the last 2 years due to the setbacks brought about by the covid pandemic, the culture of giving that was sown by the many teaching of the CFC community has blossomed. Then there was the outpouring of blessings as whole of CFC South, Bangkok and Malaysia has already gathered we moved to a nearby resort and pre-celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We had a Christmas Party. The Spirit of giving was truly in everyone as we shared our talents, wits and resources to give joy and happiness to everyone. Coincidentally it was also the birthday of Fr. John, the parish priest of CFC Phuket. It was joyous occasion of merry making, eating, singing, dancing, and gift giving. Everyone was full not only in our bellies but with our spirit as well. All these happened in short span of 2 days, Dec. 3-4, but will be cherished for many years to come. Truly God’s love, mercy and grace is enough for us. CFC Nonthaburi Pre-Christmas CelebrationCFC-Nonthaburi Chapter held their pre-Christmas celebration on 4 December 2022 at the Christian Dharma Building in the Our Lady of Mercy Church, Pakkret, Nonthaburi, with the theme “Share a Gift and Cheer a Kid on Christmas Day”. It was well attended by CFC members and its Family Ministries as well as special guests, including PIME priests Fr. Joseph, Fr. Claudio, and Fr. Massimo. The party was tangibly blessed with the outpouring of rain when the opening prayer was said just before the abundant delicious dinner was served. It was followed by a number of enjoyable games and lovely presentations from different ministries. It culminated with the noble activity called “Sharing of Gift” where everyone did their share of packing the different gifts (e.g. toiletries, candies, biscuits) into the gift-bags, which were given to the kids in the Home for Hope (orphanage) through Fr. Joseph.
CLP graduation in NonthaburiCFC-Nonthaburi Chapter concluded an 8-Sunday physical CLP conducted from 4 September to 23 October 2022 in Christian Dharma Building (3rd floor) with a physical dedication ceremony held on 30 October 2022 in St. Christina Retreat House, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Pakkret, Nonthaburi. Twelve individuals (3 couples, 1 HOLD, 1 SOLD, and 4 SFCs) successfully completed the CLP. The CLP is an annual evangelization program of the chapter that followed the latest update of the program called CLP 2.0, the first physical CLP after the Thai government downgraded the Covid restrictions. It was organized by the Chapter Household but was led by Bj/Jang and assisted by Marz/Winnie (their very first time). Earlier on the first quarter, a strategic virtual Pocket CLP was also conducted to one couple and was virtually concluded on 9 April 2022. Thanks be to God for the victorious harvest.
Walk for a Cause 2022ANCOP Thailand (ANCOP-TH) organized a hybrid “Walk for a Cause 2022” with the physical walk on 28 July 2022 at the AIT ground from 6:30 in the morning and the virtual walk during the whole month of July 2022. After the two years of virtual walks “Walk for Love 2020” and “Witness God’s Wonders 2021” due to covid-19 physical restriction, the physical walk resumed when the Thai government eased the restrictions. It was the 4th ANCOP-TH walk which started more than 2 years ago with the physical “Global Walk 2019”. Total net proceed of the event was THB 30,544 from generous donors.
The physical “Walk for a Cause 2022” was well attended by generous members from 4 Chapters, namely Central Bangkok, North Bangkok, South Area, and Nonthaburi. Generous members who joined the virtual walk were able to post their photos and videos in the Facebook with #ancopwalkthailand2022 and #ancopthailand2022. Because of their generosity, plus the special pledge of monthly contributions from few of our extra-generous members, CFC Thailand will continue its Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) by directly supporting the selected school that in dire need of financial assistance. Thank you for your favorable support! May God bless all contributors abundantly. And, let us be reminded again of St. Paul’s exhortation in Acts.20:35 “In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” |
First Fruits Assembly in Phitsanulok and appointment of new leadersCFC Phitsanulok gathered on 5 February 2023 at the Saint Nicholas church compound for its monthy assembly and first fruits offering. The community is relatively new and small, with only one couple household and several SFC groups. However, they are praying for more members from this vibrant Catholic community of Thai people and expats and a strong support from the resident priest Father Ronnie Torres. During the assembly, Father Ronnie gave an exhortation to the members based on Pope Francis' encyclical called "Fratelli tutti" and subtitled "on fraternity and social friendship". He confirmed that the life in CFC conforms with the message of the encyclical and is the way to create a better world. After his exhortation, the assembly conducted the first fruits offering as customary in CFC that each member must be consecrated to God at the first CFC meeting of the year. It was a very solemn offering and prayer session fitting to the occassion. Before closing, the group prayed over John Patrick and Joy Benliro as the new leaders of CFC Phitsanulok. May God be blessed for His wonderful work in Phitsanulok.
CFC Thailand Leaders Annual Planning for 2023On 22 October 2022, some 5o leaders of CFC Thailand gathered at the Korea House located at the AIT campus for the annual planning meeting. Father Lucivaldo Costa of the Xaverian Missionaries in Thailand officiated the Holy Mass and exhorted the group to put Jesus at the center of the planning. It was followed by a morning worship led by Sonny and an opening talk given by Edgar with the key message about loving God with all our hearts. The afternoon session started with worship led by Patrick followed by a review of the CFC Community Imperatives for 2023 and the South East Asia response shared by Jojoy. The meeting went into a small group discussion focusing on the three major imperatives namely Expansion of the Spirit, Explosion of Blessings, and Enlargement of the Heart. John Balgoa concluded the meeting with an announcement and a closing prayer. It was indeed an inspiring and productive day for all the participants.
CFC Thailand Governance Team and Country Coordinator visit CFC South Mission AreaOn 25 September 2022, CFC Thailand Country Coordinators Raffy/Amie Ballesteros together with CFC Governance Team members Jojoy/Emelyn Mission and John/Princess Balgoa and CFC Thai elders Ambassador Preecha/Kung and Ajarn Arom/Supatra visited CFC areas in the South of Thailand. Fr. John Tamayo, SDB, welcomed the team at the Mary Help of Christian church in Panom, Surathani together with CFC and SFC members from Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thungyai and Surat Thani.
Upon arriving, Father Tamayo brought them for a brief tour to a nearby dam built by the late King Rama 9 to support the development of the Salesian school. They celebrated the Holy Mass in English and Thai at the convent of the Capuchin sisters. During the homily Fr. John shared how the Salesian school and the church was established 50 years ago and how it also became the ground zero for the establishment and spread of CFC among the Thai people when a bishop took notice of CFC activities and programmes and requested to bring it in Tharae and Udon. Tharae is the biggest Catholic diocese in Thailand. From that time, CFC Thai membership grew in numbers as many local priests and churches warmly welcomed CFC in their parishes. In the afternoon, the group held a prayer assembly and listened to a talk on unity given by Raffy Ballesteros. Ambassador Preecha and Ajarn Arom also gave a very touching testimonies about their faith and how CFC continues to nourish and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ. The assembly was one of the biggest gatherings of CFC in the south since 2019. Many members travelled by van for 2-3 hours to get there but all returned home refreshed and inspired to serve God and the local church through the Couples for Christ. |
Proudly powered by Weebly