History of CFC Thailand
The beginning
Like all “auspicious beginnings”, CFC-Thailand started small: just nine couples of widely varying backgrounds and temperament, gathering together for an uncertain journey. But the same miniscule pattern also prevailed when CFC-Philippines first saw light of God’s day: 15 couples.
Without exception, CFC launching in over 80 countries where about 1,000,000 members now serve to “renew families in the Holy Spirit” started small. What would have been surprising were it otherwise. “The kingdom of heaven” the Master once pointed out “is like a mustard seed”.
Sowing of CFC Thailand’s “mustard seed” could probably be reckoned from 1987 – although there is little visible to record. But that year was an intense time of prayers for discernment by an Australian and a Filipina couple: Chris and the late Ched Papworth, then stationed in Bangkok. Both felt driven by the Spirit to start a CFC chapter, as they did in the Bicol regions of the Philippines earlier.
“Trust in the Lord,” the Book of Proverbs cautions, “and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.” A series of consultations therefore ensued between CFC elders in Manila and the Papworths on the paths to take in Thailand.
As in CFC’s beginnings in Bicol, the Papworths had to struggle with paucity of manpower. They juggled administrative details: simultaneously both taking in six of the 12 CLP talks-although Ched by then was already battling cancer.
In response, CFC Philippines patched the gap by sending speakers from Manila. From their CFC experience, the Manila team also explained to the fledgling group, “gathered in peace at the Lord’s feet”, the unique “charisms and culture” of CFC: a movement that seeks to follow promptings of the Good Spirit within marriages and families. “The Spirit blows where He wills.” And CFC’s Pastoral Center Director Frank Padilla flew to Bangkok to deliver to the nine couples a dedication presentation.
The path-blazing couples were:
Like today’s members just coming into CFC or one of its affiliated ministries, the nine differed in background, education or temperament. Looking back now, we see (to paraphrase Carlos Valles, S.J.) that:
“Circumstances of invitations to CFC differ. But the call is never by chance. Circumstances are the fingers of the Lord’s providence. Simeon the Zealot was not likely to have chosen Matthew the tax collector. One was an insurgent and the other a collaborator. Their coming together in peace was an unlikely event. But it was the same voice that called them. And they sat together at the same Lord’s feet.”
Hindsight also shows that none of the original nine couples had the faintest idea of where the Spirit would lead them within CFC. In fact, no one knew with certainty what CFC was all about. Johnny Mercado was later to wryly recall: “When Lydia first broached the idea that we attend the CLP at Xavier Hall I snorted: O, ano na naman yan? (Translation: So, what is that again?]”. It reflected a common distrust of organizations that, like the seed of the Galilean’s parable, quickly springs up by the wayside and just as quickly, withers.
Yet, a decade later, the nine couples agree: in CFC, they were led, one step at a time, to a clear relationship with each other and their children as well as to the Lord, often obscured by the stress of modern day life, within their marriages.
The first household meetings
Completion of the first CLP saddled the Papworths with yet another hurdle: that of synchronizing for novice-members, with widely differing work schedules, CFC household meetings. These weekly gatherings where members come to know more intimately the Christ of the gospels — touch with grace the marriages and families of members.
The start proved rough. Sometimes, the Papworths held two separate meetings to accommodate members with unusual schedules. At the first household meeting at his home, Greg Martin recalls: “the people either got lost or decided not to come. So there were only Chris, Ched, Estella and me. We (Estella really) had to sing and do spontaneous praising.”
Spreading the Good News: evangelization started
Despite their erratic start, the first nine couples realized that the light of CFC was not meant to be shoved under a bushel. And so a series of CLPs were organized – groping at first, then later with assurance born of reliance on the Spirit: three at Xavier Hall, then another at Mater Dei School and a series at the St. Louis Hospital Nursing School.
Today, CLPs are conducted at the Ruamrudee Parish Church. “There was a storm and suddenly the lights went out,” Greg Martin recalled on an early CLP. “Nonetheless, Christ plunged ahead with his introduction and , out of the blue interjected: ‘Let there by light’. And indeed the power surged back. You can imagine our reaction.”
“I am the light of the world.” CFC’s Lord says. “He who follows me will never walk in darkness.” Thus, Christ’s light in a country where the majority are non-Christians forms CFC Thailand’s vision. For this reasons, the elders have, sicne the very start, adopted a policy that Thais move into positions of leadership: that a major trust will be for the majority of its members to be Thais. And when the first foundation structures where in place, the elders sought – and received – official mandate from the Catholic Bishops Conference in Thailand.
CFC AIT unit: a seed was sown
In 1992, some 42 kilometers north of Bangkok, a visitor – Tynee Anden from Manila – came to attend a short course at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), a secluded campus away from the hassle of the city traffic. He planted a “mustard seed” that would become a strong and active CFC Unit serving an international community. With the assistance of Edwin and Aster Aguirre, then AIT researcher and school teacher, respectively, Tynee gathered 10 couples to introduce CFC. He “anointed” Edwin and Aster to bring CFC to AIT.
“Aster and myself were very unprepared for what Tynee did to us.” Edwin, who is now in Australia, recalled: “He came to our place and then started praying over us. We did not have the faintest idea on how to bring CFC to AIT considering our lack of experience in organizing a religious group.”
But the Lord directed their paths. Through a friend, Edwin and Aster met Johnny Mercado to inquire about CFC. The answer was the Lord’s response to the apostle Andrew: “Come and see”. Both joined a general meeting of the nine couples – “a little flock”. When a CLP was conducted in 1992, the couple attended together with two more couples from AIT: Edgar and Moonyeen Dante, and Eman and Tootchie Canillas. Attending the CLP sessions was a real test of commitment for these couples as they had to plow through Bangkok traffic in public buses with their children every early Sunday morning for 13 weeks to reach the CLP venue by noon time.
Recently, Johnny Mercado recalled how the CFC pioneers were touched by the commitment shown by these three young couples from AIT: “This is perhaps a good time as any to put on record how CFC pioneers, in the early formative months, took heart at these example set by the three AIT couples.” Johnny wrote, “Their 13 Sunday trips from Rangsit proved that hearts are converted by witnessing not by words.”
Through the year
Over the past seven years, CFC-Thailand has grown in strength and number. About three or five CLPs are conducted each year, mostly intended for Thai participants. Understandably, the Thais quickly outnumbered the English-speaking group of the community. CFC has also expanded its footage to several provinces, such as: Chiangmai, Surat Thani, and Ubolratchathani.
Looking ahead
Pope John Paul II warns that one of the most insidious threats we face in the rundown to the third millennium is religious difference. People do not deny God. They just live as as if He did not exist. Hence the sense of sin is dulled. It is in this milieu of mass unspoken denial of God that CFC members live, work and worship as the “domestic church, as cells of grace”. That is why the monthly practice of couples availing of the sacrament of reconciliation is critical.
To borrow again Carlos Valles SJ: “In a world that is wounded, divided, scattered, God in many wonderful ways sets up a cell of grace to unite and heal as a sign of his constant presence. However little our group and frail our union, we stand on God’s word and meditate of His action. We are an image, a token, an assurance, a parable — and a pledge of what life in the Father’s house is to be.”
Like all “auspicious beginnings”, CFC-Thailand started small: just nine couples of widely varying backgrounds and temperament, gathering together for an uncertain journey. But the same miniscule pattern also prevailed when CFC-Philippines first saw light of God’s day: 15 couples.
Without exception, CFC launching in over 80 countries where about 1,000,000 members now serve to “renew families in the Holy Spirit” started small. What would have been surprising were it otherwise. “The kingdom of heaven” the Master once pointed out “is like a mustard seed”.
Sowing of CFC Thailand’s “mustard seed” could probably be reckoned from 1987 – although there is little visible to record. But that year was an intense time of prayers for discernment by an Australian and a Filipina couple: Chris and the late Ched Papworth, then stationed in Bangkok. Both felt driven by the Spirit to start a CFC chapter, as they did in the Bicol regions of the Philippines earlier.
“Trust in the Lord,” the Book of Proverbs cautions, “and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths.” A series of consultations therefore ensued between CFC elders in Manila and the Papworths on the paths to take in Thailand.
As in CFC’s beginnings in Bicol, the Papworths had to struggle with paucity of manpower. They juggled administrative details: simultaneously both taking in six of the 12 CLP talks-although Ched by then was already battling cancer.
In response, CFC Philippines patched the gap by sending speakers from Manila. From their CFC experience, the Manila team also explained to the fledgling group, “gathered in peace at the Lord’s feet”, the unique “charisms and culture” of CFC: a movement that seeks to follow promptings of the Good Spirit within marriages and families. “The Spirit blows where He wills.” And CFC’s Pastoral Center Director Frank Padilla flew to Bangkok to deliver to the nine couples a dedication presentation.
The path-blazing couples were:
- Prakal and Praisri Oudomugsorn – the first Thai couple and current CFC Thailand’s national director;
- Eddie and Emily Angeles – served as council member, CFC-Thailand
- Romeo and Delia Contreras – serves as council member, CFC-Thailand
- Vic and Lina Lavides – retired from UN and now serving as the Pasig chapter head in the Philippines
- Jimmy and Naty Lozare – serves as council member, in-charge on member formation and family ministries
- Greg and Stella Martin – transfered to Manila
- Johnny and Lydia Mercado – retire from FAO Bangkok and now resides in Cebu, Philippines
- Edwin and Violy Ong – serves as unit head, Bangkok unit
- Lito and Brenda Tuason – serves as household leader, Bangkok unit
- Seri/Nids Saengharn
- Sombat/Liza Kanchamahasub
- Susing(+)/Gelang Crisologo
- Narding(+)/Precy Aristorenas
- Joseph/Mary Rahimi–now in Sweden
- Justin Roxas
Like today’s members just coming into CFC or one of its affiliated ministries, the nine differed in background, education or temperament. Looking back now, we see (to paraphrase Carlos Valles, S.J.) that:
“Circumstances of invitations to CFC differ. But the call is never by chance. Circumstances are the fingers of the Lord’s providence. Simeon the Zealot was not likely to have chosen Matthew the tax collector. One was an insurgent and the other a collaborator. Their coming together in peace was an unlikely event. But it was the same voice that called them. And they sat together at the same Lord’s feet.”
Hindsight also shows that none of the original nine couples had the faintest idea of where the Spirit would lead them within CFC. In fact, no one knew with certainty what CFC was all about. Johnny Mercado was later to wryly recall: “When Lydia first broached the idea that we attend the CLP at Xavier Hall I snorted: O, ano na naman yan? (Translation: So, what is that again?]”. It reflected a common distrust of organizations that, like the seed of the Galilean’s parable, quickly springs up by the wayside and just as quickly, withers.
Yet, a decade later, the nine couples agree: in CFC, they were led, one step at a time, to a clear relationship with each other and their children as well as to the Lord, often obscured by the stress of modern day life, within their marriages.
The first household meetings
Completion of the first CLP saddled the Papworths with yet another hurdle: that of synchronizing for novice-members, with widely differing work schedules, CFC household meetings. These weekly gatherings where members come to know more intimately the Christ of the gospels — touch with grace the marriages and families of members.
The start proved rough. Sometimes, the Papworths held two separate meetings to accommodate members with unusual schedules. At the first household meeting at his home, Greg Martin recalls: “the people either got lost or decided not to come. So there were only Chris, Ched, Estella and me. We (Estella really) had to sing and do spontaneous praising.”
Spreading the Good News: evangelization started
Despite their erratic start, the first nine couples realized that the light of CFC was not meant to be shoved under a bushel. And so a series of CLPs were organized – groping at first, then later with assurance born of reliance on the Spirit: three at Xavier Hall, then another at Mater Dei School and a series at the St. Louis Hospital Nursing School.
Today, CLPs are conducted at the Ruamrudee Parish Church. “There was a storm and suddenly the lights went out,” Greg Martin recalled on an early CLP. “Nonetheless, Christ plunged ahead with his introduction and , out of the blue interjected: ‘Let there by light’. And indeed the power surged back. You can imagine our reaction.”
“I am the light of the world.” CFC’s Lord says. “He who follows me will never walk in darkness.” Thus, Christ’s light in a country where the majority are non-Christians forms CFC Thailand’s vision. For this reasons, the elders have, sicne the very start, adopted a policy that Thais move into positions of leadership: that a major trust will be for the majority of its members to be Thais. And when the first foundation structures where in place, the elders sought – and received – official mandate from the Catholic Bishops Conference in Thailand.
CFC AIT unit: a seed was sown
In 1992, some 42 kilometers north of Bangkok, a visitor – Tynee Anden from Manila – came to attend a short course at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), a secluded campus away from the hassle of the city traffic. He planted a “mustard seed” that would become a strong and active CFC Unit serving an international community. With the assistance of Edwin and Aster Aguirre, then AIT researcher and school teacher, respectively, Tynee gathered 10 couples to introduce CFC. He “anointed” Edwin and Aster to bring CFC to AIT.
“Aster and myself were very unprepared for what Tynee did to us.” Edwin, who is now in Australia, recalled: “He came to our place and then started praying over us. We did not have the faintest idea on how to bring CFC to AIT considering our lack of experience in organizing a religious group.”
But the Lord directed their paths. Through a friend, Edwin and Aster met Johnny Mercado to inquire about CFC. The answer was the Lord’s response to the apostle Andrew: “Come and see”. Both joined a general meeting of the nine couples – “a little flock”. When a CLP was conducted in 1992, the couple attended together with two more couples from AIT: Edgar and Moonyeen Dante, and Eman and Tootchie Canillas. Attending the CLP sessions was a real test of commitment for these couples as they had to plow through Bangkok traffic in public buses with their children every early Sunday morning for 13 weeks to reach the CLP venue by noon time.
Recently, Johnny Mercado recalled how the CFC pioneers were touched by the commitment shown by these three young couples from AIT: “This is perhaps a good time as any to put on record how CFC pioneers, in the early formative months, took heart at these example set by the three AIT couples.” Johnny wrote, “Their 13 Sunday trips from Rangsit proved that hearts are converted by witnessing not by words.”
Through the year
Over the past seven years, CFC-Thailand has grown in strength and number. About three or five CLPs are conducted each year, mostly intended for Thai participants. Understandably, the Thais quickly outnumbered the English-speaking group of the community. CFC has also expanded its footage to several provinces, such as: Chiangmai, Surat Thani, and Ubolratchathani.
Looking ahead
Pope John Paul II warns that one of the most insidious threats we face in the rundown to the third millennium is religious difference. People do not deny God. They just live as as if He did not exist. Hence the sense of sin is dulled. It is in this milieu of mass unspoken denial of God that CFC members live, work and worship as the “domestic church, as cells of grace”. That is why the monthly practice of couples availing of the sacrament of reconciliation is critical.
To borrow again Carlos Valles SJ: “In a world that is wounded, divided, scattered, God in many wonderful ways sets up a cell of grace to unite and heal as a sign of his constant presence. However little our group and frail our union, we stand on God’s word and meditate of His action. We are an image, a token, an assurance, a parable — and a pledge of what life in the Father’s house is to be.”
Chris and Ched Papworth and their children who started the CFC community in Thailand in 1989
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