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


How does Couples for Christ intend to work for Christian family renewal?

CFC 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 takes the basic message of Christianity and proclaims it anew so that 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 that they find in the Lord filters down to all their family relationships.

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 Couples for Christ?

Any validly married Christian couple can become members of CFC. CFC is a Catholic organization, but is open to membership by Christians of other denominations. Couples need not have any specific religious or spiritual background.
CFC draws its membership from all sectors of society-young and old, rich and poor, etc. CFC transcends all cultural, economic, educational, social and other distinctions. CFC is equally adaptable to a Philippine or foreign setting.


How does a couple become members of Couples for Christ?

Those who want to join CFC go through a seminar which is called a Christian Life Program (CLP). The CLP starts with an orientation session, then goes through 12 weekly meetings, thus involving a total time period of 3 months. The weekly meetings are usually held in the evenings and last about 2-1/2 hours per session.

What is the nature of the Christian Life Program?

The CLP is an integrated course leading into a renewed understanding of God's call to Christian couples. It is divided into 3 modules of 4 sessions each. Most sessions consist of a talk, group discussion, and some time for fellowship.

The different topics of the talks are as follows:

1. God's Love
2. Who is Jesus Christ?
3. What it Means to be a Christian
4. Repentance and Faith
5. The Christian Ideal: Loving God
6. Loving your Neighbor
7. The Christian Family
8. Life in the Holy Spirit
9. Receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit
10. Growing in the Spirit
11. The Life & Mission of the Couples for Christ
12. Transformation in Christ (and dedication)

The first module (first 4 talks) presents the absolute basics of Christian life, with emphasis on our hearing it with adult perspective. The second module (next 4 talks) presents the kind of life that God calls us to. It spells out the personal response involved in receiving Jesus as Lord and Saviour and helps couples to make a reorientation of their lives around Jesus. The third module (last 4 talks) helps the couples to commit their lives in a serious way to Jesus. It helps them appropriate for their lives the power of the Holy Spirit. It provides the basis for continuing spiritual growth.


Is there any cost involved?

There are no fees or any monetary expenses required of participants. The only investment required is their time and their openness.


What happens after the Christian Life Program?

After the CLP, those who finish are invited to join CFC. When they do, they are made part of a small cell group called a household. The household is composed of from 5 to 7 couples who meet weekly for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian life, under the direction of a household leader.


What is the nature of this household?

The purpose of the household group is to build an environment for the support of the Christian life of couples, and to provide a means for encouraging and hastening spiritual growth. It provides friendship and brotherhood. It helps people overcome obstacles to growth in the Christian life.

The household meeting is held in the homes of the group members, on rotation basis. A typical meeting would involve some time for prayers, a time for sharing or discussion, and finally some time for fellowship. It would normally last about 2-1/2 hours.


How about Christian formation?

Finishing the CLP is just the beginning of a long process of growth and transformation in Christ. As such, CFC provides a continuing program of formation, which includes teachings, recollections, retreats, etc.


How is Couples for Christ different from other movements or organizations?

CFC differs in a number of ways but the most significant are the following:

1. It fosters deep spiritual renewal which involves personal conversion, developing a personal relationship with Jesus, and living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. It focuses on the couple, with emphasis on husband and wife growing together in their Christian lives.

3. It provides continuing support and formation, recognizing that programs can only plant a seed, but that growth is a long and difficult process.

4. It concentrates on evangelization, reaching out to more and more couples, in line with the Church's call for lay people to participate actively in the building of God's kingdom on earth.

Is Couples for Christ recognized by the Catholic Church?

Yes. In Manila where it started, CFC is a member of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines. Futhermore, CFC is present and operates in many different parishes and dioceses, fully recognized by and operating under the authority of the parish priests and bishops.


What benefits can a parish derive in having Couples for Christ?

There are a number of benefits:

1. Couples are renewed and strengthened in their Christian lives. Strong couples make for strong families, which make for a strong parish.

2. A basic CFC objective is to be relevant to the life of the Church, specifically in the parish. CFC members are expected to support their parish priest and be available for parish services.

3. CFC can be effectively used in the strategic evangelization of parishioners who are potentially strong servants and workers for the parish.

4. CFC has proven to be an effective tool for fostering unity among mandated organizations and other parish groups, by redirecting leaders to focus on the Lord rather than on their service.

5. One of CFC's major services in the parish is pre-marriage counselling for couples about to be married. CFC uses a more personalized and thus effective couple-to-couple method.

6. CFC has renewal programs for the youth and single professionals.

7. CFC can be a conduit for social action in the parish, one of our objectives being the economic and spiritual upliftment of our less fortunate brethren.

8. CFC is a working model of the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) and can hasten the formation of a strong, vibrant parish community.