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About
CFCFFL
Who
is the CFCFFL?
The
Movement for Restoration Our
Covenant
Our
Mission and Vision
Our Statement of philosophy
Our
Core Values
Family Ministries Kids
for Family and Life (KFL) Youth
for Family and Life (YFL)
Singles
for Family and Life (SFL)
Handmaids
for Family and Life (HerFL)
Servants
for Family and Life (SirFL)
Wish
to JOIN?
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 3)
January 28, 2009
One and a half years after the restoration of CFC (from July 2007), on
its third year (2007, 2008, 2009), CFC-FFL is well underway in pursuing
its clear vision and mission. We are called to renew the family and to
defend life. This is within the context of our overall mission of
evangelization, with emphasis this year on God’s divine mercy.
This was impressed upon me as I and my wife Gerry were privileged to
attend and participate in 3 significant events in this first month of
the new year. First we went to Mexico for the 6th World Meeting of
Families. Then we participated in the 36th March for Life in Washington
DC, USA. Finally we made a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the
Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA.
6th World Meeting of Families
This is the major event of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for
the Family, of which Gerry and I are members. It is mounted once every 3
years. In 2003 it was in Manila, while in 2006 it was in Valencia,
Spain. There was a 3-day Theological-Pastoral Congress, where there were
9,000 delegates from 96 countries, including 20 cardinals, 200
archbishops and bishops, many clergy and religious, and of course lay
people. This was followed by a festive meeting of families with 20,000
people, and a Eucharistic celebration on the last day. Normally the pope
attends these last 2 days. However, for health reasons, this time he did
not go to Mexico (the altitude was a problem). He did have a videotaped
message.
Gerry and I were privileged to present a paper on “Couples for Christ
in the Renewal of the Family and the Defense of Life” during the
plenary. It was very well received. We also had the opportunity to
interact with the Church hierarchy, among them Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone,
Vatican Secretary of State (representing the Holy Father), Cardinal
Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family,
Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the
Laity, and many others.
The World Meeting of Families, with its plenary presentations,
testimonies and other activities, highlighted our thrust for the family.
36th March for Life
After making a pastoral visit to our CFC-FFL brethren in Phoenix,
Arizona, we were off to Washington DC, to participate in the 36th March
for Life. The March for Life has been held since 1973, when the infamous
Roe v. Wade legalized abortion throughout the USA. Since that time 50
million unborn children have been slaughtered through surgical
abortions.
The event started with a Youth Rally and a Eucharistic celebration. It
was a sight to see, with the venue packed with 30,000 people, including
about 50 bishops, 400 priests and 500 seminarians. Then the march itself
had 300,000 people, including the CFC-FFL contingent of 109 brethren.
Our brethren were enthused, and promised to participate in the marches
every year in ever increasing numbers.
The March for Life highlighted our pro-life thrust, our defense of the
culture of life, our promotion of the gospel of life.
Divine Mercy shrine
Then Gerry and I were off to New Jersey, then to New York, to visit
our CFC-FFL brethren there. But before these, we were able to make a
pilgrimage with some of our brethren to the National Shrine of the
Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was a blessed time, with
very few people, with fresh snow on the ground, with the air cold but
with a bright sun overhead.
We were able to attend the Eucharistic celebration, pray the Divine
Mercy Chaplet, and kiss the relic of Sr Faustina.
This visit highlighted our new theme of Trust in Jesus for 2009, with
the very important element of the Divine Mercy.
On the right track
In the midst of attacks on marriage and the family, in the face of
the holocaust of the unborn, under the onslaught of anti-family and
anti-life forces in the world, God continues to reach out to a world in
darkness and sin. And God precisely raised CFC in 1981 for this task.
The enemy almost succeeded in destroying CFC in 2007, but God raised a
remnant, and has restored His creation to its authentic charism.
CFC-FFL continues to do its basic mission of evangelization, within the
context of the renewal of the family and the defense of life. The events
this January have affirmed our calling and work. We are on the right
track.
Let us never veer away again. Let us move forward with the confidence
that God anoints us, Jesus is with us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us.
Let us trust in Jesus and always look to God’s divine mercy.
Jesus, we trust in you!
God bless you all.
Your brother and servant,
Frank Padilla
Go
to "The Way Forward Part 4" >>
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