The official newsletter of CFC Australia

Issue No 1 June 2017

CFC’s new home office Nestled within Our Lady of the Rosary Parish is now the new CFC House Parish Priest, Fr. Michael de Stoop, undertook and led his parish to be more than just a welcoming community but inviting as well. In this effort, CFC was invited to have its home office in 16 Vine St. Fairfield, NSW. CFC had traveled quite a bit. Ten years ago, the office was in Blacktown, then it moved to various sites in Bankstown, and Blacktown again. After which it went to Schofields in the grounds of the Phil. Australian Community Foundation. Last office was in Rooty Hill.

This house at Vine Street used to be the Convent for the Josephites Sisters before it became the hub for ethnic communities. It became the centre office for the Spanish Chaplain. A child care centre also operated in the premises. CFC is very grateful to OLR and is excited in making our youth ministries, especially, to be present in the parish. It offers 4 small meeting areas and a conference room for 20 people. Bookings can be made to Irma Torres at 0416 021 864.

1

Oceania Strong And Faithful Conference April 21-23, 2017

It came as a breeze… After long months of planning the OCEANIA STRONG AND FAITHFUL Conference (OCON) is truly over. After a week, when all the guests have gone back to their homes in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Philippines, CFC Sydney can breath and relax finally.

It was the best ever staged in Sydney, so others say. But the true measure of success is not in the comfort of an awesome venue like the DIAMOND Auditorium of the Blacktown Workers Club. It is not even in the beautifully served hot meals and nutritious sandwiches with unlimited coffee delight. Not even close to having facilities provided for free.

The success was in the sacrifices and the willingness of the host to provide transport and accommodation. It was afterall the gesture of love and brotherhood when a holidaying brother left the keys of his house so visiting families can stay. CFC Sydney with one mind and one heart showed such hospitality which brought many to feel the conference as truly strong and faithful in the Spirit. Area head and Sydney Cluster leaders, Jay and Jean Santos, led the AGT team with such generosity in Spirit. Opening chorale on Friday evening made everyone feel welcome after the days long journey. It was participated by the all CFC chapters choirs. Saturday sessions on the year’s theme from 1Cor.16:13-14, “Be on your guard. Stand firm in

2

OCEANIA CONFERENCE p6

▶

Meet

JHERON REYES as Maui

Maui to the many who enjoyed the musical, but to us he is JHERON REYES, the YFC, the ANCOP Ambassador. His updating the flyer for his camp also showed his passion for the ministry. His tattoo we were told took 4 hours to paint. And as his hair look wind swept in his every thunderous jumping and stamping, convinced everyone that he is MAUI, the boisterous demigod, mischievous and gregarious in physique with his magical fish hook.

Meet

MOANA GIRL, Madison

with Hugh Jackman on his Broadway to Oz musical and sing on the Oprah Show when she was in Australia. Even though I have been performing for most of my life, I still get nerves before every performance but as soon as I’m on the stage these fears disappear. I’ve always loved performing and would really love for it to be part of my future, after I graduate from high school. 

I joined the YFC community almost 4 years ago, back in 2013 and I’m currently serving as the Hawkesbury sister KPV, as well as being a part of YFC HSB. This year, My name is Madison Gonzales and I’m 16 I was truly blessed to have been given the years old, in Year 11. I come from a family of opportunity to play Moana for the CFC OCON Production. During the leadup six, having 3 brothers. Singing, dancing, athtowards the conference I was quite overletics and playing basketball and soccer have whelmed with all the rehearsals, but after always been part of my life, ever since I was conference I couldn’t have been happier of little. Since I was 5 years old I’ve also been a part of the Australian Girl Choir and through how the production had turned out, with the help of all the people I was able to share the this I’ve had the opportunities to perform on Sunrise, The Morning Show and even perform stage with and of course all those 3 MOANA GIRL p6

▶

The Making of Strong and Faithful Weekend, Sydney Behind the Scenes By Josie Pangilinan The mammoth task of building up this conference from CD instructions made by home office in Manila to reality for the expected 700 plus attendees started almost 10 months ago. And straight after the STRONG and FAITHFUL week-end in Baguio for international delegates, January 2016 the pressure started to mount.

Auditorium was short listed until finally, after a few visits and meeting with manager, the contract was sealed. The adjacent ballroom was also made available for the youth ministries activities. Early entries, early parking was sorted out. Concessions were generously given to CFC.

Not being an ideal venue to hold mass, the approval from the Bishop of the Parramatta Diocese took time but finally Venue Hunting came. Then there was a long wait to find There would not have been any problem if there was no clamour to change the venue from a celebrating priest, mass being a Sunday the usual and popular MERROO in Kurrajong. early morning. Divine providence brought Fr. MICHAEL de STOOP to share the days This was a given in the past many years of with us. CFC’s big events. But even bigger challenge Hosting, the old-time hospitality touch than venue was hosting and transport. unique to the community came alive. Some With the costing and logistics in mind families with 2 and 3 children from as many options were studied. Some went far as Darwin were inspired to travel and around to visit RSL’s and function centres and the hotels nearby. Even a cruise ship by attend because of the warmth of the host city. Altho, those from closeby Canberra, P & O was considered. The ship required Melbourne and Brisbane were encouraged much longer lead time in booking. to book themselves in hotels to give way to Blacktown Workers Club Diamond those from overseas (New Zealand, BEHIND THE SCENES p6

4

▶

Peek-A-Boo: My CFC OCON Experience By Oliver Molina There is a strangeness in doing a write up on my half-attended 2017 CFC Oceania conference (OCON), hosted by CFC Sydney last April 21-23. Surely, I was there from the opening praise and worship of the Friday CFC Leader’s Summit. I was there when we held our closing chapter-photos on the Moana-themed stage. I was also there to bid farewell on Sunday afternoon.

Our theme this year rests on 1 Corinthians 16:13-14: “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done in love.” Since the First Fruits Assembly, the Lord has been building up this theme in our community. Even in song, Stand Firm in the Faith, the message is authentic and compelling.

in full, and bits of #1,#3, and #5. But I have caught on enough to be sufficiently challenged and refreshed

But I wasn’t always there. Around hosting and transport, Ronnie and I took shifts with the KFC coordinators, the ROCK team and CFC child minders. And I also ducked out to encourage my non-registered household members to attend the Saturday night play to catch the ‘feel’ of OCON. 

faithful attendances of our brethren from overseas and interstate, I honour especially the services of the host community of which Ronnie and I were privileged to be a part. I’d like to call out the transport and host families, the speakers, worship-leaders and sharers, the family min musicians, the KFC coordinators, YFC ROCKers, the event

This then (I suppose) is I how I grew over the 2017 OCON ‘Stand Firm in the Faith’ weekend. As the event progressed, I applied what I learned and made conscious decisions to contribute to the joy of fellowship and comfort of our hosted .At the Leader’s Summit, I was reminded brethren. In turn, the Lord led me to serve that what is critical about our covenant was with the KFC teams, seek out my CFC household members, offer up our paid how faithfully I tried to attend, participate dinner meals for our guests - even as Ronnie and do ‘every act in love’. I was cautioned and I wondered about the talks and the further that the Lord will seek to heal and sharings we missed. transform me most in the areas of my life where I tend to offer the greatest resistance Also, my role models in this OCON have to Him. expanded. Beyond the encouraging and

Whilst at OCON, I only heard Talk #2

PEEK-A-BOO p7

▶5

CFC SENIORS PROGRAM CFC Seniors Program promises fun and excitement. It aims to make the rest of our lives, our best as CFC. Lito Tayag, International Director from Manila launched the program thru an information night, April 24 to a core group led by Art and Minda Fausto. The program is now going around where CFC’s

▶OCEANIA CONFERENCE p2 the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Your every act should be done eith love.” Four talks touched everyone especially the witnessing of many couple

global presence is. And CFC being 38 years old in the Phil. and 29 in Australia, it is but to be expected that many above 60 are very much into CFC life and mission. Statistics showed that about 60% of our leadership membership belong to this category. Praise God that we have a big and vibrant youth memberships thru SFC, YFC and KFC who will take over. A true

sharers on how the Lord touched and used them. For the many victories were also challenges and trials. But always, the Lord is faithful to those who stand firm in the faith. The treat that got

▶BEHIND THE SCENE p4

Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands) and farther states. Transport committee went busily back and forth more times than anticipated from the airport due to some airline delays and cancellations. Borrowed car seats were organised to make the stay of all comfortable and safe.

womb to tomb ministry. Pope Francis: “The elderlies are those who transmit history, doctrine, the faith, and gives this to us as an inheritance.” Sydney will host its first seniors retreat in September, an occasion not to be missed. Art and Minda can be contacted thru [email protected].

everyone excited… the musical adaptation created and produced by Marcy and Susan Mission, the MOANA Concert. Closing praisefest shown below, after a week-end of

empowering week-end…There was nothing too hard for the willing and loving hearts…. The EVENTS committee proved to be the stage for the servant, the humble, the patient. It was led by ARIEL & FAYE DEMAGANTE, assisted by AERLENE & BAY MUSA as executive secretariat. Sydney AGT formed the mean machine.

When everyone got settled, shown below Denis and With God’s grace, everything went into place and Ruth Reyes, CFC National CFC OCEANIA 2017 OCON, Director, relaxed and enjoying the selfies. 6 Pacifica mode was a truly

prayers, listening, sharing, learning, writing love letters to spouses, fun and community bonding. It was announced that Darwin will be the next host for the community theme conference in 2018.

▶MOANA GIRL p3

who helped behind the scenes. The play had taught me that when being involved in communities like CFC and YFC, there are struggles we may face during times in our service, but we should never fail to realise that everything we do is to glorify God and to be thankful for all He has done for us in our lives.

HOLD Teaching with Monsignor Cezar Echano Come, taste and see… on this Mother’s Day in Lidcombe, the sisters decided to gather together to listen to the teachings which the Monsignor started off by reading the scripture on Genesis, the creation. He likened creation to MOTHER NATURE which led to the sanctity of time, space and life. Topics on women’s capability to pray, sacrifice and serve more, habits to virtue then character and mission of women in the church. It was a fitting honouring to womanhood.

▶PEEK-A-BOO p5

committee, the program and ‘Moana’ production teams and the witnessing of the community to Blacktown Workers Club patrons.  Addition to missing out on talks and sharings, I did have many more regrets in the form of insufficient time to fellowship and share with our many CFC friends from interstate and overseas - brethren whom we bonded mostly as a result of mission and hosting (as in them having hosted us). To simply have greeted them, mostly in passing was a disservice to our relationship. I remember suffering a hangover for being sleep-deprived on the Saturday night. I slept with a recurring songs and dreams in my head from Moana. Perhaps it’s God’s way of telling me “You’re Welcome.”

EDITORIAL BOARD NC Oversee Noel and Chona Pasion Editor in Chief Josie Pangilinan Layout Alma Alvarez

Photography Odie Maunes

Contributors Cynthia Argana Oliver Molina Madison Gonzales Jay Santos

THE GOOD NEWS COUPLES FOR CHRIST OCEANIA LTD. 16 Vine Street, Fairfield NSW 2165, AUSTRALIA www.cfc-australia.org.au https://www.cfcancop.org.au @Couples-for-Christ-Australia

7

ANCOP COLUMN Cynthia Argana

This May, ANCOP gives us two reasons to smile and be grateful.  We celebrate the success of all our beneficiaries who finish their training and studies.   

mobile devices? That most donors gave by reasons of alignment with values and cultural identity? That there is a 60% chance that people will give on the spur of the moment? And that you can find may more information of these kinds in our virtual office 365? If you haven’t tried your access yet, please do so now and visit the CFC ANCOP Team Site!

We are particularly proud of GHANIEL GLUDO who graduated CUM LAUDE in BS Secondary Education at Bicol University.  2 We are also inspired by 20 HOLD sisters in Lae, PNG who finished their vocational course in sewing this month.  Even before their training was finished, they already received orders for Boy Scout and Catholic Schools uniforms which allows them to immediately put their newly-acquired skills to productive use.   With an average age of 40 and a humble educational attainment of Year 9, through ANCOP, these sisters proved that help could never be too late for as long as there are kind-hearted ANCOP donors who are willing to share their blessings. 2 Do you know? ...that there had been an explosive growth in donations via

2 FOOTPRINTS… the immersion journey was launched in Sydney last 26 February. It was a night honouring the 2016 ANCOP Ambassadors through the sharing of their experiences. It was also an opportunity for past immersionists to gather and relive their own encounter with the poor. The event committee is doing a debrief to benefit future Footprints events. Watch the event’s highlight http://www.videopinoz.com/ancopfootprints-2017 2 Beauty and the Beast. On 25 March, CFC Cairns blocked a movie screening to raise funds for ANCOP. 2 The DOME is here! Finally, matching donors to specific beneficiary names would soon be within our fingertips. ANCOP Manila had rolled out a CSP Systemwhere we can access individual profiles of our present and past scholars. This will be complemented with our local DOME (Donor Matching Enabler) system such that each beneficiary can in turn be matched with a specific household or individual sponsor. Praise God for the talent of one of our Management team member who developed the DOME.