Media Release

Mangalore, Dec 17: Couples For Christ India (CFCI), Mangalore area celebrated its 10th Family Day at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Hall, Urva on Sunday December 15.

This event also marked the decade of presence of CFCI in the Diocese of Mangalore.

Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore, celebrated the Holy Eucharist. Fr Victor D’Mello, parish priest, Urva and spiritual director CFCI along with Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, director of Family Life Service Centre were co celebrants.

In his homily Fr Victor D’Mello reflected on the CFCI theme for the year ‘I Believe’. The theme is derived from the verse “The work of God is this: to believe in the one whom he has sent” –John 6:29.

The Bishop, in his message recognized the good work being done by the CFCI and encouraged the members to move ahead with renewed zeal. He stressed the importance of such movements especially in the present day context where the foundation of family is being destroyed. Being a member of the CFCI is a ‘Call’ and this requires living life and leading through example as an individual and also as a family.

The occasion also provided a platform to the community of CFCI to reflect on the past 10 years of its ministry in the Diocese of Mangalore. Paul Andrade led the community through a reflection of the past 10 years involving the initial formative years, the growth of CFC, the difficulties, challenges and struggles that one had to go through as an individual and also as community.

"Our Vision and Mission statement says that ‘We are Heralds of God’s Kingdom, anointed by the Holy Spirit and sent forth by Christ to make disciples of all peoples by sharing the Good News of Love, Life and Family’.It was made aware that CFCI in the diocese is well poised to do full justice to our vision and mission statement," he said.

At this juncture it is appropriate to recollect that CFC was initiated in Mangalore in the year 2003 in response to the invitation of the Bishop of Mangalore under the initiative of Fr Victor D’Mello, the then director of Family Life Service Centre. Couples from CFCI Mumbai,under the leadership of Walter and Juliet Crastawere instrumental for the initial formation and growth of CFCI in Mangalore.

CFCI Mangalorein the last 10 years has takenthis movement to over 35 parishes of the Diocese of Mangalore and also to the Syro Malabar Diocese of Kanjirapally in Kottayam District of Kerala State.

CFCI members stated that  " We believe that it is God’s plan that the family be the basic unit of the Church as well as of society.

However, there are many  forces in the world today that would, wittingly or unwittingly, destroy the very foundations of the family.

At this moment of history,  God raised up Couples for Christ as a gift of the Spirit to the Church to defend and strengthen the family.

It is called to bring the  Lord’s strength and light to those who are struggling to be truly Christian families in the modern world.It provides continuing  formation and support, recognizing that programs can only plant seeds and then a process begins for growth. It focuses on the couple, with emphasis on husband and wife growing together in their Christian life and the strengthening and developing of the Domestic Church, which is the family. It concentrates on evangelization, reaching out to more couples, in response to the Church’s call for lay people to participate actively in the building of God’s kingdom on earth."

CFCI is an integrated Family Ministry that reaches out to each and every person in the family irrespective of his or her state of life. It is thus a womb to tomb ministry.

a. CFCI Kids for children of CFC members ages 4-11
b. CFCI Youth for children of CFC and their friends ages 12 – 21
c. CFCI Singles for single men and women ages 22 – 35
d. CFCI Handmaids of the Lord for widows, mature single women, divorced women and single mothers
e. CFCI Servants of the Lord for widowers, mature single men, divorced men and single fathers.

For information on CFCI please visit http://cfci.org.in/