|
|
|
1.0 |
|
Nature
and Purpose |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
COUPLES
FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY AND
LIFE (CFCFFL) is a private association
of faithful committed to the work
of evangelization and family life
renewal. |
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
CFCFFL
is a missionary body, and the families
that make up this association are
to be families that will be instruments
of the Holy Spirit in renewing the
face of the earth. |
|
|
|
2.0
|
|
Vision
and Mission |
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
CFCFFL
is called to rise in defense of the
family which is God’s work.
It is called to bring families back
to the plan of God. 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. |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
CFCFFL
works for Christian family renewal
at various levels--the individual,
the family, the larger community. |
|
|
|
2.21
|
|
Individual
renewal. CFCFFL 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 that will allow them to receive
a fuller experience of the work of
the Holy Spirit in their lives. |
|
|
|
2.22
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
2.23
|
|
Church
renewal. As individual families
are renewed, they form a network of
committed Christian families that
not only support one another but also
strengthen the Church of which they
are members. |
|
|
|
2.231
|
|
CFCFFL
is committed to work for Catholic
re-evangelization first and foremost,
but looks to the ideal of Christian
unity and will also serve the other
Christian Churches whenever possible,
in full respect and in conformity
with the Catholic identity of the
association. |
|
|
|
2.232
|
|
CFCFFL
is committed to building up vibrant
Christian communities in the parishes,
dioceses and localities where its
members congregate. |
|
|
|
2.24
|
|
Societal
renewal. CFCFFL, in raising holy
Christian men and women, likewise
raises responsible members of society. |
|
|
|
2.3
|
|
CFCFFL
carries out its mission of renewal
by focusing on three basic areas—evangelization
and Church renewal, family life renewal,
and total Christian liberation and
development. |
|
|
|
2.3
1 |
|
Evangelization
and Church renewal. CFCFFL exists
to evangelize. Every CFCFFL member
is to be and evangelizer and is to
live an evangelistic lifestyle. |
|
|
|
2.32
|
|
Family
life renewal. CFCFFL’s
work of evangelization, formation
and support is situated in the context
of Christian family living. |
|
|
|
2.321 |
|
CFCFFL
is committed to the defense and strengthening
of families and of Christian family
values. |
|
|
|
2.33 |
|
Total
Christian liberation. CFCFFL
is committed to work for the liberation
of the human person, through its three
thrusts of work with the poor, work
for justice, and work for life. |
|
|
|
3.0
|
|
Membership |
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Membership
in CFCFFL is open to any validly married
Catholic couple, and to other individuals
through its Family and Special Ministries. |
|
|
|
3.11
|
|
Though
a Catholic community, CFCFFL is open
to membership by non-Catholic Christians,
who can join as associate members.
Associate members can participate
fully in the non-sacramental life
and mission of CFCFFL, and must recognize
and defer to the Catholic nature of
the community. Non-Catholic associates,
though remaining faithful to their
Church, have to accept, respect, and
defer to the principles and teachings
of the Catholic Church on marriage,
human sexuality and the family. |
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Those
who want to join CFCFFL go through
a seminar called a Christian Life
Program (CLP) for adults, or a Youth
Camp for young adults. The CLP and
Youth Camp are integrated courses
leading into a renewed understanding
of God’s call to Christians,
to a personal response of accepting
Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to receiving
a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit
on their lives. |
|
|
|
3.21
|
|
After
the CLP or Youth Camp, those who finish
are invited to join CFCFFL or its
Family or Special Ministries by making
their commitment by way of a covenant,
and are then integrated into the body. |
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Membership
may be terminated by the leadership
for any of the following reasons:
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Serious
unrepented wrongdoing.
-
Gross unfaithfulness to the covenant
of CFCFFL.
-
Public opposition to CFCFFL teachings
and culture, as well as official
Church teachings.
-
Ongoing disruption of good order
in the community.
-
Any other act that would seriously
undermine the life and mission
of CFCFFL.
|
|
|
|
3.31
|
|
Any
member may voluntarily leave CFCFFL
at any time and for any reason. |
|
|
|
4.0
|
|
Corporate
Life and Formation |
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Those
who join CFCFFL are made part of a
small cell group called a household.
The household members meet regularly
for mutual support and encouragement
in the Christian life. |
|
|
|
4.11
|
|
The
household meetings, normally held
in the homes of the group members
on rotation basis, would normally
involve some time for prayers, a time
for sharing or discussion, and finally
some time for fellowship. |
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
All
members undergo continuing formation
both in the Christian life and also
in the life and mission of CFCFFL. |
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Members
of CFCFFL are related to one another
as brothers and sisters in Christ.
As such, their relationship is not
to be functional but should reflect
the intimacy of Christian love, caring
and sharing. |
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
Organization |
|
|
|
5.1
|
|
The
household is the basic cell grouping
in CFCFFL. It is in the household
where members share their lives more
intimately and support one another
in their spiritual growth. |
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
Different
households form a larger grouping,
and such larger groupings form an
even larger grouping, forming a pyramidal
structure up the line. |
|
|
|
5.3
|
|
CFCFFL
may establish itself as a foundation
or corporation or formal association,
in accordance with local and/or national
laws, for purposes of conducting transactions
as a juridical entity. Such juridical
personality however does not supercede
the more basic reality that CFCFFL
is a Christian community with its
own organization, government and patterns
of life. |
|
|
|
6.0
|
|
Leadership
and Government |
|
|
|
6.1
|
|
There
are many levels of leadership in CFCFFL.
Whatever the level, it is to be a
servant leadership, in the example
of Jesus. |
|
|
|
6.11
|
|
Leaders
are appointed by those over them,
done through prayerful discernment. |
|
|
|
6.12
|
|
Leaders
are chosen on the basis of capability,
pastoral experience and growth in
holiness and discipleship. Leaders
are not chosen merely on the basis
of seniority in CFCFFL membership,
experience or leadership in other
religious organizations, or leadership
in secular organizations. |
|
|
|
6.13
|
|
Leaders
may be removed if it becomes obvious
that they are no longer able to carry
out their responsibilities effectively. |
|
|
|
7.0
|
|
Finances |
|
|
|
7.1 |
|
The work of CFCFFL is generally financed
through the voluntary contributions
of its members. |
|
|
|
7.2
|
|
CFCFFL
members are encouraged to also contribute
generously to the material and financial
needs of their parish. |
|
|
|
8.0
|
|
CFCFFL
as a servant within the Catholic Church |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
CFCFFL
seeks to be a servant to and lay arm
of the Catholic Church in the work
of evangelization, family life renewal
and total Christian liberation. |
|
|
|
8.11
|
|
In
particular, CFCFFL can serve the parishes
in the following ways: |
|
|
|
|
|
-
Pursuance of its basic mission
of re-evangelization and family
life renewal.
-
Promotion of its family ministries
to reach non-couples within the
parish.
- Building
communities among the poor within
the territory of the parish.
-
Offering of special programs/courses
for parishioners, such as the
Marriage Preparation Program or
its program for Natural Family
Planning.
-
Undertaking specific services,
such as sponsorship of a weekly
Mass.
-
Support for parishioners in irregular
unions, according to the teaching
of the Catholic Church.
-
General support of parish life
and activities.
|
|
|
|
8.2
|
|
CFCFFL
will live out its life and mission
in communion with the bishops. |
|
|
|
8.21
|
|
CFCFFL
recognizes, defers to and actively
submits to the authority of the bishop
as shepherd of his particular diocese. |
|
|
|
8.22
|
|
CFCFFL
looks to having a Spiritual Adviser
appointed by the bishop for the CFC
group within his diocese. Such Spiritual
Adviser may be the bishop himself,
or at his option, a priest or religious
appointed by him. |
|
|
|
8.23
|
|
CFCFFL
is to ask the bishops, in their role
as shepherds, to provide spiritual
formation for its members. |
|
|
|
|
|
-
Retreats and recollections for
leaders and members.
-
Instruction on Catholic and theological
doctrines.
-
Updates on the Church stand on
various important issues.
-
Consultation on moral and theological
issues that come up.
|
|
|
|
8.3
|
|
CFCFFL
is committed to the renewal and strengthening
of the Catholic Church. |
|
|
|
| 8.31
|
|
CFCFFL
is committed to rise in defense of
the Catholic Church against the forces
that seek to destroy or weaken it. |
|
|
|
8.32
|
|
CFCFFL
will conform to and support official
and orthodox Church teachings and
stands on issues. |
|
|
|
8.33
|
|
CFCFFL
is committed to the communication
of the Catholic faith in all its integrity
to its Catholic members. |
|
|
|
8.4
|
|
CFCFFL
will be open to and will pursue ecumenical
relationships in accordance with the
posture of the local Church hierarchy.
CFCFFL will also be open to inter-religious
dialogue, again under the guidance
of the Church hierarchy. |
|
|
|
9.0
|
|
Amendments |
|
|
|
9.1
|
|
Amendments
may be adopted upon the affirmative
vote of the members of the CFCFFL
board of trustees. |
|
|
|
*
* * * *
July 30, 2007
|
