CFC-FFL
The International CFC-FFL
Federation
CFC-FFL
is a federation of CFC communities in different
countries throughout the world.
What
makes CFC in a country part of the CFC-FFL
federation?
1) Same Vision & Mission, Covenant and
Core Values.1
2) Same basic formation, basic pastoral
structures of support (households), and
basic pattern of life.
3) Acceptance of Manila as spiritual center.
4) Formal accreditation by the Servant General
(SG).
Within
this federation, there are fully integrated
communities and there are affiliated communities.2
What is the difference?
Characteristics
of a fully integrated community:
1) An integral or constituent part of the
one CFC-FFL community.
2) Adoption in toto of the statements
of vision and mission, the covenant, and
the core values.
3) Pastoral-organizational-governance structures
are the same as Manila.
4) All seniors are chosen and approved according
to the governmental processes as determined
by Manila.
5) Their work in their country is overseen
by a Country Coordinator appointed by Manila,
who has direct authority, delegated by the
SG, over the seniors in the country.3
Characteristics
of an affiliated community:4
1) A part of the CFC-FFL international family
but autonomous to a certain degree.5
6
2) Adoption in principle and in substance
of the statements of vision and mission,
the covenant, and the core values, but may
be stated in different ways.
3) Pastoral-organizational-governmental
structures may take on different forms,
subject to the approval of the SG.
4) Most seniors are chosen and approved
by the country leadership. The overall Country
Head however, and possibly other seniors,
would be chosen by or subject to the confirmation
of the SG.7
5) Their work in their country is overseen
by a Country Coordinator appointed by Manila,
who acts as liaison between Manila and the
country.
6) The community may take on a different
name, that is, not “CFC-FFL.”
Characteristics
similar for both types of community:
1) All Family Ministries (kids, youth, singles,
handmaids, servants) are established.8
2) Social Ministries are established or
implemented selectively according to need
and capabilities.9
3) Particular programs and pastoral thrusts
are adapted to local needs and situations.
4) Finances are utilized for their own work
within their country and also for their
missions.10
5) Submission to the local Church hierarchy.
6) Subject to regular visitation, evaluation
and audit as directed by the SG.
International
Core of Seniors (ICS)
In order to further the international mission
of CFC-FFL and strengthen the fraternal
bonds among its top leaders, a body called
the International Core of Seniors (ICS)
has been established.
What
is the basic rationale for the ICS?
1) This reflects the universality of CFC-FFL.11
2) This enables the CFC in the different
countries, especially top non-Filipino seniors,
to participate actively in the life and
direction of CFC-FFL.12
3) This reflects the co-responsibility of
top seniors of the different countries in
promoting and preserving the authentic charism
of CFC-FFL.
4) This provides an important component
in the interconnection among the autonomous
CFCs in the different countries that are
in the CFC-FFL federation.
1) Top seniors in the different countries
who are not Filipino in origin.13
Normally not more than one senior per country.14
Not all countries have to be represented
in the ICS.15
2) Regional Coordinators (irrespective of
race or nationality).
3) Members of the Body of Counselors in
Manila.
4) The SG.
5) Anyone else that the SG in his discretion
will appoint.
Qualification
of the ICS member from the different countries
(aside from the RCs):
1) The highest non-Filipino senior of the
community.16
2) Strongly committed to the vision and
mission of CFC-FFL.
3) Recommended by the Country Coordinator.
4) Appointed by the SG.
1) Help promote the CFC-FFL evangelization
and mission throughout the world.18
2) Give inputs, whether as ICS or as individual
members of ICS, at anytime to the SG on
the life and mission of CFC-FFL.
3) Give inputs on matters brought by the
SG to the ICS.
4) Review and make recommendations regarding
the life and mission of CFC-FFL during the
regular ICS meetings.
5) Freely interact and give inputs to each
other through e-communications in the furtherance
of the CFC-FFL mission.
1) The whole ICS meets once every three
years.19
2) Regional ICS meetings (for ICS members
within a region) may be held every year,
generally coinciding with and at the venue
of the regional annual Conference.20
3) E-meetings may be held regularly.
4) Other meetings can be called as needed
by either the SG or by a third of the ICS.
Meeting
of Country Heads
Country Heads meet in Manila once every
five years on the anniversaries of CFC-FFL
that are multiples of five.21
1The
formulation may be different, as long as
the essence is still the same or adequately
similar. It is up to the Servant General
to accept any non-verbatim formulation.
2The choice is made by the community
and its own leaders.
3There will still be regional
coordinators (RCs) overseeing a group of
countries.
4There can be affiliated communities
in places in the Philippines or in places
in other countries where the CFC-FFL community
on a national level or a diocesan level
is fully integrated. There can be a number
of affiliated communities in a particular
area or country.
5"Autonomous to a certain
degree" means basic self-governance,
but not total self-governance, since there
is still the authority of the SG and involvement
of seniors from outside the country.
6If the community has or will
have statutes, these are subject to the
approval of the SG and the local Church
hierarchy.
7The specific list of seniors
to be appointed or confirmed by the SG is
subject to the agreement between the SG
and the group applying to become an affiliated
community.
8Not necessarily all at once,
but is the intent.
9Being part of CFC-FFL necessitates
involvement in the social dimension. However,
such involvement can vary widely from country
to country.
10Their own work within their
country includes providing for the pastoral
visits of Country Coordinators and other
seniors from outside the country as needed.
Further, this does not prevent a country
or area to help in our international work
by sending funds to Manila, since work in
the global center also affects positively
the work within their own country.
11The Catholic Church, of which
CFC-FFL is a part, is universal. While dioceses
are autonomous, the spiritual center is
in Rome. This is the place of Manila within
the international federation.
12Members of the ICS are not
necessarily the top leaders in their respective
countries, and thus are not to usurp the
functions proper to top leaders who are
not ICS members (for example, a Filipino
Country Head).
13This reflects the reality that
CFC-FFL is not a Filipino movement but a
movement within and for the universal Church.
14Both fully integrated and affiliated
communities are included, if they have a
qualified senior.
15While all countries are important,
they do not have to be directly represented
in the ICS. For pastoral purposes, their
representation is through the Regional Coordinators.
16A senior is one who is a Chapter
Head or higher in pastoral service.
17The ICS is not a governance
body and is not involved, as a body, in
the day-to-day affairs of CFC-FFL.
19Basic responsibility for evangelization
and mission lies with the territorial seniors.
19The basic objectives of this
meeting are: (1) to evaluate the life and
mission of CFC-FFL; (2) help define the
directions and strategies for the next 3
years; and (3) to strengthen fraternal bonds
among the concerned seniors. These meetings
start on 2009 and every 3 years thereafter.
These meetings will normally be in June
in Manila.
20Large countries can be akin
to regions, and may in fact have regional
CFC-FFL groupings within the country. Examples
would be the USA and Canada. These may have
their own country conference.
21These meetings start on 2011
and every 5 years thereafter.
Approved
by SG. June 16, 2008
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