CFC Theme for 2012:

“Proclaim the Greatness of the Lord”
– A Call to Mission –

When I was requested at the last minute to give the key reflection for full-time pastoral workers, SFC-Bangkok leaders, and Family Ministry couple coordinators preparing for the 2^nd SFC Global Leaders Summit in Bangkok last October 2011, two questions came to my mind – how do we read the Signs of the Times with the various upheavals in the world and what is the Holy Spirit saying to the Church on this specific moment of human history in our little corner of the world?

Because I was given no particular topic to share on, I used the recent death of Steve Jobs and his Apple inventions as an example for their impact on how society has been manipulated by modern gadgets on the way we connect, consume, communicate, and relate to one another.

The CFC Theme of the Year for 2012 is taken from the Canticle of Mary (the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55) – “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46).

It is no coincidence that our Theme of the Year is in accordance with the Church. Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed 2012 as the “Year of Faith.” This indicates how the Holy Spirit has inspired our new CFC International Council elders in Manila, in unison with the universal Church, for indeed proclaiming the greatness of our Lord is the true expression of our faith.

But several recent events in both the universal Church and local Thai church should excite and inspire us the more, recalling that we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Vatican Council II in October this year.

As we have learned and experienced over the years the Vatican Council II has taught us to be a Pilgrim Church, a participatory Church where everyone (including the laity) must have an active role, the home (or family) as a domestic Church, the Church of the Poor (a preference for the poor according to the Social Doctrines), and as a Missionary (or ever evangelizing) Church.

Also recently, Pope Benedict XVI has convoked the 13^th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held on October 7^th-28^th, 2012 in Rome on the Theme “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” as announced by the Pope on 24^th October 2010 at the end of the Special Assembly of Middle East Bishops at the Vatican.

We have heard of this “New Evangelization” since Pope Paul VI, which was also often emphasized by Pope John Paul II in several speeches and writings.

In this regard, I have attached two important Vatican documents for your reference. I recommend for all to read both and reflect on their significance and implication to our calling as children of God.

You may recall that I have circulated several reports on the Thai Unit of CFC-Bangkok in supporting the evangelization thrust of the Archdiocese of Bangkok, specifically Sector 2 to which Mary Help of Christians, St. John, and Mary Mother of God churches (three parishes where CFC is very active in) belong together with nine other parishes and two chaplaincies, to assist in creating their local BECs – Basic Ecclesial Communities in the past two years.

Our national spiritual director, Fr. John Tamayo, SDB, and the Thai parish priests in Sector 2 have been greatly instrumental in making this successful for the Archdiocese and our community.

This was done at a great sacrifice to CFC because it meant that we couldn’t hold Thai CLPs during that period as the modified Thai CLP was conducted for the Sector 2 parishes to help create and animate BEC leaders at the parish/village level. But it is a service to the local churches and so we at CFC-Thailand are happy to be a part of it.

Because of this CFC-Bangkok Thai Unit has become a key facilitator in the implementation of the 2010-2015 Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese of Bangkok (full text of the Document also attached), especially on family spiritual renewal.

Sector 2 has announced 2012 as the “Year of the Family” in order to strengthen the foundation of local BECs, the family being the basic unit of society, by 2013.

Going back to the Synod on the Theme “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” mentioned above you may note that the enclosed Vatican documents have indicated six key areas of our involvement in this “New Evangelization,” namely - the secularized world, migrants, the means of social communications, economic sector, scientific and technological research, and the political sector.

These are particular areas where the laity lives and works in, more so than the clergy. Our calling then is both unique and specific.

The Vatican documents also emphasize the need for us to be able to engage in ecumenical dialogue with members of other Churches and ecclesial communities as well as inter-religious dialogue with other non-Christian faiths, especially Oriental religions.

Again we find CFC in the forefront on this if you recall the three GMA Conferences in 2002 and 2006 in Bangkok and in 2004 in Phnom Penh, calling on CFC in the five Greater Mekong Area countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to the three key areas mentioned for evangelization - “dialogue with the poor,” “dialogue with other cultures,” and “dialogue with other religions.”

A Southeast Asian Marian Conference on the “Star of Evangelization” was hosted by CFC-Jakarta in December 2009 in continuation of the above mission outreach thrusts.

Dear brothers and sisters, the CFC Mission remains the same and the evangelization message is the same. The challenge to us is are we now ready to step up in faith and leave our previous comfort zones for “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith?”

It is very clear as to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. It is also very clear that CFC has been divinely inspired to move in the same direction. The Holy Spirit has now spoken through the Church - are we open to His call?

Below is an overview of the breadth and depth of our mission areas. Please pray over each mission area and discern if you are called in any specific field or activity.

Thai Mission Areas –

1. Support and help strengthen Sector 2 of the Bangkok Archdiocese on family renewal at the parish/village level;
2. Support and help strengthen the CFC-Thai groups in the Tharae-Nongsaeng Archdiocese, especially leaders formation;
3. Support and help strengthen the CFC-Thai groups in the Ubon Ratchathani Diocese, especially leaders formation;
4. Support and help strengthen the CFC-Chiangmai (English) group; assist in reviving the CFC-Chiangmai (Thai) group;
5. Support and help strengthen the CFC-Surat Thani (Thai-Surat Thani, Phanom and Phuket) groups, especially leaders formation;

• assist in opening up Nakhon Sri Thammarat (English, 2012);

1. Support and assist the CFC-Phuket (English) groups;
2. Assist in reviving former CFC groups (Thai and English) in the Chantaburi Diocese;
3. Assist in reviving the CFC-Udon Thani (Thai) group;
4. Open up the Ratchaburi Diocese this year;

10. Open up the Nakhon Ratchasima Diocese possibly this year; and,

11. Assist in planning to open up the Nakhon Sawan Diocese next year

(2013).

Social Ministry outreach projects –

1. (a) Prison Visits – in conjunction with Mary Help of Christians parish (pastoral council, Legion of Mary, Divine Mercy, Lectio Divina, etc.);

• in conjunction with the Philippines Embassy (Bangkok);

(b) School bags for 107 poor primary school children (May 2012) in Ratchaburi Diocese;

1. Medical Mission – Ratchaburi (target village to be identified)

In all of the above mission areas, Thai language is important but not required. Please note that Chiangmai and Phuket have English groups.

GMA Mission Areas (from the difficult to the easier)–

1. CFC-Myanmar (Yangon, Mandalay, other northern states); entry visa required, please allow 3 days to process;
2. CFC-Laos (Vientiane, Pakse, Thakek [for 2012];
3. CFC-Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, other areas); and,
4. CFC-Cambodia (Phnom Penh, other provinces).

Although the Manila Home Office and CFC-Singapore have been able to restart the CFC English group in Vientiane, Thai language capability will be required for the existing local groups in Vientiane and Pakse (now supported by Bangkok-Thai and CFC-Ubon), and to open up Thakek (Central Laos) this year to be supported by CFC-Tharae.

Special mention and great thanks should be attributed to CFC-Singapore which has helped animate CFC groups in Phuket and Chiangmai as well as Mandalay in Myanmar besides Vientiane in Laos.

SFC leaders and full-time pastoral workers also went around on mission for a week to the GMA countries after the SFC Global Leaders Summit last October.

As you could see in the above the Mission field is wide and far, you could pray and discern in which area you could best serve. Please inform your Household Head if you sense the leading of the Spirit.

Thank you for your kind attention.

God bless to all,

Jimmy Lozare