Activities

CFC Chiang Mai Outreach Activity in Mae Win, Chiang Mai

On 8 July 2017, the CFC/SFC/HOLD Chiang Mai organized an outreach activity in a Karen village in Mae Wang district with 40 Karen families under the Diocese of Chiang Mai and pastored by Fr. Vinai. The 13-member group traveled 2 hours from Chiang Mai in 3 vehicles through very rough and narrow forest road. The 3rd vehicle was not able to reach the village and got stuck along the road, needing some 10 people to dislodge it and return back to lowland. The group arrived at around 11.00am and met 20-30 children waiting. The SFCs organized fun games and then activities moved to a classroom because of rain. The rain dragged on to damp the place and made the return to Chiangmai difficult. Some village Karen mothers came and observed the activities. The group had lunch together with the some children’s mom. After lunch, they continued the activities in the classroom with games and dance presentation. They distributed goodies for children and gave donated things to the teachers. A used computer was donated and installed in the school. After taking group pictures with the children and villagers, the group started to return back to Chiangmai through another longer route but was immediately got stuck. The villagers came to help pull the vehicles out. With prayers and travel for 2 ½hours, they arrived Chiang Mai at 5:30pm.

CFC Theme Conference "Strong and Faithful", Grand Lord Hotel, Bangkok, 27 May 2017

CFC Thailand was exhorted to mature in the work of evangelization and become powerful witness of God's love by standing firm in the faith, being courageous and strong and acting everything out of love. This was the key message of this year's CFC theme conference held at Grand Lord Hotel in Srinakarin Road (http://www.grandlordhotel.com) on Saturday, 27 May 2017. Over 200 members of CFC Thailand listened and reflected on the five talks of the conference given by a mission team from CFC Manila comprising: Bombee/Beth Tiongson, Jun/Marla Rances, Junel/Cecile Ama, Farley/Ariola, Raymond/Arlene Azul and Norman/Gemma Robles. The conference was well attended by members from all chapters in Bangkok (North Bangkok, Central Bangkok, South and East Bangkok and Nonthaburi). A good number of participants came from communities in Phuket, Krabi and Korat. The event culminated with the Sacrament of the Eucharist celebrated by H.E. Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri, Prelate of Chantaburi Diocese and CBCT chairman for the Apostolate Commission for the Laity, Family and Youth. H.E. Bishop stayed on to join a special dinner hosted by the CFC Council together with the mission team from CFC Manila. The owner of Grand Lord Hotel, an active parishioner of Mary Help of Christian Church, Ms. Panadda Nilkumhaeng, participated in the mass and dinner.

Youth for Christ International Conference 2017

Yet again, another Conference for YFC was conducted in the Philippines. This time, it was held from 7 to 8 April 2017 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The event was joined by more than 7,000-strong YFC members from all over the Philippines and around the world. In addition, the event was a momentous occasion as it was the first time that more than 200 foreign delegates joined the event. It was considered the largest, so far.

Thailand was blessed to have the opportunity to join the said event this year. The YFC Thailand delegation consisted of 8 YFC members from North, Central, and South-East Bangkok chapters - escorted by their 4 couple-coordinators.

The Mariano Marcos Stadium overflowed as the event filled the air with music and praising songs lead by the powerful worship leaders, Music Ministries (graced by the appearance of the LiveLoud band), and from the uplifting and inspiring testimonials from our fellow brothers and sisters from YFC, SFC, HOLD, SOLD, and CFC couples as they share their lives in the service for God.

Day 2 sent the delegations to the different parishes where they immersed in the culture and historic edifices of the city. The visits also gave them the opportunity form house holds and fellowships to they learn more about each other. The 3 day event ended with Palm-Sunday mass lead by the Bishops of Ilocos and a series of talks and closing presentations from the service teams. It is truly a energy and spirit filled event and the Thailand delegations is looking forward to the next YFC ICon that is planned to be held in Manila, Philippines. God Bless and Stand Firm on Solid Ground! (Contributed by Vince Marqueses)

Medical mission for refugees in Ratchaburi

SFC members conducted its second medical mission of the year at the Thailand-Myanmar border in Ratchaburi on Saturday, 20 May 2017, together with Dr. Chat/Mary Anne from the Thai household and Edgar/Moonyeen from the Council. The mission team brought goodies for about 50 children and offered medical services to the sick. Children were also given ice cream whom they cherished with gusto. An SFC singing dou entertained the children with modern and Christian songs and led them to sing along with actions. The team from Bangkok arrived in the village at about 10:30 am and provided medical services until 1:30 pm to over 30 patients. Medicines and vitamins were also given free of charge. CFC has provided financial support to the mission to purchase the goodies and medical supplies. The SFC team has been conducting this mission in the border regularly once every three months for several years. There are over 20 villages occupied by Karen refugees who have benefited from this mission. Father Prasit, a Thai priest from Ratchaburi, has facilitated these missions and provided assistants to the team for translation and logistical support in travelling to the remote villages. He encouraged CFC to do more mission work as long as they are done with sincerity and love. Click to view more photos of the mission.

CFC Ubon Ratchatani 23th Anniversary Celebration

Some 120 Thai members of CFC Ubon Ratchatani gathered at the Fatima Church in Ubon on 13 May 2017 to celebrate 23 years of the local community. The event started with a community worship and a mini-talk from Ajarm Arom followed by the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Bishop Banchong together with 8 local priests. A 6-course Chinese laureat lunch and fellowship was organized in a nearby resort hotel for fund-raising to support CFC-Ubon activities. Six members from CFC Bangkok joined the celebration: Ajarm Arom, Prakan and Prasri Oudomugsorn, Jimmy Lozare, Sim Caluyong and EDante. After the celebration, the group visited the cemetery where late Fr. Bernard Guilleman was laid to rest. Fr. Guilleman, MEP, was the former spiritual director of CFC Ubon for ten years (1995-2004). They also visited the newly built Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Ubon before heading back to the airport to return to Bangkok. Click to view more photos of the celebration.

Mission to Vientiane, 13-14 May

Pats and Carla Gonzales from CFC North Bangkok volunteered to serve in CFC Laos on the 2nd week of their 2-weekend Strategic CLP on 13-14 May 2017. Pats gave CLP Talk No. 9 Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit on 13 May afternoon. Pray-over was done on the same day and the mini-talk on vocal praising was held thereafter. After the Sunday Mass on 14 May, Carla gave Talk No. 10 Growing in the Spirit. Four participants from Cameroon and the Philippines graduated on the same day. They were welcomed to the community after Talks 11 and 12 given by Bro. Manny Panagsagan, CFC Vientiane Country Coordinator. Pats and Carla praise God for the opportunity to be in Vientiane and serve CFC Laos again after many years!

Mission to Laguna, Phuket

Members of CFC Laguna and Phuket Town assembled at the St Joseph Catholic Church in Cherntalay for its monthly general assembly on Sunday, 14 May 2017. The assembly was held following two English masses at St Joseph where CFC members and their families have been serving in the choir. The assembly began with an exhortation from Ariel Campos and followed with a community worship. Edgar from CFC Bangkok gave a talk on "How to get closer to God?" The talk emphasized that God wants intimacy with us and that our desire to seek and know God is a response to God's love. After the talk, some members gave a very inspiring sharing about the difficulties and challenges in living a Christian life and the call to be united with God.

CLP in Vientiane (Lao)

CFC Vientiane launched the first weekend of two-weekend CLP programme on 6-7 May 2017 at the city's Catholic church compound. Both participants and members of the community listened to six CLP talks and testimonies. Edgar and Moonyeen joined the local service team to give the orientation, Who is Jesus Christ, Repentance and Faith and Loving thy neighbor talks. They traveled to Vientiane via Udon Thani and crossed the border by bus.

Thai Mission to Huahin

A Thai Team from CFC Bangkok composed of Ambassador Precha and Kung, Prakan and Praisri, Jimmy, Gail and Roel (SOLD-CB) met with members of CFC Hua hin community on 29-30 April. They also met with parish priest Fr. Dheparat who was scheduled to move to the Salesian Mission House on Krungthep Kreeta to take up his new position as Chapter Provincial (country head) of Salesians in Thailand. Fourteen CFC members and participants in previous activities plus four guests from the parish Legion of Mary group, attended the Thai General Assembly.

Priest Reassignments

Fr. John Tamayo, SDB, national spiritual director of CFC-Thailand, has been assigned to be new parish priest for St. Theresa Church in Hua Hin starting in May 2017, from being assistant pastor of St. Joseph Church in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi.

He takes over from Fr. Dheparat Pitisant, SDB, who becomes Provincial Head of Salesians Thailand. Fr. Dheparat moves to the Salesian Mission House behind MHoC church in Krungthep Kreeta, off Srinakarind Road. It is expected that Fr. Tamayo will moved to Hua Hin next week on May 5th.

Similarly, the OMI congregation has designated Fr. Doroteo Reyes, OMI, to be the new parish priest for the St. Michael the Archangel parish church in Saphan Mai (Paholyothin Soi 69/4, opposite Big C) in the Archdiocese of Bangkok starting in May next month. He replaces Fr. Dominico, OMI, who becomes the parish priest of the Holy Family parish church in Baan Man Khao, Amphur Dan Chai, in the cool north mountainous region of Loei province,
diocese of Chiangmai.

Mission to Vientiane

Twelve members (2 couples, 8 SFCs) participated in the CLP Training held at the Sacred Heart Church in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 8 April 2017. The mission team from CFC Thailand were composed of Bro. Mac and Sis Gigi Velayo, CFC GMA Missions Coordinator and Sis. Marlou Badiola, SFC Unit Head (SFC NBKK). The activity was held from 12 noon and concluded by 6pm. A simple fellowship dinner was held at the residence of Sis. Nova Ramos where the mission team got a taste of excellent CFC Laos hospitality. The CLP is planned to be conducted in two weekends on 6-7 and 13-14 May 2017 respectively. The Community in Laos is counting on the support from CFC Thailand through a team of speakers and sharers for the CLP.

CFC Nonthaburi Chapter - Financial stewardship

Edgar, with support from Moonyeen, gave a talk on “Financial Stewardship” to the CFC-Nonthaburi Chapter during its regular weekly meeting on 2 April 2017 at the Our Lady of Mercy Church campus. Members of the chapter expressed their commitment to support the evangelization work of CFC-Thailand through their regular tithe contribution. Father Daniel participated in the meeting and provided further teaching on the subject matter.

SFC All Out for Christ 2017

Marlou Badiola, SFC Bangkok, represented Thailand to the SFC International Conference held at the Western Visayas State University, Iloilo, the Philippines from 17 to 19 February 2017. More than 5,000 SFCs from the Philippines and 23 countries participated in the annual gathering of SFCs. Workshops were held from 8-4pm on Saturday, 18 February 2017 in 5 different locations around Iloilo City. The anchor verse for the conference was taken from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.”

The conference called SFCs to be vigilant and watchful for anything, both from within and from outside, that could threaten their relationship with Jesus from flourishing. It reminded the delegates to deepen their “appreciation” (knowledge and understanding) of being Catholic and to exercise faithfulness in the ordinary, and emphasized the importance of having the light of Christ’s love in our life to illuminate the shadows still present in our lives.

The conference concluded by encouraging and challenging the SFCs to respond to the call for purity which is much more than moral behavior. Purity is first and foremost a matter of the heart. To be pure is to be single-minded for the Lord. Every SFC is called to holiness and this calling involves honoring what is true, good and beautiful.

Annual CFC Thailand leaders retreat and planning workshop

Over 60 leaders of CFC Thailand gathered on 3-4 December 2016 at the Camillian Pastoral Care Center, Lat Krabang, Bangkok for their spiritual retreat and planning workshop. The annual event revitalized and united in mind and spirit the leaders to grow in their love and service for God. They went through a process of listening to the challenges and concerns of the members and discerning God's will for the community. Father Daniel Mazza, PIME led the group into a reflection of the challenges of family and community life and the teaching of the church based on Pope Francis exhortation's the Joy of Love in the Family. Members were urged to always start with love and live with love as the guide for all actions and service. The retreat discerned that the focus for the coming year is to further strengthen the spiritual formation of its members through formation programmes, upcountry and foreign mission work and charitable activities. The meeting was blessed by the presence of Bro. Bombee and Beth Tiongson, Country Coordinator for Thailand and leaders from Phuket and Krabi.

Together with JESUS, Together we CAN!

We give thanks and glory to the Lord for continuously blessing the KFC Ministry and for the successful Global Day of service on 2 October 2016. KFC Thailand was able to witness God’s love and generosity when KFC kids and their families joined hand in hand in serving the children at the orphanage in “Our Lady of Mercy - Home for Hope” in Pakkret Nonthaburi. The KFC kids interacted, played games, did art works with the children. KFC kids made the children happy when they performed, sang and danced for them. The KFC kids served food, ate ice cream and mingled with them the whole day. After the program, KFC Thailand also visited the Angel of Hope where they visited the children who are cerebral palsy. KFC Thailand donated some goods and money. Truly, God is so good to us for He gave us time and opportunity to give back all His greatness to our little brothers and sisters in ‘Home for Hope’ and ‘Angel of Hope.’

CFC Thailand country coordinator visits Chiangmai

Bombee Tiongson, Manila-based CFC Thailand Country Coordinator, with his wife Beth, visited the CFC community in Chiang Mai on 11 September 2016. It was their first pastoral visit to the area. Bombee gave a talk on “Taming the Tongue”. They also attended the CFC Thailand Council Fraternal household meeting the following day after a 9-hr bus trip back to Bangkok. Their next pastoral visit is scheduled for 3-4 December 2016 to participate in the CFC Thailand Leaders' Retreat and Planning Workshop.