Mission to TharaeA Bangkok Thai team comprising Ajarm Arom/Supatra, Ambassador Preecha/Kung, Jimmy Lozare and Jojoy Mission travelled over 24 hours by van during the weekend of 18-19 May 2019 to join a general assembly in Tharae. Some 71 members from 7 parishes attended. Rev Father Surasak Pongpis, Spiritual Director for the CFC community in Tharae also came and supported the group. Jojoy who is well loved by Thai members because of his music and guitar led a lively worship in Thai. Members were very happy and refreshed with the presence of the Bangkok team. This was the second mission from Bangkok to Tharae this year and was part of the efforts to prepare the Thai community to celebrate CFC 30th anniversary to be held in Songkon in October 2019.
Mission to TharaeAjarn Arom returned to CFC Thai mission work with his first visit to Tharae on 16-17 February 2019 after three years of rest due to illness. He was joined by Ambassador Precha and Kung, Arom's wife Supatra, Edgar and Maverick (SFC). The group traveled by car from Bangkok to Tharae lasting 12 hours each way. The mission aimed to encourage the participation of Thai members at the 30th anniversary of CFC Thailand in October 2019 and secure the support from priests and leaders of CFC in the area. The group called on the new parish priest of Tharae, Father Surasak, who expressed his strong support to CFC and familiarity with the group since the time of late Bishop Kai. Father Surasak agreed to attend the 30th anniversary of CFC Thailand tentatively scheduled for 26-27 October 2019 and planned to be held at the Our Lady of the Martyrs of Thailand Shrine in Songkhon, Mukdahan Province, Thailand. Following the call, Father Surasak attended the household prayer meeting held at the residence of Khun Napasat. About 25 CFC Thai members were present. The mission group also spent time to comfort and encourage Khun Napasat, the area leader in Tharae, who has been bedridden since December 2018 due to a stroke. At the end of mission, they had a breakfast meeting with new couple leaders, Khun Tik and Toey, about future activities of the community and the plan to help the Thai members in the area to be able to conduct CLPs.
Area Governance Team in Ubon Ratchanthani DioceseTwenty-one CFC leaders from various parts of the Ubon Ratchathani Diocese met at the St.. Theresa Gardens Retreat Center on 25 February 2016, led by Diocese Head Samnieng Thanara of CFC-Zong Ye (Yasothon province), for their first Leaders' Assembly of the year 2016. A new Area Governance Team (AGT) to replace to existing Mission Area Council was elected by open vote with Samnieng remaining as the Diocese Head.
Selected by unanimous open vote were the following -- [1] Samnieng / Khamnai Thanara (CFC-Zong Ye, Yasothon) [2] Prathueng / Utama Nongsawad (CFC-Chanuman, Amnaj Charoen) [4] Yod (Iead) / Nukal Thongngam (CFC-Ban Lao [Nongkhu Noi], Yasothon) [5] Bootsri / Khamyat Chinmuang (CFC-Nongkham, Sri Saket) [6] Rawee / Bang-or Art-asa (CFC-Buata, Ubon) [7] Thonguan / Tawee Deemuangsai (CFC-Nongkham, Sri Saket) [8] Boonluea Srirayos (SOLD-Sritham, Sri Saket) [9] Sanga Thonguan (HOLD-Ubon) Treasurer French missionary Fr. Robert Coste, MEP, prayed over them before he blessed the whole Leaders Assembly prior to our departure. The assembly opened with a Mass in the morning celebrated by Fr. Coste and followed by an exhortation on the Year of Mercy. After lunch, there was a presentation on the CFC Thai Mission with emphasis on Ubon Diocese and how to remain united and working together in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. 
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CFC Manila leaders visit Ubon RatchathaniFollowing the CFC Thailand Theme Conference, CFC Manila leaders James/Petty Dio and Raffy/Amie Ballesteros accompanied by Jimmy Lozare visited a CFC community at St Anne Parish, Bua Ta Vill, Ubon Rachatani Province on 10 June 2019. Raffy shared a talk on growing in faith translated in Thai for the Thai members. The team paid a courtesy call to H.E. Bishop Philip Banchong Chaiyara before heading to the airport for an hour flight back to Bangkok.
Mission to Ubon RatchathaniOn 23 March 2019, a team from Bangkok comprising Ajarn Arom/Supatra, Ambassador Preecha/Kung and Edgar/Izel met with 17 CFC leaders from 5 parishes of Ubon Ratchathani, northeast of Thailand to discuss activities for 2019 and the preparations for the 30th CFC anniversary celebration. CFC is present in 14 out of 55 parishes in the Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani with over 509 active Thai members (332 CFC, 144 HOLD and 33 SOLD). From the meeting, it was decided to conduct a CLP training on 4 May and invite the newly appointed spiritual director Father Pichet Wong-anand to attend the CFC activities in Manila in June 2019. Ubon leaders requested that missions be conducted to each parish to support current members and invite them to the 30th CFC anniversary celebration. They expressed their difficulties in inviting new members to the community and wanted support to make their CLPs more attractive and lighter for Thai people. The Bangkok team paid a courtesy call to H.E. Bishop Philip Banchong Chaiyara and invited him to attend the anniversary celebration in October. He expressed his support to CFC and acknowledged CFC's active work in the diocese through the leadership of area head Brod. Samnieng Thannara. He welcomed the idea of reviving the Youth camps for Thai students that were active in the past.
Pastoral visit to TharaeOn 11 June 2018, Jimmy Lozare, Fulltime Pastoral Worker, brought the new couple Country Coordinator for CFC Thailand Raffy and Aimee Ballesteros to visit a CFC community in the village of Chanpen in the Northeast of Thailand under Archdiocese of Thaare Nongsaeng. Chanphen was one of the first villages in the Archdiocese to have CFC 21 years ago led by Acharn Arom, Bro. Prakal and the late Boni Manikham from CFC-Bangkok Thai.
About 30 members, mostly Handmaids, were joined by members from CFC-Tharae and CFC-Nong Bua Thong for a total of 43 members participating in the Genera Assembly. After a brief Praise and Worship Bro. Raffy presented a Teaching on “Growing in the Faith” with Sis. Aimee sharing the “Before and After” experiences of community life in CFC. FTPW Jimmy had introduced them before the Session and the people were very happy that leaders from as far as Manila, not only from Bangkok, are interested and concerned about their community life. A lot of sharing from the villagers followed. The pastoral visit edified the participants in a Spirit-filled day and the people expressed their gratitude for the event. There was a brief discussion with the leaders and members to celebrate the 21st anniversary of CFC in the archdiocese sometime in September, to coincide with a CLP “Baptism in the Spirit” from CFC-Ubon Ratchathani as a combined weekend celebration. The GA ended with lunch and fellowship. CFC Thailand participates in the June 2018 CFC anniversary events in ManilaFr. Michael Tidkham, Chiangmai Diocese priest in-charge of the Family Apostolate, attended the Family Ministries Congress and Workshop held at the SMX Hall of the Mall of Asia Complex 22 June 2018, with Raffy Ballesteros, member of the CFC Elders Assembly and new country coordinator for Thailand; Manny Panagsagan, new Central A Sector Head and country coordinator for Laos, and FTPW Jimmy Lozare.
The team from Bangkok also visited CFC top leaders from the Global Mission Center, including Jimmy and Lorna Ylagan of the Elders Assembly; Rouquel and Nina Ponte; International Council elders and in-charge of the Pastoral Formation Office (PFO) and the CFC Family Institute; Nolet Ladrido, STMA head and country coordinator for Europe; Fr. Michael Tidkham and FTPW Jimmy Lozare; and new couple country coordinator for Thaialnd Amie and Raffy Ballesteros; at the Mission Core Gathering (MCG) of the combined Central A, B and C Sectors, held at the St. Francis School in Santa Ana, Paco, Manila on 1 July 2018. 28 years with CFC Thailand
Edgar and Moonyeen joined the Thai household prayer meeting held at the Mary Help of Christians Church in Srinakarin road on Sunday, 5 February 2017. Four founding members of CFC Thailand were present in the meeting: Prakan/Praisri, Eddie/Emily, Jimmy/Naty and Boy/Delia Contreras. It was a wonderful get together with members of who have been active in the community for at most 28 years and have remained faithful to the household prayer meetings. Also present was Ajarm Arom, who led many upcountry missions in the past, but had been out of the community activities lately due to illness. He said he is recovering well and hope to join missions to Surat Thai on 8-9 April and the 23th Anniversary celebration in Ubon on 29 April. Dr Chat/Mary Anne also joined the household as regular members.
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