YFL primer

CFC YOUTH FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

CFC YFL

COUPLES FOR CHRIST

FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

I. Background

The year 2007 was a significant year for Couples for Christ (CFC). Celebrating its 26th year, receiving numerous recognitions and expanding its mission globally, CFC suddenly found itself in crisis. But eventually, this crisis turned out to be a wake up call from God - a calling for CFC to go back to God’s original intent for it. Thus, CFC Foundation for Family and Life (CFC FFL) and its family ministries were formed.

II. Mission and Vision

VisionWe are an evangelistic and missionary community committed to become families empowered by the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth.

MissionWe strive for holiness of life, as we commit to renew the temporal order through our work with the poor, our work for justice, and our work for life.

We are a servant of the Church, working to renew her children through every generation and throughout the world, until the Lord returns once again.

III. Core Values

Our Core Values describe who we are and what we are called to do in the world. They provide parameters and constant guideposts in our moving on in our life and mission.

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1. Centered on Christ. In everything that we are and do, we look to Jesus, who is our Savior and Lord. Jesus is our model in our obedience to the Father, in our faithfulness to His call, and to total submission to His divine will. And as He who called us is holy, we ourselves will strive for holiness of life (1 Pt 1:15-16), and look to exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in our day-to-day lives (Gal 5:22-23). 2. Evangelistic and missionary. We are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus to the whole world (Mk 16:15). We are his witnesses (Luke 24:48). Every CFC-FFL member is an evangelizer, in the normal day-to-day environments of our lives. We look to doing mission beyond our own environments to the very ends of the earth. 3. Focused on the family. Our life and mission is founded on strong families in Christ. We recognize that the future of humanity passes by way of the family. We defend and strengthen Christian marriage, we raise our children to be the next generation of God’s people, we establish our homes as pieces of Kingdom ground. In our defense of the family, we are called to a strong advocacy and defense of the culture of life.

4. Being community. We are part of the larger family of CFC-FFL, a global family of many different nationalities and cultures but all sharing brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. We desire to move forward together in our life in the Lord, providing love, affirmation, friendship, support and healing. We are committed to the good of our brethren, always living the truth in love (Eph 4:15).

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5. Living a preferential option for the poor. We recognize Jesus’ mission to bring glad tidings to the poor (Luke 4:18). We look to both the spiritual and material upliftment of the least among our brethren. In doing so, we will be in solidarity with the poor by striving to live a simple lifestyle, to share our resources, and to fight for social justice in the world. 6. Exercising servant leadership. We are privileged to serve God and His people, both in and out of CFC-FFL. We serve with the mind and heart of Jesus, who came to serve and not to be served (Mt 20:28). Leaders are to serve with humility, self-sacrifice and submission to the Chief Shepherd, to whom we will render an account (Hb 13:17). He who wishes to be great shall be the least of all (Mt 20:26-27).

7. Being a servant to the Church. We in CFC-FFL are an integral part of the Catholic Church. We are submitted to our bishops and to the pope. Our life, formation and service will conform to Catholic values and ideals. We make ourselves available to be of service in the parishes and dioceses, especially in the areas of family and life. We look to Mary, the mother of the Church, as our inspiration and help.

COUPLES FOR CHRIST

YOUTH FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

CFC Youth for Family and Life (CFC YFL) is part of the Youth Ministry of CFC FFL. It caters to youth ages 13-21.

I. Our Purpose

People need a drive in doing things; it is their fuel for enduring hardship and being excellent in what they do. It

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is the same with any catholic ministry; they should have a reason why they exist, a purpose why they were created. For CFC YFL, we got these purposes from two the “greats” in the bible:

Great Commandment: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37- 40).

Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19- 20).

Extracting the important verses from these two “Greats”, we came up with the 5 purposes of CFC YFL.

Bible Verse Purpose“Love the Lord your God, with all your heart”

Worship

“Baptizing them” Fellowship“Teaching them to obey” Discipleship“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Ministry

“Go and make disciples” Evangelism

For easier recall, we substituted the purposes for these following words:

1. H onor for the purpose of Worship2. E mpower for the purpose of Discipleship

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3. A ct for the purpose of Ministry4. R elate for the purpose of Fellowship5. T estify for the purpose of Evangelism

In short, the five purposes of CFC YFL are: Honor, Empower, Act, Relate and Testify or HEART.

OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT:

“CFC YFL exists to provide an environment for the youth to HONOR God through a life of holiness, to EMPOWER

them to ACT in humble service, to encourage them to RELATE in joy with their family, community and the

Church and to TESTIFY God’s love.“

II. Where our Purpose and Core Values Meet

As a community, we follow after our elders in Couples for Christ. We have no difference in our mission and vision. Thus, we inherit their core values as well. As our purposes guide us what we do, our core values tell us who we are. Therefore, in CFC YFL, we aim to make everything we do mold us to the person God wants us to be. Thus: Purpose (HEART) brings out our Core Values.

1. Honor Purpose teaches us to be Centered on Christ.

2. Empower Purpose makes us Exercise servant leadership.

3. Act Purpose makes us live our Preferential option for the poor.

4. Relate Purpose strengthen our Focus on the family, our Being a community and Being a servant of the Church.

5. Testify Purpose emphasizes our calling to be Evangelistic and missionary.

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III. Our Covenant

Trusting in the Lord’s help and guidance:

1. I shall live as a follower of Christ. Pray and read the Bible daily. Strive for holiness and Christian perfection.

2. I dedicate myself to the task of building a strong family for Christ. Invest myself in time and effort for home

and family. Live out and defend the culture of life.

3. I shall be a committed and active member of Couples for Christ. Faithfully attend meetings and participate

in official activities. Give generously of my time and finances

for the furtherance of our mission. Undergo all formation courses and

participate in community events. Relate in love, loyalty and respect with all

members of the CFC family.

4. I shall be a witness to the world of God’s love. Actively evangelize and do mission. Love and serve my parish. Love and care for the poor.

IV. Our Target Audience

The youth is our target audience for our ministry. In YFL, we identified every youth to a specific stage which will classify one’s growth level in community life.

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1 CrowdDefinition: These are the youth who are not a member of any Catholic charismatic group specially those who we don’t have relationship and contact.

Purpose: Testify

Goals:

1. To give them activities that will make them experience Christ.

2. To make them feel accepted in the company of YFL.

3. To bring them to community.

Activities and PFO Menu:

1. Massive Evangelization Summer leagues and sports clinics Campus tour Retreats, recollection and team building

2. Pocket Evangelization Basketball Pizza night out Movie marathon

3. Youth mass4. Website and Multiply sites

2 CongregationDefinition: These are the youth who have we have contact with through our crowd activities. They have experienced Christ in our activities.

Purpose: Honor

Goal:

1. To sustain the relationship we built with them through interest based activities.

2. To invite them to the Youth Camp and into YFL that will support their desire of having a personal relationship with God.


1. Pre Camp activities: Sports Music Outdoor Recreation and Hobbies

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2. Youth Camp

3 CommunityDefinition: These are the youth who have already undergone the Youth Camp. Their span of being in the community stage is ideally for one year onwards from the end of the entry point. They are committed to their household; they have a relationship with Christ and other Christians.

Purpose: Honor, Empower, Act, Relate, Testify

Goal:

1. To give formation designed after our vision, mission, core values and purpose in the ministry to our members.

2. To allow each member to find their place in the community and further discover the purpose they have in life


1. Covenant Orientation2. Honoring God weekend3. Purpose Driven Activity 4. Family Encounter Recollection5. Empower Recollection 6. Understanding the Church Activity7. Relating with Friends Activity 8. Friendship Evangelism Challenge

4 CommittedDefinition: These are the household heads, unit heads and officers (for the programs) of the community. They are in the first and second level of leadership and they play a very crucial role of being instruments of the formation of the youth. They are committed to spiritual habits and are growing in Christ.


Goal:

1. To train them to pastor those who just entered the community

2. To integrate them to a certain ministry of their choice to be able to share their time, talents and treasure for God.

Activities and 1. Household Leaders Training

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PFO Menu: 2. Skills Workshop

5 CoreDefinition: These are the chapter heads (and up) of the community. They are at the forefront of the mission by implementing the CFC YFL programs and culture in their own chapters. They are committed to doing ministry.


Goal:

1. To raise the future leaders of the community

2. To form holistic leaders that won’t only excel in their service but in all aspects of their life.


1. Pastoral and Skills Training2. Missions3. Leaders Assemblies

V. Our Culture

Our culture is our way of doing things in the ministry. Youth attending our activities, member or non-member will see these as the FACE of CFC YFL.

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1. FunIt is a characteristic of the youth to seek activities that are pleasurable and amusing. We in CFC YFL provide just that kind of environment in the spirit of Catholic enjoyment. We desire to fulfill the need of the youth for merriment through activities that promote not only spiritual but social growth as well.

2. Acceptance A determinant to one’s active participation in a community is the feeling of being welcomed. In CFC YFL, we strive to create an atmosphere of belongingness wherein everyone is given warm reception regardless of race, gender, physical attributes, attitude…etc. We believe that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ because by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). Therefore, each person should be loved, just like Christ had loved, in spite of who he/she is and was. (John 15:12)

3. Christ CenteredThe focal point in the existence of CFC YFL is Christ. We look to Jesus Christ as our model and guide. Therefore, in each endeavor and activity in our community, we first and foremost seek that God will be glorified. Every activity’s goal is for the participant to know Christ and be like Him.

4. ExcellenceSince in CFC YFL we believe that all things should be done for the glory of God (1 Peter 4:11), we do everything outstandingly in all the aspects of our lives. We do everything to the best of our abilities by dwelling in truth, honor, righteousness, purity, loveliness and good reputation. (Philippians 4:8)

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V. Structure

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VI. Roles and Responsibilities

A. YOUTH HEADS

ROLES

Level Pastoral Functional District ► Household

Attends upper HH 2x a month

Conducts lower HH 2x a month

► Attends regular CFC FFL Singles activity

► Conducts one to ones with Vicariate Youth Heads

► Conducts quarterly District coordination meeting with the District Couple Coordinator

► Monitors evangelization of the district

► Sets evangelization goals suited for the area

► Visit assemblies within the District

► Monitors basic formation track► Submits quarterly report to the

Area Head► Consolidates quarterly the

evangelization report of the cluster heads and submits a report to the Family Ministries Head of the District

► Conducts the Diocesan Youth Leaders Assembly and Diocesan Youth Assembly

► Spearheads the Church relations within the Diocese

► Mobilizes the district for regional, national and international activities

Cluster ► Household► Attends upper HH 2x a

month► Conducts lower HH 2x a

month► Attends the Diocesan

Youth Leaders Assembly and other teachings for the Core level.

► Conducts one to ones

► Conducts quarterly Cluster coordination meeting

► Monitors evangelization of the district in all parishes, high schools, and campuses

► Visits assemblies within the cluster (of the parishes, high schools and campuses)

► Submits monthly report to the district head as a consolidation of the developments and

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with Vicariate Youth Heads

accomplishments of the parishes, high schools and campuses in the cluster

► Spearheads the church relations within the cluster

► Mobilizes the cluster for these activities diocese wide activities

► Attends Diocesan Youth Leaders Assembly and Diocesan Youth Assembly

► Consolidates the reports of chapters

Chapter ► Household Attends upper HH

2x a month Conducts lower

HH 2x a month► Attends the Diocesan

Youth Leaders Assembly and other teachings for the Core level.

► Conducts one to ones with Unit Heads

► Conducts monthly coordination with the Coordinator

► Implements the monthly cycle► Implements evangelization (2

youth camps per year)► Conducts chapter assemblies ► Insures strong relationship with

the Parish priests and the heads and volunteers in the different ministries in the parish

► Visits areas within the program (for high schools and campuses)

► Implements basic formation track

► Leads the participation of the chapter for diocese-wide, regional, national and international activities

Unit ► Household Attends upper HH


HH 2x a month► Attends the Diocesan

Youth Leaders Assembly and other teachings for the Committed level.

► Conducts one to one with the Household Heads.

► Monitors that the basic formation track is being undergone by every member

► Mobilizes for activities

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CFC YFL

Household ► Household Attends upper HH


HH 2x a month► Attends trainings for the

Committed level. ► Conducts one to ones

with members.

► Monitors that the basic formation track is being undergone by every member

TENURE

Three years maximum for every position.

APPOINTMENT

Youth Recommending AppointingDistrict YH FTW / MV & outgoing DYH

in consultation with Cluster CC

District CC

Cluster YH FTW / MV & DYH in consultation with outgoing Cluster YH

District CC

Chapter YH Chapter CC & Cluster YH in consultation with outgoing Chapter YH

Cluster CC

Unit Head Chapter YH in consultation with outgoing Unit head

Chapter CC

Household Head Unit Head Chapter CC

B. COUPLE COORDINATORS

GENERAL1. Pastoral head of the Couple Coordinators under them

a. Conducts 2 lower households per monthb. Conducts regular 1-1s.

2. Act as “co pastors” of the youth leaders under them a. Conduct 1 lower household per month (together

with the youth leader)

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b. Conduct 1-1s for special concerns.3. Attend monthly service meeting (once)4. Attend monthly CFC FFL service activities of their area5. Conduct regular service meeting (once)6. Evangelization

a. Monitorb. Creativec. Youth Campsd. CLS of parents

7. Church relations8. Basic PFO 9. Bridge parents and children10. Empower couple coordinators under them11. Transitions

a. KFL to YFLb. YFL to SFLc. YFL coordinators to other service in the community

– we don’t deprive their growth when they see the calling of moving on, but we make sure that someone replace them

Note/ implications/ clarifications with regards to these: Pastoral (household) would be with co-coordinators,

and not with CFC. Once a month service meeting with CFC is still

sufficient to build relationships and voice out help needed by YFL.

SPECIFIC ROLES1. District Couple Coordinators

a. 1 Family Ministries/ Young Family ministries service meeting

b. 1 District YFL service meeting c. 2 upper household with the Family ministriesd. 2 lower household with Vicariate couple

coordinators

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e. 1 lower household with the Vicariate youth heads

2. Vicariate Couple Coordinatorsa. 1 District YFL service meeting b. 1 Vicariate YFL service meeting c. 2 upper household with the District couple

coordinatorsd. 2 lower household with the Parish couple

coordinatorse. 1 lower household with the Parish youth heads

3. Parish Couple Coordinatorsa. 1 Vicariate YFL service meeting b. 1 Parish YFL service meeting c. 2 lower household with Vicariate couple

coordinators d. 1 lower household with the Unit youth heads

Note: The ideal service meeting of the District couple

coordinators with their Vicariate couple coordinators and youth leaders is quarterly. But for the meantime, it can be done monthly.

TENURE

Three years maximum for every position.

APPOINTMENT

Couple coordinator Recommending AppointingDistrict CC Young Min head/

Famin Head in consultation with the outgoing DCC

District Head

Cluster CC District CC in consultation with the

Cluster Head

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outgoing Cluster CCChapter CC Cluster CC in

consultation with the outgoing Chapter CC

Chapter Head

High School & Campus

Cluster CC Cluster Head

VII. Cycle of activities

A. Monthly cycle:1st Week – Chapter Assembly / District Youth

Assembly (with Household)2nd Week – Free time (Application)3rd Week – Household (HH)4th Week – Youth Mass / District Youth Leaders

Assembly

B. Yearly Activities

World Youth Congress – AprilThis is the annual gathering of leaders of CFC YFL from around the globe. It is a weekend of direction setting, training and camaraderie among the leaders.

Summerfest – AprilThe Summerfest is the event to wait for for all ALL CFC YFL members during the summer break. It is a whole day of fun, talent competitions and hearing God. The highlight of this day is the sending out of our provincial and international mission teams.

Summer Missions – April – MayThis is what we are called to do – to go to the world and proclaim the gospel. Teams of YFL members and coordinators go to places both national and international and start CFC YFL in that area. They also conduct

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training and do crowd activities for areas that have YFL already.

Metro Manila / Provincial Conference – OctoberAfter 5 months of demanding schoolwork, our YFL members need time to recharge. The Metro Manila and Provincial Conferences will provide the spiritual nourishment they will need for the next months ahead.

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YFL primer

Documents

Transcript of YFL primer