Couples For Christ Australia held its annual Family Ministry Summit in Perth, Western Australia, on 15-16 of March 2025. This two-day gathering brought together Family Ministry leaders from Kids For Christ (KFC), Youth For Christ (YFC), Singles For Christ (SFC), Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD), and Servants of the Lord (SOLD), along with Couples For Christ (CFC) leaders.
This yearly event serves as the official kickoff for Family Ministry service in Couples For Christ, providing a space to reflect on the new theme of the year and how it will guide our mission moving forward. The theme for 2025, “Rejoice! Take Courage. Return to Galilee.”, was the focus of the first plenary session, setting the spiritual tone for the summit.
A Warm Welcome and Opening Activities
As is customary at Couples For Christ Conferences worldwide, the summit began with a shared breakfast, a time to reconnect with familiar faces and welcome brothers and sisters from different states. The joy of fellowship filled the room as attendees exchanged warm greetings, catching up with friends from past conferences and meeting new ones.
Before the official start, the Magtibay Family led the praying of the Holy Rosary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, setting a sacred and prayerful atmosphere for the weekend ahead.
The praise and worship session, led by Bro. Oliver Molina, CFC National Safeguarding Officer and accompanied by the CFC-WA South Chapter Music Ministry, lifted hearts in thanksgiving and praise. He reminded everyone that God’s presence is always with us and that our arrival at the summit had a greater purpose beyond logistics, finances, or even the planning efforts of CFC Western Australia.
Arrival has meaning. Arrival has power.
Bro. Oliver delivered a powerful message about the true meaning of “arrival.” He shared that when he drives home, his arrival isn’t marked by parking his car, stepping into the house, or even taking a shower. He has truly arrived only when he embraces his wife and children—when he is fully present with them in love.”
In the same way, Jesus didn’t just arrive in Galilee; He arrived in His mission when He was baptized in the Jordan River. At that moment, His heavenly Father declared, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’“
Welcome Remarks: Embracing the Summit’s Purpose
Bro. Kit Palos, CFC Western Australia Cluster Head, warmly welcomed all delegates, including those who had traveled from interstate, as well as the host community from WA. He expressed his joy in seeing so many passionate individuals united in their mission to strengthen and nurture families through their faith and service.
He introduced this year’s theme, “Rejoice! Take Courage. Return to Galilee.”, emphasising how each part of the message resonates with our spiritual journey and service:
Rejoice! – An invitation to embrace the joy of faith, service, and community. He encouraged participants to enter the summit with open hearts, gratitude, and a willingness to share and learn from one another.
Take Courage. – A call to recognise the challenges of serving families. He acknowledged that the road is not always easy, but true courage lies in persevering, advocating, and supporting families despite difficulties.
Return to Galilee. – A reminder to return to our roots, both as individuals and as a community. Galilee symbolises our foundation in faith, our core values, and the place where our journey with Christ began. It is where we are called to renew our mission, reassess our approach, and strengthen our commitment to serving families.
He urged everyone to see the summit as their “Galilee,” a time to reconnect with their purpose, exchange best practices, and find renewed inspiration. He reminded leaders that the weekend was an opportunity to engage deeply with the plenary sessions, participate in enriching discussions, and build stronger networks with fellow coordinators and leaders.
A Message from the CFC National Director
Following Bro. Kit’s remarks, Bro. Ronnie Bautista, CFC National Director, delivered a video message reflecting on the theme. He reminded the community that “Return to Galilee” is not just a geographical reference—it is a spiritual call to renewal, faith, and a deeper connection with Christ.
Galilee was where Jesus first called His disciples, performed His early miracles, and ultimately commissioned His followers. Likewise, in Couples For Christ, we are at the heart of the restoration of families. This summit serves as a place of renewal, a time to deepen our relationships with God, and an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of serving together as a family in Christ.
Plenary Session 1: “To Galilee, We Return”
With hearts prepared, the summit transitioned into the first plenary session, delivered by Bro. Ems Eroles, member of the CFC National Council and CFC Family Ministries and Safeguarding Director. He began by engaging the audience in a roll call of all the Australian states present—Northern Territory, South Queensland, Far North Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Each delegation responded with cheers, proudly representing their home communities.
Bro. Ems shared his and his wife’s (Sis. Jeng) journey within Couples For Christ. His faith journey began as a member of Kids For Christ in Laguna, Philippines, where his parents were active CFC members. Over time, he transitioned into Youth For Christ, while Sis. Jeng started her journey in Singles For Christ in Sydney, Australia. After their marriage, they became members of Couples For Christ, bringing their service full circle.
Understanding Galilee’s Significance
Bro. Ems introduced the theme of his talk, “To Galilee, We Return,” anchored in Matthew 28:1-10. He explained that Galilee is not just a place—it is central to the life and mission of Jesus:
It is where Mary said “yes” to God’s call.
It is where the disciples first followed Jesus.
It is where Jesus performed many miracles and delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
It is also a place of challenges and difficulties, yet it remained the foundation of Jesus’ mission.
He invited everyone to reflect on their personal “Galilee”—their first true encounter with Jesus. Was it during childhood, perhaps through attending Mass with family? Was it a sudden, transformative moment like St. Paul’s conversion, or a gradual deepening of faith over time?
For many in the community, their “Galilee” was when they first joined Couples For Christ. He reminded everyone that CFC is not just an organisation but a spiritual home, a place to love and serve others.
Rekindling Our First Love for Christ
As we grow in service, challenges inevitably arise. From low attendance at household prayer meetings to personal struggles in balancing commitments, it’s easy to lose sight of our first love for Christ. But just as Jesus met Peter in Galilee after his denial, He also meets us in our struggles and restores us.
Bro. Ems encouraged the community to reignite their faith by remembering their first encounter with Jesus, much like the disciples who walked with Him and witnessed His miracles firsthand.
Testimonies: Encountering Christ in Service
A powerful sharing came from Bro. Reg and Sis. Cyn Argana, CFC Sydney Southeast Chapter Leaders. They spoke about their 27-year journey in CFC and how their household has been a wellspring of spiritual nourishment. Despite the burdens of leadership, they found strength and renewal through their household prayer meetings, where they could openly share struggles and receive support.
Other inspiring testimonies came from:
Bro. Mike and Sis. Ai Pimentel, CFC Vanuatu Country Coordinators
Bro. Euan and Sis. Mheann Tabuena, Former NSW Chapter Mission Support Heads
Bro. Jun and Sis. Del Galang, CFC NSW Cluster Family Ministry Heads
“From Galilee, We Are Sent”
As the session concluded, Bro. Ems emphasised that returning to Galilee is not the end but a new beginning. Just as the disciples were emboldened after Pentecost, we too are called to step forward with boldness in our mission.
We don’t need titles to evangelise—our everyday lives should reflect Christ.
Our personal testimonies are powerful tools in inspiring others.
Through sacrificial love, we plant seeds for future generations, just as the pioneers of Youth For Christ did in 1993.
Bro. Ems finished his talk with a powerful quote from Pope Francis: “If you remember your FIRST LOVE, the wonder and joy of your FIRST ENCOUNTER with GOD, you will keep advancing. So, remember and keep moving forward.”
This was only the beginning of what turned out to be a deeply meaningful Family Ministry Summit. In the second part of the day, each family ministry held their respective breakout sessions to dive deeper into their unique challenges and missions. As a Youth For Christ coordinator, I had the opportunity to participate in the YFC session—so while I can’t speak on behalf of the other ministries, I’m excited to share what unfolded during our time together.
👉 Click here to read about the Youth For Christ Breakout Session —a heartfelt gathering that explored leadership lessons, member care, and how we can better walk with the youth in faith and purpose.
In the meantime, feel free to browse through some photos below and relive the inspiring moments of the first part of the summit. With thanks for some of the photos from our CFC brothers and sisters!
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