“Strengthening Christian Family Life at CFC WA’s Very First Family Enrichment Retreat”
Family is the basic unit of society, and because of this, it is also the foundation of every community. Couples For Christ continues to hold on to the hope of strengthening and renewing Christian family life, so that families, in turn, may evangelise other families.
Last 28 March, we were blessed to experience the very first CFC Family Enrichment Retreat—truly a grace-filled day for the whole family. We began, as always, with joyful praise and worship led by the Diaz de Rivera family together with our YFC and CFC Music Ministry.
The retreat unfolded through four empowering and moving talks, enriched early on by heartfelt sharings from the Malihan Couple, —including Levi from our Youth For Christ ministry, followed by short and relatable role plays presented by the Mingi, Baguio, and Peñaranda families.
Talk 1, God’s Plan for the Family, was given by Bro Jay and Sis Me-Anne Agustin. They helped us rediscover the beauty of the family as God designed it and challenged us to respond faithfully to His call for our families.
In Talk 2, Bro Jayson and Sis Leslie Quilala highlighted the importance of each family member’s role and the power of healthy communication. They reminded us that love should be clearly expressed and genuinely communicated within the family.
Talk 3, Empowering Relationships, was shared by Bro Jun Capistrano. He gently reminded us that there is no perfect family—every family experiences conflict and hurt. Yet healing is possible when we open ourselves to God’s grace, allow Him to work in us, and become instruments of healing for one another.
The final talk, Building a Christian Home, was delivered by Sis Mimi Capistrano. She described a Christian home as one anchored and rooted in Christ, the true Vine, from whom all love and strength flow.
Between talks, families were given time for meaningful discussions—answering reflection questions, opening hearts, and engaging in deeper conversations with one another.
The pray-over session was especially moving. Parents laid hands on their children and prayed over them, and the children, in turn, prayed for their parents—a beautiful moment of grace, humility, and love. The day concluded with a heartfelt closing worship led by the Malabanan family, followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Tri, bringing the Family Enrichment Retreat to a truly grace-filled close.
Indeed, family is a precious gift from God, reflecting the mystery of the Holy Trinity. As Pope Saint John Paul II beautifully described, the family is a communion of persons—and in the loving unity of husband, wife, and child, we glimpse, in a created and limited way, the mystery of divine communion.
P.S. Shoutout to our generous “photo contributors” (you know who you are 😉) for capturing and sharing the moments from the retreat. Thank you as well to our CFC leaders, speakers, facilitators, music ministry, and all the servants who made this day happen. Truly, this retreat was a team effort filled with love and grace.
2026 CFC CFC-WA Couples For Christ Family Enrichment Retreat FER Retreat
