Rise, pick up your mat and Go! CFC 21ST Caribbean Conference

By Cheryl-Ann Mader

Handmaid of the Lord, Couples for Christ, TT

The hills were alive with sounds of music, praise, prayer, teachings, and thanksgiving as the Couples for Christ Ministry Trinidad & Tobago (CFCTT) hosted the 21st CFC Caribbean Conference, in conjunction with celebrating 25 years of ministry in T&T this year.

Couples for Christ is a Catholic family-oriented ministry and is often referred to as a ‘womb-to-tomb’ ministry, as it caters to all aspects of the family.  This year, CFCTT hosted its Caribbean Conference at St Benet’s Hall, Mt St Benedict over the period July 13 to 16.

Preparations began months in advance, commencing last October 2022 with a logo competition for our 25th anniversary in T&T. The winning logo designed by Dwayne Hinkson, was used on all paraphernalia for the Conference.

It was four years since the last Caribbean conference was held in Curaçao, due to the Covid pandemic, and the Service Team worked with selfless ardour to ensure a smooth conference execution.

Our Intercessory Team dedicated Eucharistic Adoration for the success of the conference and Masses were also offered by our respective units. The ground transfers of our overseas participants from the Philippines, Canada, Florida, California, North Carolina, Jamaica, Curacao, St Vincent, St Maarten, Grenada, Antigua, and Turks & Caicos were well managed.

The jubilation felt at simply seeing each other in-person was overwhelming. The testimonies were even more so. The themes of hope, forgiveness, healing, and love all hinged on the overarching Word taken from Mark 2:10–11, “Christ Heals! Rise, pick up your mat and Go!”.

We were indeed blessed to have seven members of clergy, inclusive of Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, chief celebrant, Abbot John Pereira OSB and our Spiritual Director, Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP, concelebrate at the conference’s opening Mass.

Archbishop Gordon challenged us to “go out” and find new ways of spreading the Gospel to others, as the world has changed and what worked 15 years ago, no longer works today.

Talks presented during the conference by members of the clergy, leaders from the USA, Philippines and the Caribbean were all excellent in their delivery of God’s Word. These were cemented and supported with videos, creatives and a series of reflections and activities which strengthened our belief in the almighty power of God and the Catholic faith.

Fr Collin Jackson delivered a talk ‘Misery to Mercy’. He said that mercy means “a heart for the wretchedness and the affliction of others”.  He explained that often we have unrealistic expectations about others and judge people by our own standards. Fr Jackson encouraged us not to judge other people’s choices, unless we identify what options they had to choose from.

We were reminded by Archbishop Emeritus Rivas that the Word of God has power, and it never fails in God’s intended purpose. It prospers and bears fruit.

The opening Praise and Worship on the Saturday morning was led by the national leaders of Curaçao, Sharier and Miriam Dorand who wanted each country represented, to offer a prayer in their own native tongue or dialect. Prayers were offered in Dutch, Spanish, Filipino, Polish, English and Patois which all together sounded like praying in tongues.

Besides the spiritual fulfilment, we had an enjoyable time at the social event after dinner on Saturday evening. The sound of our national instrument with tastefully selected melodies ranging from Gospel to oldie goldies to Soca, then back to Gospel, had all delighted and ignited dancing from all age groups.

The Curepe Scherzando Steel Orchestra certainly made a name for themselves that night.

For the grand finale, the couple who introduced CFC to the Caribbean in 1997, Joe and Monina Duran, from Florida, were presented with a Papal Blessing by Archbishop Rivas, for their zealous and committed service to the ministry. They were joined by their five children who flew in for the celebration.

The couple and their team were credited for opening CFC in many islands of the Caribbean because of the prophecy received by the Ministry that CFC would be present in 153 countries, based on John 21:10–11, and which was fulfilled. Monina, in her address highlighted, “what really matters is what God knows about us” and Joe, at 87 years, guided us how we should build from the foundation which was already set.

He encouraged us to spiritually nurture our members and to ‘seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all the rest will fall in line’. He concluded saying that “the Church needs our help”.

We give full support to the incoming leader of the Caribbean, Ag. CFC Regional Coordinator, Bro Rodolfo ‘Toffee’ Jeturian, as we seek to fulfil the motto of CFC, ‘Families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth’ as we, “Rise, pick up our mats and go”.