CFC expands ministries, hosts Walk for Life

By Jemma Wong and Cheryl-Ann Mader, Couples for Christ Ministry, Trinidad & Tobago

Couples for Christ (CFC) is ONE with the Catholic Church.  We share in the Church’s mission of spreading the Gospel of Life, administering the sacraments and exercising love for the poor.

In line with this, CFC (T&T) introduced under its umbrella, two Ministries: Ministry to the Poor; and Gift of Life Ministry with the four core values being: Pro-God, Pro-Family, Pro-Poor and Pro-Life.

Ministry to the poor

In 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst deep into Intercessory Prayer and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, God’s message to us was very clear which was: “…share what you have” (Lk 3:10–11).

After careful discernment, this call catapulted our ministry into motion and so we formalised a seven-member team to service those in need and took on the title ‘CFC Ministry to the Poor’.

An application form was developed, the process and criteria for disbursement defined and the will to answer God’s call to not only assist the needy, but to also journey with them, kicked off!

The Team officially launched the ministry within the wider CFC membership and funding started coming in as members began contributing towards the cause.

Members were encouraged to seek out those in need, not only within our membership but in our various communities/parishes across Trinidad and Tobago.

We were so excited when we received our first application in May 2021. Our Units saw the needs of those around and since then, many applications have been made to date.

We continue to assist individuals and families with foodstuff, medical expenses, home repairs, rent, educational courses and even funeral expenses. The cases varied in complexity e.g., one family’s home was impacted by severe flooding and the mother, and her three children lived temporarily out of her car and a shelter.

God has certainly provided through the generous and committed contributions from members which has extended to friends, families, well-wishers, and anonymous benefactors who continue to allow us to answer the cry of the poor and bring some measure of relief to their situations.

In our Ministry to the Poor, we are called to have a ‘WOW’ (Walk on Water) experience, and that is exactly how it has been as we continue to be faithful to the call to ‘share what you have’.

Yes, there have been tears along the way but some of those tears were of pure joy as we rejoiced at seeing the step-by-step progress of the families we were able to assist.

As we continue in our mission, we are reminded that “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do onto me” (Mt 25:40) and so we extend an invitation to you to join in supporting our Ministry to bring hope, dignity, and the peace of Christ to those most in need.

Gift of Life

This is a Pro-Life Ministry and adopted the name ‘Gift of Life’ taken from John 10:10, “I have come to give Life, life to its fullest”. The Team, comprising five members, was launched within the wider CFC Ministry in 2022.

The work of Gift of Life in CFC consists of three main areas: Formation, Advocacy, and Intervention, and is referenced to the Gospel of Life by Pope John Paul II which stresses the following points:

– To raise the consciousness of the Church on the sacredness of human life

– To forewarn against the growing worldwide legalisation of abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment as an imminent defeat of the “culture of life”

– To remind the church of its duty not to be silent on the grave immoral acts brought about by the anti-life issues and its grave consequences to the destruction of civilisation.

Vision

Enlightened and empowered men and women living out the fullness of their manhood/womanhood and vocation, serving as effective proclaimers and builders of the culture of life.

Mission

Form and educate men and women to be empowered evangelisers proclaiming the gospel of life and building a culture of life.

Objectives

• To defend and advance the “culture of life”
• To protect the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and developed
• To preserve the family and its moral values
• To educate CFC members and non-CFC members on various life issues
• To promote chastity among all members
• To participate in advocacies for life matters
• To support CFC in its work of evangelisation, family renewal and total human liberation
• To collaborate and network with other organisations in the campaign for life.

In commemoration of CFC’s 25th anniversary of existence in Trinidad and Tobago, we will be hosting our 1st Walk for Life event carded for September 30, 2023, and we encourage as many as possible to come walk with us and support our Mission.

To find out more about us, you can contact or follow us on Facebook @CouplesforChrist Trinbago.

We look forward to hearing from you.

May God be praised!