Manila, Philippines — Thousands of CFC members from across the globe gathered at the historic Quirino Grandstand on June 21, 2025, to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Couples for Christ (CFC) with the theme “Rejoice! I am with you always!”
The event theme is a call for our brethren to gather and celebrate God’s goodness and love through the community. It continues the story of Jesus’ resurrection in the Gospel of Matthew, which calls us to REJOICE (Matthew 28:8) and invites us to remember the narrative of the Great Commission where the Lord assures us that He will never leave us, as He promised: “I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU” (Matthew 28:20). This year’s celebration seeks to inspire and empower everyone to respond to Christ’s call to make disciples of all nations.
The festivities began with the opening of booths and the Ablaze Praise and Fashion segment, where members flaunted their stylized Ablaze shirts in a joyful expression of faith and creativity. Hosted by Zone and Edz De Leon from CFC Metro Manila, it also featured games and sponsor showcases.
The main program opened with a powerful worship led by Farley D. Areola, CFC Youth for Christ International Coordinator, who reminded the community of its spiritual roots:
“Think of Galilee as our spiritual ground zero, the place where our faith began, where we first truly encountered Christ, where the simple, powerful truth of the Gospel is found. It is a calling to shift away distractions, to remember the freshness of our initial commitment—and recommit to the core of the CFC mission that was given to us.”
This message set the tone for the rest of the program, followed by a heartfelt address from Joe Yamamoto, CFC Chairman and President. In his message, he emphasized the community’s openness to growth and transformation:
“We will walk new paths. We will do things differently, or we may end up doing things the way we have done: all for the glory of God!”
The SFC North B energized the crowd with an opening dance, paving the way for musical performances by the Laguna Family Band and Liveloud, whose live praise music stirred the hearts of attendees.
The Rejoice Parade followed, bringing together representatives from CFC’s global mission areas—Americas, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia, the Metro Manila sectors, and the Philippine provinces—symbolizing the unity in diversity of the community. The parade was hyped by DJ JQ and featured dynamic performances from different areas.
Despite the challenge brought by the rain, the celebration continued with a Praisefest led by Ace Lu, Chapter Head from CFC Metro Manila North B, who reminded the community of the power of keeping their eyes fixed on Christ:
“We cannot fully serve the Lord unless we fix our gaze on Him. And when we look to Jesus and to Jesus alone, then we will know and we will be affirmed that He is greater than our sickness, He is greater than our fears and doubts, that He is even greater than sinfulness or darkness.”
This was followed by a solemn World Mission Rosary and a Holy Mass celebrated by Jose F. Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila. In his homily, he shared a profound reflection on the Eucharist:
“Jesus assures us of His loving presence in the Eucharist. He is present in the person of the priest. He is present in the proclamation of the Word of God. When the readings of the Gospel are proclaimed, God Himself speaks to His people — He unfolds the stories of faith.”
Before the Holy Mass concluded, Cardinal Advincula, together with all those gathered that evening, prayed for the newly elected International Council (IC), asking the Lord to grant them wisdom, strength, and faithfulness in leading the mission of Couples for Christ.
The evening culminated in the Ceremonial Turnover of the CFC Flag to the IC elect, symbolizing the continuity of leadership and mission.
The anniversary ended with a spectacular fireworks display and the singing of the CFC theme song. More than just a celebration of togetherness, the day became a moment for renewed commitment to the mission, a joyful reminder of the hope we have in Christ, and a powerful witnessing to God’s faithfulness to the CFC community.