CFC CHAIRMAN Joe Tale and wife, Babylou, together with CFC Vatican Relations Coordinators, Nick and Norma Borja, formally met in Rome with the Prefects of two new Vatican mega-dicasteries—Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the new Dicastery for Integral Human Development. These dicasteries were the result of a reorganization instituted by Pope Francis last year which merged several Vatican departments.
His Eminence Cardinal Farrell welcomed the CFC leaders on Tuesday, January 24, at their office in Piazza di San Calisto, Rome, Italy. Joe Tale introduced Couples for Christ and how, from its founding by Ligaya ng Panginoon more than 35 years ago in the Philippines, CFC has now grown to an army of about 700,000 members actively operating in six continents and 111 countries. Joe Tale also updated the Cardinal on two new CFC programs: “Marriage is Beautiful” and the TV program “Pluma”. Cardinal Farrell expressed his appreciation for these efforts that accentuate the positives of marriage and family.
The CFC leaders recounted that in the beginning, CFC encountered resistance from some clergy. This was resolved when, in response to its avowed commitment of oneness with the Catholic Church, CFC moved to coordinate more closely with the bishops and parishes. Cardinal Farrell affirmed that this was the right direction and highlighted the importance of the laity in the work of the Church which Pope Francis himself continues to emphasize.
The Cardinal noted that CFC seems to have achieved a lot of good results in its evangelization effort, recalling his engagement with CFC members in Dallas, Texas, when he was Archbishop there.
Joe Tale presented to His Eminence two new CFC books, Grateful @35 and Moved by the Holy Spirit, and invited him to CFC’s 36th anniversary in June, 2017 in the Philippines. While not committing to the June 2017 date, His Eminence nevertheless expressed his desire to visit the Philippines, saying: “Yes, someday I will go to the Philippines.”
His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Dicastery for Integrated Human Development received the CFC leaders on the same day. This new dicastery combined the former councils for justice and peace, Cor Unum, and migrants and refugees. Joe Tale informed the Cardinal of the various social development work of CFC such as ANCOP, Cornerstone, Migrant Workers Program, and ReForm, the ministry to rehabilitate drug and substance abuse dependents. His Eminence encouraged CFC to continue its efforts to help the poor and the marginalized.