NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac – More than 25,000 members of the international Catholic lay movement Couples for Christ (CFC) filled the New Clark City Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2026, to commemorate the organization’s 45th anniversary in a vibrant celebration of faith, family, and community.
CFC is an international Catholic lay ecclesial movement dedicated to strengthening Christian family life and values, with ministries serving every stage of life with ministries serving every stage of life, led by its core Family Ministries: Kids for Christ, Youth for Christ, Singles for Christ, Handmaids of the Lord, and Servants of the Lord.
The gathering, one of the largest in the movement’s four-decade history, brought together delegates from various parts of the Philippines and around the world for a day-long program that included worship, the Holy Mass, a lantern lights parade, and fireworks.
Founded in Manila in June 1981 with just 16 married couples, CFC has since grown into a global movement present in more than 160 countries with hundreds of thousands of members, including a strong and active presence in Tarlac.
The organization received Vatican recognition as an association of pontifical right in 2000.
Vatican Official Highlights Family as “Battleground and Source of Renewal”
Presiding over the anniversary Mass was Most Rev. Dario Gervasi, adjunct secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, alongside Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, bishop of Tarlac, and other priests.
In his homily, Bishop Gervasi described the family as both a battleground and a source of renewal amid a crisis of division and isolation. He urged families to ground their lives in prayer, saying,
“The secret is not to focus on our own strength, but to recognize that when He is present in our family lives, He frees us from what makes us poor and weak.”
He illustrated this with the story of a quarreling couple who changed after praying before a crucifix.
“Courage is greater than fear,” he told the crowd.
Pope Leo XIV Sends Message to CFC Members
In a message read during the Mass, Pope Leo XIV called on CFC members to become “joyful witnesses” of selfless and life-giving love.
Reflecting on the anniversary theme “In the One, we are one,” the Pope said it should help couples “further deepen your receptivity of the sacramental grace of matrimony.”
“In a world driven by individualism and a desire for instant gratification,” the Pope warned, it is increasingly difficult to sustain lifelong marital commitment. He urged couples to remain grounded in prayer and to unite themselves “ever more closely to Our Lord.”
‘The Best Is Yet to Come’
CFC Executive Director Jimmy Ilagan opened the celebration with a message drawing parallels between Jesus’ ministry and the movement’s mission.
“Jesus entered homes, shared meals, built relationships, and brought hope to the marginalized. Similarly, CFC has become a living church to all of us—where families are nurtured, and where the love of Christ’s table is extended to those in need,” Ilagan said.
He enjoined members to continue saying yes to God’s call, declaring, “The best is yet to come for CFC!”
Provincial Government of Tarlac Extends Support
Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap joined the celebration, expressing full support for CFC’s 45th anniversary and commending its lasting impact on families and communities.
“While the world around us faces constant change, your commitment to the core of our society—the family, the youth, the less fortunate—remains beautifully unchanged,” Yap said. “You do not just preach renewal, you live it.”
The governor said Tarlac was honored to host the milestone event, adding that the movement’s values of unity and service align with the provincial government’s vision of building stronger communities.
A Movement of ‘Rapid, Massive, and Global’ Evangelization
CFC began in June 1981 when 16 married couples gathered in Manila for spiritual renewal. The movement quickly expanded, establishing its first provincial chapter in Bukidnon in 1984 and its first international chapter in India in 1985.
In 1993, CFC established its Family Ministries what it calls a “womb-to-tomb” community network.
The movement is also heavily committed to poverty alleviation through its global social development arm, ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor).
‘The Future Is Already in God’s Hand’
In his anniversary message, CFC Chairman and President Arnel Santos expressed gratitude to the movement’s members.
“This is the right time for us to say ‘thank you,’ this is the right time for us to hear ‘I love you,’ and this is the right time for us to say ‘I promise,’ because the future is already in God’s hand and we surrender our future to Him,” Santos said.
The celebration concluded with a spectacular fireworks display, capping a day of reflection, worship, and fellowship for the global CFC community.
