CFC ANCOP Planning Workshop

Despite the busy January schedule, CFC ANCOP successfully held a planning workshop last Saturday, January 11, 2014, at the Holy Cross High School in Surrey. It was a whole day event where attendees learned and shared their experiences in working for the poor through ANCOP. They discussed their gains and challenges for the previous year and contemplated in setting goals and objectives for the coming period. Moving forward, it was the meeting's aspiration to build an enthusiastic team for ANCOP and to develop a strategic plan of action.

The CFC ANCOP Planning Workshop was well attended by representatives from the West, Central, and East Clusters as well as the Family Ministries.

Rene Garrucho, Overall ANCOP Coordinator for BC stressed the importance of planning and critical thinking to improve program implementation.

Melody Yambao, ANCOP Coordinator for Surrey 3 shared what works for St. Bernadette. Among them is the increased participation of CFC members in various ANCOP programs brought about by their unique organizational structure.

Philip Razon of Surrey 1 who is also Treasurer of the Vancouver Magic Circle, was brought in to recount his ordeals in expeditiously setting up a variety show benefitting victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Cookie Aytona, Executive Committee member introduced members of the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation which donated funds to ANCOP. The amount was sufficient to build a sixth (6th) house in time for the Holy Cross Mission Team's visit to the Philippines in March 2014.

The house donation was made possible through the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation. Tessa, a Holy Cross basketball player and one of the top in the province, would have wanted to be a part of the Mission Team.  Unfortunately, she succumbed to cancer in 2012. The Holy Cross Mission Team will build the house and dedicate it to Tessa.

Wendy, Tessa's mother, is thanked by Rene Garrucho of ANCOP, after officially handing over the check for the house donation.

Elmer Tangco, East Cluster Head talked on the benefits of immersion.

Henjie San Juan, Central Cluster Head stressed the importance of continuously building the church of the poor.

Rene Trinidad of the Executive Committee proposed fund-raising ideas to the participants.

Mary Ann Marfori of the Executive Committee related development efforts with St. Matthew's Parish about a musical project.

Attendees were divided into smaller groups to discuss in detail the strengths and weaknesses that needed addressing and to recommend action points.

Under the attentive and thoughtful consideration of the overall coordinators, the participants then presented their data to the group.

Gerry Andrada, Chapter Head, Burnaby West

Noel Bucad, Central Cluster ANCOP Coordinator

Paul Atienza, CFC Youth Pacific Area Coordinator

Fe Magno, Household ANCOP Coordinator, St. Bernadette

Rocky Nguyen, YFC ANCOP Coordinator

Edna Garrucho,  Overall ANCOP Coordinator, recapped the salient points of the day's activities and reiterated the need to build an effective communications infrastructure.

CFC Vancouver's First Fruit for 2014

I have previously wondered what "first fruits" was all about. Since joining the CFC some years back, my spouse and I have only participated in one similar activity. We never fully understood what it meant but we went through the process because it was prescribed. As we go through life and find meaning in everything that we do, we learn to appreciate what we have and take in the lessons that the world has to offer. We learn to be more thankful of our blessings and misfortunes. We come to an awareness of offering back to God everything that we have and own; after all everything is originally His. At the risk of sounding cliche, we come to understand that offering our time, talent, and treasure in the service of others is one way of bringing honour and glory to our God.

It is by offering a portion of what we own that we are sanctifying the rest. If a part of what we possess is made holy then surely the rest is also holy.

To our brothers and sisters in faith who were unable to join us in this year's gathering, we would like to bring the event to you and share in the wonderful blessing of the Lord's presence in our speakers and fellowmen, as we enjoin you to take part next year. On a side note, it isn't too late to offer our "first fruits" to God.

At point, was Andrew Chua who presided over the Sector's first activity of the year.

The Music Ministry, with their dedication and melodic rendition of praise and worship songs, always able and ready to lead us into singing praises to the Lord.

Father Glenn Dion, Rector of the Holy Rosary Cathedral, and CFC's Spiritual Director gave an enlightening talk on First Fruits. He challenged us to be critical of how we spend and observe our time if we are to bring honour and glory to God. Being "on time" for Holy Mass and other activities are some examples where we can show our commitment in sharing our time.

Fr. Dion also pointed out that our talents, our efforts, our expertise and all the things that we are good at doing should benefit others. "It is easy to do it towards people you love or know," he said, and he challenged us to go "beyond the home territory" and to reach out to a "broader spectrum" of society. He added that volunteerism is key.

Reaching behind the lectern, Fr. Dion grabbed and spoke about the Sunday envelopes and Project Advance as a visible means where we could share our treasures. To aid us in considering which charitable institutions to support, he suggested that we decide on the matter early on. "Premeditated giving" helps us in decision-making and in focusing our resources and our time.

Rita Chua recounts a story on being generous and receiving back even more. 

Participants list their blessings of health, talents, skills, capabilities, work, career, sources of livelihood, family and community among many others.

Rita Chua instructs participants.

Jimmy Arzadon addresses the crowd.

The altar where the offerings in form of tithes or first fruits are presented.

Members of CFC's Family Ministries also participated. Young and old thanked God. The unavailability of a family member did not deter families from making their offerings. 

This year's First Fruits Gathering was held at a jam-packed hall at St. Patrick's Church in Vancouver, BC.