Rejoice Weekend - A Celebration of Joy, Prayer and Thanksgiving

Enthusiastic participants from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba converged at The Westin in Calgary, Alberta for the 2016 Couples for Christ (CFC) Canada Western Conference. A total of 1200 delegates came together in joy and anticipation of the "Rejoice Weekend" as they reaffirmed God's call of spreading the joy of the Gospel.

The conference, as Noli Arzadon eloquently describes, is "a place to stop and reflect, to inspire and be inspired, where emotional bridges are built, and a place where our vision as a community is made clearer in the good tradition of open, intellectual discourses and sharing of personal experiences with the Lord."

This year as CFC celebrates its 35th year as a faith community, we are reminded of the similar joy that the apostle Paul must have felt at the continuing progress of the Gospel in the midst of imprisonment and great suffering. Let us rejoice as we continue to endeavour and enter new parishes to conduct Christian Life Programs and spread the Word of God.

Let us "pray that the work of evangelization will flourish in God's time and pacing." Joe Yamamoto continues his exhortation: "Pray that He will continue to lay on our shoulders the privilege of working in His vineyard. Above all, pray that we will all be blessed with the energy, focus and passion of sharing the Good News to everyone."

Let us adopt the posture and attitude of gratitude, of unceasingly giving thanks in any and all circumstances.

Noli Arzadon, CFC Canada Western Region Head, Speaker - Rejoice in the Lord: Discover the Reasons to Celebrate Life in Community. "We have to be aware that the devil wants to 'rob' us of the joys in our personal and in our community life. The enemy will do everything to take away CFC from us, and then destroy marriages. Ultimately, Satan wants us to forget the real joy of being in Christ."

Peter & Ayee Dumlao, CFC Greater Vancouver Area, Couple Sharers. "We are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and our 25th (silver) anniversary as members of CFC. We have learned not to focus on our hurts; to serve with joy in the Lord especially in places where there are few workers."

Nonoy Dalman, Country Coordinator, Speaker - Do Not Worry: How to Overcome Anxiety. "When we worry it is as if we do not trust in the Lord. Setbacks and trials, injustice and dissatisfaction will always come our way and it is how we sanctify, accept, appreciate, pardon and pray that we are able to overcome worry.

Daryl & Lourdes Sarsoza, CFC Winnipeg, Couple Sharers. "We can resemble difficulties in our lives to a bow being stretched back in order to propel the arrow to greater levels."

Marivie Dalman, wife of Nonoy Dalman, Sharer. "I was a Martha, a constant 'worrier' until I realized what you fear will likely happen. Fear kills the spirit, but God is enough."

Francis Yap, Fulltime Pastoral Worker & Provincial Head for Ontario, Speaker - Pray in Everything: Deepening Our Prayer Life. "Pope Francis has repeatedly articulated that families nowadays are under threat than ever before. Faith in God has to be rediscovered through the New Evangelization. Let prayer play a central role in our ministry. As lay faithful belonging to CFC and to the universal Church, we are called to pray with renewed vigour to the Father through the Spirit of Christ our Lord."

Emmanuel & Doreen Canillas, CFC Saskatoon, Couple Sharers. "Unlike my husband Eman who was already on fire in the service of the Lord, I was not as devoted as he was. I was worried what to pray for, how to lead discussion groups, where to start prayer & worship. It is through God's healing grace that He converted my lukewarm heart into one that is ardent just as He has turned Eman's cancer cells to benign."

Larry & Christine Cadayona, CFC Calgary, Couple Sharers. "We would pray unceasingly despite being victims of domestic abuse and family violence. Despite the impossible, God has transformed our tormentor into a loving and caring servant of the Lord."

Joe Yamamoto, Continent Overseer for North America, Speaker - An Attitude of Gratitude: Giving Thanks in All Circumstances. "The best way to give thanks is to express it in meaningful and genuine words of caring and showing through action and empathy, especially through participation in the missions of discipleship, evangelization and service. We are destined for a higher and nobler purpose - to build God's kingdom on earth."

Benny & Precy Sumayod, CFC Winnipeg, Couple Sharers. "Trial after trial, we thought the Lord has sought us out to erase our family from the face of the earth. Little did we know that He was teaching us to be prayerful, and preparing us for greater things." 

Mila Yamamoto, wife of Joe Yamamoto, Sharer. "I am grateful to my siblings who sacrificed a lot so that I could become a doctor. I am grateful for I have my own family who are all doctors. I am grateful that God sends us on missions allowing us opportunities to gather treasures in Heaven. I am thankful not only when given blessings but also when being challenged. I am thankful to God for allowing me to attend to my mother before she passed on."

Shok Ariola, CFC International Council Member, Speaker - It Is Time To Proclaim: How To Spread the Joy of the Gospel. "In CFC, we are sent forth as missionaries. The work of evangelizing the world is daunting. But amidst great challenges let us have faith. Frank Gaines said: 'Only those who believe in the invisible can attain the impossible.' Proclaim the Word; Be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching."

Rosco & Sally Doromal, CFC Calgary, Couple Sharers. "This is His work and it is all about Him. Our service is with the Servants of the Lord (SOLD) and the Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD). We have said 'Yes' to God as we answer the call to mission in Ethiopia in East Africa. As we spread the joy of the Gospel, we know He will take care of us."

Rolly & Crystal Cahilig, CFC Edmonton, Couple Sharers. "We have learned to see all things as a gift from God, and to say 'Yes' or 'Oo' to His mission."

Vinay & Morela Parmar, CFC Calgary, Couple Sharers. "Many times and on numerous occasions, we were always saying 'no' to this particular couple but when another couple invited us to the CLP, we immediately said 'yes'.  In our spiritual journey of service, we are grateful for the 'United Nations' harvests - a gathering of non-Filipino Catholic Christians with multi-cultural backgrounds."

Alex Boquiren, CFC GVA Family Ministries Head, leads the morning worship after the celebration of the Holy Mass. 

Everyone was challenged to embark on a new chapter of evangelization; to make a clear decision to spread the joy of the Gospel whether it is convenient or not, whether our prayers are answered or not. The Lord God is faithful.

Greater Vancouver Area delegates display their award-winning performance during the Banner & Chant competition. CFC GVA also gained first place for the Fun Fair Carnival Booth competition and earned the distinction of having the largest contingent in the conference outside of host Calgary.

Over 200 members of CFC GVA participated in the Western Canada Region Conference. 

GVA's East 2 & East 3 Chapters pose during a break.

"Let us proclaim with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let God's power be witnessed in our joy as Christians. We rely on Paul's conviction when he said: 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' (Phil 4:13). In CFC, it is time to proclaim Christ to the ends of the earth, to the unchurched, to the poor, and to those who do not know Him." - An excerpt from Shok Ariola's talk.