More than 500 people who have been on a journey to strengthen their Christian faith gathered for a weekend on the Gold Coast. Source: The Catholic Leader.
The 2026 Couples for Christ Australia (CFCA) National Conference, held in April, also celebrated the 30th anniversary of CFCA Queensland.
What started with a handful of couples 30 years ago has now grown to approximately 500 members in the adult ministries and 130 in the children’s and youth ministries.
“Our partnership with parishes has also been a catalyst for this growth as we actively serve in parishes in various capacities,” CFCA QLD area leaders Ric and Glorious Manalac said.
On the last day of the conference, Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay celebrated Mass.
In his homily, he said Christian families were called to be places of welcome, truth and mercy – “places in which peace can grow”.
“Being consecrated in the truth doesn’t mean that we have all the answers. Or that life is easy or that faith removes every struggle,” Archbishop Mackinlay said.
“Rather it means learning to listen deeply and respectfully to one another’s stories and allowing Christ to re-interpret those stories in the light of his death and resurrection.”
CFCA is a Catholic family renewal community with a goal to strengthen the Christian family.
Members meet weekly in small groups to share their faith and support each other.
“Our members commit themselves to serve God and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ,” Mrs Manalac said.
“Through our formation programs we aim to help others and ourselves grow in maturity as people of God and to fulfil the role of our primary vocation by raising up families under the lordship of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Their service extends to the whole family – for children, youth, young adults, single women or widows, single men or widowers, or married people who are walking their faith journey on their own.
“While our membership is made up of mostly Filipinos, we have started to see members from different cultural backgrounds join our community,” Mr Manalac said.
Their focus for 2026 is to invite a more culturally diverse CFCA community in Queensland.
“Here in Queensland, our young ministries are leading the way in attracting new members from non-Filipino backgrounds. We would like to see this more in the adult ministries,” he said.
FULL STORY
Hundreds celebrate a commitment to faith and Jesus Christ’s values (By Kymberlee Gomes, The Catholic Leader)
