(Excerpt from Joy Katigbak’s article, www.sfcglobal.org)
CFC-Singles for Christ (CFC-SFC), established in 1993, is a Catholic evangelistic ministry for single men and women over 160 countries all over the world. Annually, CFC-Singles for Christ gathers over 10,000 of its members and leaders from all over the Philippines and abroad at the former CFC-Singles for Christ International Leaders Conference (ILC), now International Conference (ICON).
Last Feb. 15-17, 2008, the ICON was held at Clark, Pampanga reminded the SFC”s how God loved and made them feel at home in His love. This year, the CFC-Singles for Christ held its 16th ICON at SM City, Cebu last Feb 20-22, 2009. It was a gathering of the seven thousand SFC‘s all over the world witnessing how the Lord will lead us this year with the theme “Icon”.
The conference was welcomed with a High Mass celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, CFC Cebu Spiritual Director on Friday night. After the mass, the first session - “In Christ…This is the Life!” was given by Fulltime Missionary Joemar Salumbides.
The next day was full of activity – sessions, workshops, missionary work, and continuous transformation and growth. There were other SFC’s who showed their talents and joy of being in this community by participating in creative and sports competition held in SM City Cebu’s activity center. These activities were followed by the launching of the 12 SFC’s chosen to be the SFC Bayani, for their love and service for the poor, who will serve as Gawad Kalinga Ambassadors.
The evening session, entitled “Forgetting What Lies Ahead”, delivered by Michael Ariola, underscored the lessons to learn from what Jesus did during His painful experiences of being tempted, betrayed, scourged and forsaken and how we are called to strain toward our goal which is Jesus Himself. A Benediction and High Mass concelebrated by Rev. Bishop Crispin Varquez, bishop of the Diocese of Borongan, Samar as main celebrant together with Rev. Msgr. Cris Garcia as homilist, Fr. Edwin Visda and Fr. Ronald Bardon of Diocese of Daet, Fr. Ace Ecarna from Agusan del Sur, Fr. Anthony Layog of Pangasinan and Fr. Paul Uwemedimo of Couples for Christ, highlighted the conference. The Echaristic Celebration was truly Christ’s real and loving presence.
To end up the conference, the vision of the Singles for Christ ministry: “Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ” was unveiled and restated by the SFC International Coordinator Aldy Katigbak in the last session “Forward in Christ.
The 16th ICON gave another moment of every SFC that leave memories and lessons in our lives.
(posted by Lhea Ontong)
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