SFC God's Masterpiece Weekend Manual (GM) - 2019 Edition

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
GOD’S MASTERPIECE
WEEKEND MANUAL
2019 EDITION
CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST GOD’S MASTERPIECE WEEKEND MANUAL
RATIONALE
As different ideologies and cultures have developed into a person’s way of life, the family, as a
core unit of society, has been under attack. Left and right, issues such as individualism,
materialism, redefining the definition of marriage, desecrating the sexual act, and a lot more,
have constantly challenged the definition and importance of family in our society.
As Singles for Christ, and in support of the bigger community Couples for Christ, we aim to
support and defend the family through empowering our singles in bringing hope, faith, and love
of Christ into the family. It is with this reason that the SFC FAMILY WEEKEND (God’s Masterpiece)
was developed.
OVERVIEW
The SFC Family Weekend Retreat is an overnight formation activity for singles, aiming to help
them grow into a deeper appreciation and love for their own families. It is based on the 2015 SFC
RECON God’s Masterpiece.
It seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1. Define Family based on our Catholic faith, stating clearly what it is and what is not.
2. Develop a greater appreciation for the family in spite of ones limitations and despite of
its imperfections.
3. Grow into a greater love for the family by actively expressing Christian love towards them
in their everyday lives.
This SFC Family Weekend is designed to be given to members who have undergone Stage 1
Formation and the Christ Pursuit Weekend (CPW) of Stage 2. The following are the needed
preparation and suggested schedule to follow in order to make this retreat successful and
effective.
PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Venue – Since this is a retreat, it is important that the venue is conducive for prayer time,
reflection, and listening.
2. Pre – Work – As reflected in the session dynamics, the following materials must be
prepared:
 Session 1 - participants must bring a family picture
 Session 2
 Session 3 - letters from the parents/siblings
 Session 4 - Paper – for letter writing (if possible, envelopes may be
prepared to give the letters more premium and importance)
3. Recommended number of attendees for this weekend is 30-50 participants.
PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 2

SESSION OVERVIEW
Session 1: God’s Masterpiece

This session opens to talk about the definition of family as designed by God, and how the world
has distorted this definition. In the end, the participants are to be exhorted to protect the family
as designed and portrayed by the Holy Family.
Session 2: Love Beyond Measure

After appreciating the gift of family, participants are led to understand the attacks on the family,
prevailing today. From this understanding, they are then encouraged on how to show love to
their family in order to defend its sacredness, while upholding its values.
Session 3: Way Back Home

This session focuses on the singles’ relationship with their parents. Though imperfect and
sometimes full of misunderstanding, they are still ought to be considered as an integral part of
who we are.
Session 4: Friendship of a Lifetime

This session focuses on the singles’ relationship with his/her siblings. In this session, their
brothers and sisters are introduced as ones’ first “friendship”, realizing that our siblings are
always here to accompany us.
Needed Materials: letter writing
Session 5: Love that Conquers All

The final session prepares the participants to go from the weekend and be able to become a
positive force or influence in their own families. That we should always be connected to our true
source of love and be able to appreciate the great gift of family that the Lord has blessed us with.
Despite the many imperfections of our family we are always called to be a source of love and
reconciliation.
SUGGESTED SCHEDULE
Day 1: Saturday (afternoon)
Time Activity
09:00 Arrival / Registration
Teaching of songs
10:00 Opening Worship
10:15 Orientation
10:30 Session 1: GOD’S MASTERPIECE
Activity: Family Photo
11:45 Lunch / Rest

01:00 PM Teaching of songs & Afternoon Prayer

01:30 SESSION 2: LOVE BEYOND MEASURE
Reflection
03:00 Break
03:30 SESSION 3: WAY BACK HOME
Reflection & Reading Writing
05:00 Preparation for Lord’s Day
Lord’s Day
06:30 Dinner
07:30 Gathering / Teaching of Songs
Evening Worship
08:00 SESSION 4: FRIENDSHIP OF A LIFETIME
Reflection / Letter Writing
09:30 Closing Prayer
Day 2: Sunday Morning
Time Activity
6:00 AM Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time
6:30 Preparation for Holy Eucharist
7:00 Holy Eucharist
8:00 Breakfast
8:30 Gathering & Teaching of Songs
9:00 Morning Worship
9:15 SESSION 5: THE LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL
10:30 Closing Worship
11:00 Lunch / End
For any inquiries and feedback, please email us at [email protected]

SESSSION 1: GOD’S MASTERPIECE

ANCHOR VERSE
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope. – Jer. 29:11
OBJECTIVES
1. To explain God’s plan and design for the family.
2. To encourage that regardless of their family situation, God still has a great plan for us.
3. To lead the participants to realize that their family is a gift from God.
4. To help them understand how this gift of family should be taken cared of.
KEY MESSAGES
1. Each one is intended to be part of a family in order to experience God’s great love
2. Through the love we experience and the learnings we receive, we begin to realize that it
is indeed a gift from God.
3. Our families are not perfect, just as we too are imperfect. Because of this, we look to the
Holy Family as the model family, not to compare, but something to aspire for.
4. Thus, our response is to be grateful and appreciative of our families.
TONE
Encouraging, Assuring and Insightful. This session should inspire the participants to celebrate the
gift of family, encouraging them to be more hopeful, assuring them that the Holy Family is there
to guide and help them.
SPEAKERS PROFILE
A CFC leader who is a strong advocate of Prolife who can explain the importance of family by
relating his/her own journey with their own family. Preferably, has children who are able to share
their personal testimony.
DYNAMICS
1. Personal sharing of the speaker through displaying a family picture
2. Talk Proper
3. Reflection Question
4. Sharing of family picture and background by pairs

EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
(Speaker starts session by sharing about his family)
NOTE: Speaker introduces his/her family to the participants. Through the short personal
sharings of some family members, the speaker establishes that both the immediate family
and the CFC community are gifts from God.
Points for the sharing:

 Share about yourself, how long were you married? How many children?
 Introduce your family, from wife to kids, and share what’s so unique about them and
special about them.
 What about your family are you thankful for? What does your family give you? Are they
a source of strength/ motivation/ love?
 My family as a gift of God.
 Suggested ending for sharing: “No matter how different we are, not matter how much we
argue – if there is one thing I realized, my family is one of the greatest gifts from God.”
Simply put, God has blessed us amazingly in this life. Looking at everything we have, what we
have gone though, what we have become, and what we will be taking on in the future – it is
overwhelming when we realize just how much love God has generously poured into our lives.
Considering our own personal histories, God did not create us simply into existence from
nowhere. He created us within the context of a family, a relationship that teaches us to relate,
to interact, to learn how to love, and be loved. This is one thing we all have in common.
Though each of one is unique and distinct from each other, this is one thing that binds us
together. This is God’s clearest intention.
II. DEFINITION OF FAMILY
But what is a family? According to the Catholic Church, “A man and a woman united in
marriage, together with their children, form a family.” (CCC 2202)
However, the world today sees it very differently. The world tries to put new concepts in it
that are not aligned to what God intended. We look at several definitions of family.
[The speaker may then reference the family definition of the UN and the local definition of the
family in the local area/country] [Example used in this outline uses Philippine setting]
The secular definition of the family stresses its being a “basic unit” of parents and children
living together, while civil society emphasizes the family as “the foundation of the nation”, a
“basic social institution” (Family Code of the Philippines).

How do we see our families? We all have a sense of family but how do we really define this
group that seems to be the greatest influence on a person, his character, growth, joys,
preferences, and most importantly, his ability to love. So let us go back to the creator of the
family and reflect on His plan and design for it.
III. THE FAMILY AS GOD’s MASTERPIECE
What do we mean when we say masterpiece?
In the Middle Ages, those who want to join a guild and be recognized as a master craftsman
needed to showcase his portfolio, with his finest work. After the members of the guild
evaluate his work and have proof of his mastery and skill, he is then accepted as a true master
– and his work recognized as a true masterpiece.
God is the greatest creator – THE CREATOR --- and thus everything He made, most especially
the family is truly splendid and resplendent. For it is in the family, wherein the existence of
His true and unconditional love is manifested, making visible what is invisible.
Born out of passion and love, the family becomes God’s magnum opus– a great showcase of
God’s wisdom and creativity. Thus, the family is incomparably beautiful and immense in its
potential for love, joy, and holiness. In designing it uniquely, God also reserved a special plan
for it. Such a masterpiece was designed by God for us to:
A. First experience the love of God
A newborn child’s first experience of love happens through his/her parents – from the
moment of conception, growing in the mother’s womb and being born into this world --
he/she begins to understand love through the two people involved that gave them life.
A child begins to know God through her parents – people he/she can turn to, depend on,
and feel secure.
For any child, her first notion of “God” are her parents. Her world revolves around them,
as she realizes her complete dependence on them. Through their parents, a child gets to
glimpse the masculine and feminine side of God exemplified through the blessed union
of Man and Woman in a marriage. (Gen 1:27)
This is why the family becomes a domestic church, a place where they can know and learn
to love God. (Lumen Gentium #11)

B. Learn how to love
As the domestic church, we then learn how to express the same love given to us. It is the
family that becomes the training ground for love. It is in here that we have the first sense
of hurting someone and being hurt. It is in here that we learn how to forgive and be
forgiven.
It is in the family that one learns selflessness and sacrifice, seeing how the spouse gives
themselves selflessly to each other, and how the parents devote themselves fully to the
child’s well-being. We learn how to give, to serve, and express love uniquely and
personally.
C. Form who we are and solidify our identity
With the understanding that we receive from the reality of our families, we now start to
define who we are and who we want to be. We begin to see ourselves in relation to
another person, (to our parents and siblings). Our concept of self and belongingness is
solidified through our first relationships we experience in family.
Each family is different with a culture as complex as an entire country’s. The family is a
melting pot where every member’s personal quirks, beliefs, attitudes, and realities all
influence a person’s personality and character. In our families we can expect acceptance
and understanding. Family is where our unique self is always home.
D. Relate with others
The family is a person’s first organization / club / company / community / parish / school
/ team. Patterns of relating with others are established within the family.
Each family’s unique culture trains a child how to deal with life’s blows and heartaches.
The family is not just a cozy nest, it is also life’s first boot camp where life skills are learned
and honed.
E. Discover our Purpose
More than this being a source of beauty and love, God designed our family with a purpose.
Each family’s uniqueness and identity was designed by God to contribute and share in His
mission on earth.
A collection of individuals different from one another, placed together in an irrevocable

union can clearly tell us that our family is in the hands of God. His intent to place us in the
families where we are in tells us that there is unique purpose we have to discover as we
grow.

The uniqueness of purpose and mission leads us to see that the family is not only beautiful
but valuable in its very essence. And so we begin to see this as a gift, a God-given gift –
not for us to own, but to take care of.
NOTE: Task of the Christian Family (CCC 2204-2206)
IV. THE REALITY OF GOD’S MASTERPIECE
God designed the family to be the most basic unit of society, creating the perfect foundation
for a community to grow through His love. Because of its great potential and impact – to give
life and spread love, the devil places this under constant attack.
The family is now at the forefront of major socio-economic, political, moral, and technological
changes, giving rise to different family realities that fall short of the fullness of God’s design
for the domestic church.
There are two realities affecting the modern family today:
A. Unconventional Family Setups due to Socio-economic factors (structures).

Compared to how the Lord designed the family, because of circumstances beyond our
control, some of us may have had to cope with not-so-ordinary family structures.
Some of us may have grown up with:

 A single parent (widow/widower parent)
 Migrant worker parents
 Guardians (not biologically related)
 Foster parents
 Orphans
 A step parent (and/or step brothers and sisters)
B. Shifting definitions and changing ways of living -- Socio-cultural factors.

Realities are slowly shifting from God’s Plan to Man’s design. With influences rising left
and right, the family slowly finds itself being molded into different “new” cultural norms
Some of us might see the following as normal and “acceptable”:

 Emancipation [age of majority, military assignment, court order for custody of one
parent]
 Separated parents [annulment, divorce, legal separation]
 IVF babies
 LGBTQI parents
 “2nd family”
 Unmarried mother/fathers

Our current family set-up, no matter how “normal” or “unusual” it may seem, can never
be a hindrance for the God’s promise to be fulfilled in our lives. Through His grace, we can
still find ourselves experiencing the fullness of life only made possible with our Lord.
Because God’s plans for us is good and are not for disaster, to give all of us a future and a
hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, New Living Translation)
An example of someone who did not have the most ideal family was Joseph the Dreamer.
(Gen 37, Gen 39-46) What happened to him was a result of jealousy and anger – and yet
God made it possible for their family to be united once again, so that healing and
forgiveness can happen. Thus, the fulfilment of God’s plan became manifest in their lives.
V. THE MODEL FAMILY
A great challenge was also placed on Jesus’ family. Though He was the Son of God, Jesus grew
up in an unconventional family set-up. His mother Mary, through the Holy Spirit, had Jesus,
while she was still betrothed to St. Joseph. St. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus –
but St. Joseph took Jesus as his own. St. Joseph was anointed to lead the Holy Family though
he was not the biological father of Jesus.
Not everything in the Holy Family was ideal. It was not ideal that Mary would become
pregnant before her wedding. It was not ideal that St. Joseph’s bride to be was already
pregnant before their marriage. It was not ideal that Jesus would be born in a manger. Yet
thru every circumstance that they faced together, God’s will was always accepted and
embraced. They were united in their obedience and faithfulness to God. Regardless of the
circumstance of how the Holy Family was formed, the basic family orientation that God
wanted was present – there was a father, mother, and a child.
The Holy Family is what we should aspire to follow because of their:
A. Consistent Obedience to His Will

Joseph and Mary didn’t impose their own will on Jesus. Both of them raised Jesus fully
understanding that this was God’s holy child – and it was Him that should be followed. In
every circumstance, the Holy Family would move immediately as the Lord commanded.
B. Steadfast in their faith

Immediate understanding didn’t always happen for them. In fact, their hearts often had
to rely on sheer faith and trust in God. They lived their lives completely resting on God’s
grace and providence. (e.g. Joseph being asked by the angel to move to Egypt, Mary not
clearly understanding why Jesus ‘had to be in His Father’s house’)
C. Daily devotion to Prayer

They went to the temple as a family to worship, and participated in traditions that
honored God. Joseph and Mary were good parents, teaching Jesus about faith and what

it meant to practice them. They kept their lives holy in prayer, always discerning the will
of the Lord.
"The Holy Family is an icon of the domestic Church, which is called to pray together. The
family is the first school of prayer where, from their infancy, children learn to perceive God
thanks to the teaching and example of their parents.” – Feast of the Holy Family: Learning
to Love, Pray, and Live in the School of Nazareth by Deacon Keith Fournier
VI. PLACED IN OUR HANDS
What we have in our life is no ordinary gift. The family, our family, shapes not only ourselves
but the society that it belongs to. It is a “domestic church” and because it is a church in
essence, it naturally acquires the mission of the Church, to spread the love of Christ.
St. John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio (no. 86) reminds us today:
The future of humanity passes by the way of the family 2. It is through God’s original and
perfect design for the family that the society can secure its future.
Who we are and what we become through our families determine how this message will be
proclaimed. This gift becomes than just a pretty object in wrapping for it is now a gift that
comes a responsibility that we ought to:
1. Take care and treasure

Despite changing definitions, may we never lose sight of the real intention of God in the
family, to pro-create and spread love under the Sacrament of marriage.
2. Be grateful
We ought to live our lives in full gratitude to our family, most especially our parents who
brought us into this world and loved us. We ought to be grateful even for challenges
because it is through these that we have that desire to be united and grow.
3. Nurture and build upon it

Let us work hard to bring our families closer together and love each family member. Let
us not let our family relationships grow dry and distant. As SFCs, we are called to work
hard to keep it united in Christ. Pray for your family and dream for them.
(Speaker leads everyone into prayer)

Reflection
 Group in pairs (brother to brother, sister to sister)
 Bring out photos of your family and introduce your family to your partners
Questions:
 Share what you dream for and what you hope for in your family?
 What do you pray for in your family?

VII. CONCLUSION
“So the gift of the family and its place in God’s plan is entrusted to us so we can carry it
forward.” (Official statement of Pope Francis during the Meeting with the Families, MOA
Arena, Manila, Philippines 16 January 2015)
Let us look forward with faith, hope, and love in the masterpiece God has given us. Like any
other masterpiece, the creator’s intention and purpose of it will not always be immediately
realized. The beauty only comes fully into being when it is appreciated and loved.

SESSION 2: LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

ANCHOR VERSE
“Above all, let your love be intense, for love covers a multitude of sins” -1 Peter 4:10
OBJECTIVES
1. To identify the factors that affects God’s plan for the family.
2. To raise awareness of the prevalence of this situations.
3. To take concrete steps to address these situations.
KEY MESSAGES
1. Man has redesigned God’s plan for the family life which has become the source of family
problems, dysfunctional family situations.
2. As SFCs we need to be aware of the aware of the challenges that threaten family
structures and the nourishment of our family relationship. We need to be at the forefront
of resolving issues that threaten our families not be among those who caused them.
3. The response of an SFC to a family life that is in danger is LOVE.
TONE
Reflective and eye-opening. The session should encourage participants to reflect on how they
see their family and what they can do to love their family more.
SPEAKER’S PROFI LE
A CFC or SFC leader, brother or sister, who had experienced the challenges in his/her family life
i.e., came from a broken family, grew up with adopted parents, grew up with relatives, etc. yet
he/she put his/her hope in the plan of God for his/her family and was able to overcome these
challenges.
DYNAMICS
1. Talk Proper
2. Reflection Question

EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
Somehow, the world has redesigned the word “family” in a way that it negates God’s design
and plan for the family. The family is always under attack because it is one of the primary
ways that the Lord uses to express His love.
So why is evil targeting the family? Why is it so determined to ruin the family? Because the
family is where we all experienced the first manifestation of God’s love. It is the family that
sustains this experience of love, whether our family realities are good or challenging.
Before citing the realities that put the family structure into peril, it is good to revisit God’s
design for the family.
(Note to Speaker: it would be best to make a prior research in the statistics in your area on
the external factors such as co-habitation, separation & divorce for a more comprehensive
presentation)
II. EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT AFFECTS GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY
A. The Unconventional Definition of Family

Among the most apparent challenges to the family today is how society defines family.
The original design of God has been set aside to suit man’s purpose. We see a variety of
ways by which man has redesigned the family:
1. Parents are no longer composed of a man and a woman but of two persons (man or
woman), married or unmarried, who decides to live together and raise an off-spring.
2. Since a man and man or woman and woman union will not result in the creation of a
new life, children has become a label for their make-believe offspring like a pet animal
or sometimes inanimate object such as a toy.
B. Co-habitation Among Couples in a Relationship

Given the redesigned family set-up, couples opt to co-habitate. This is also true for a man
and a woman who refuse to commit to one another through marriage.
1. Co-habitation is commonly referred to as “moving in together or living together”.
It describes a relationship between a man and woman who are sexually active and
share a place of residence, though they are not married3. Many unmarried couples
living together would always reason out “convenience” as their reason for living in
together. Convenience should not be a basis for making a decision that will affect your
entire life. Married life is sometimes inconvenient and even demanding. Co-habitation
for convenience is poor preparation for that kind of commitment.4

2. Co-habitation negates God’s design for sexual union.
The primary purpose of sexual union are: strengthening marriage love and sharing
that love with children. The Scripture reminds us clearly about it, Mark 10:6-8 But
from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason, a
man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall
become one flesh. Psalm 127:3 Children too are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the
womb, a reward. Cohabitation works against the heart’s deepest desires and
greatly increases the chances of a failed marriage.
3. Separation & Divorce
Another threat to family life is separation and divorce. While majority of couples
decide to get married, we also hear a lot of stories about couples deciding to end their
marriage by filing for an annulment, divorce, or separation.
a. Fear of commitment mentality so prevalent among many single people

i. “They are the most ideal couple I know, yet they broke up a few years into
their marriage. If they cannot make it work out, I don’t think I can either.”
ii. “I came from a broken family, I am afraid my future family will suffer the same
fate.”
b. Disheartening stories of infidelities and “break-ups” that causes divorce and

separation are rampant in our society today. We would often hear stories of
married man (or woman) having relationships with another woman (or man) that
is not his/her wife/husband. The Scripture reminds us, “Therefore, what God has
joined together, no human being must separate” Mark 10:9. While the Scripture
is very clear about this reminder, many has fallen into the sin of adultery causing
pain among husband and wives, their children and the people around them.
4. Express Marriage
We are faced with the threat of “express marriage” in the world today. Men & Women
would often rush into getting married without thinking of the commitment that
comes along with it. Pope Francis reminds us “An ‘express marriage’ doesn’t exist. We
have to work for love. We have to journey in the relationship of love between a man
and a woman until it learns (and) until it grows”.
5. Poverty
Poverty also poses a challenge to the family. Familiaris Consortio also notes this
situation, “Worthy of our attention also is the fact that, in the countries of the so-called
Third World, families often lack both the means necessary for survival such as

food, work, housing and medicine and the most elementary freedoms.5. Parents and
sometimes children opt to leave home to work to other places or abroad. This
separation could sometimes lead to marital failures and estranged children.
III. INTERNAL FACTORS THAT AFFECTS GOD’S DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY
Given the external factors that poses challenges to the family, we also need to look at it in a
personal level. Are we aware of our own family condition? What has become of God’s gift to
us? We need to this clearly among ourselves so we can help our family and help other families
as well.
A. Past Hurts
1. Memories of hurt and pain inflicted (consciously or not) by a family member
remain. The unforgiving attitude usually results in strained relationships. There
are also instances when a relationship has been mended but the person will be
reminded of a past experience that will make him or her wary about a family
member.
2. Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a
grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.”
B. Lack of Presence
1. The reality of people working in different places result in a family that is only
connected through phone calls, social media, occasional visits.
2. The reality of people working in mid or evening shifts result in a family that is
together but barely communicates face to face.
3. TV and technology have alienated family members. They may all be physically
present in the same room but they do not mind each other.
4. Sacred family time such as attending mass or eating meals together are no longer
the norm.
5. Absentee Parent(s)
C. Conflicting Pursuits and Disordered Priorities

1. While it is healthy to want to accomplish something as an individual, it may be at
the expense of your own family.
i. Children who are already earning (and sometimes, even more than
their parents) feel as if their parents no longer have authority over them.
ii. Children or parents are so driven to earn or achieve something that they
no longer interact with their children ie., going to work early and going
home late, working on weekends etc.,
2. Even simple things such as hobbies or activities may create friction or distance
among family members.
3. More and more parents are opting to work abroad to secure a better future for
their children however, their absence sometimes contributes to the “hurts” of
their children e.g. feeling abandoned, unimportant, lack of mother/father figure.

D. Deteriorating Moral Values

1. A child’s morals and values is first developed at home. If the child is properly
molded and guided by the parents, then he/she will likely grow up with a firm
moral and values system.
2. However, peer pressure may test this system. Children usually pick up vices
because of their friends.
3. At this point, parents may no longer have a solid influence on their children who
tend to think the following:
i. I’m old enough to do this.
ii. My parents are so conservative. They don’t understand what’s cool these
days.
iii. I don’t think my friends will make me try something that will be bad for
me.
4. Problem arises when the child listens more to their peers rather than their
parents. This causes division in the relationship—parents would feel insignificant
in the lives of their children and the children would feel misunderstood by the
parents.
i. An “I know better” attitude may keep a child from obeying his parents.
ii. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents (in the Lord), for this is right.
Honor your father and mother.
iii. Proverbs 1:8 Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your
mother’s teaching
IV. LOVE BEYOND MEASURE
As SFCs, we are called to share the love of Christ of others—to love more is our way of life.
This call to love more includes, more importantly, our families. In a world where the family
has somehow lost its significance in our life, we are called to love our own families despite its
imperfection because we have experienced being loved beyond our own imperfections.
(Note to Speaker: L-O-V-E is the answer to the internal factors that affects the family)
A. Look beyond our own selves

To look beyond is to look past at a person’s faults. Because we are sinners, we should
forgive others. Love and forgiveness cannot be separated. If we choose to live out the
love of God as the purpose of our life, then forgiving is an option that cannot be avoided.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has
forgiven you in Christ”.
To love beyond measure is also a call to be ready to forgive over and over again. Let love
lead you to forgiving others. Acceptance is key. We accept our families regardless of its
imperfection simply because we believe that God blesses us through our family.

B. Open our Hearts

We need to allow ourselves to be the bridge that connects our family members together.
Our families might have been divided by gaps that were caused by difference in priorities
and pursuits among one another and it is our sublime duty to be an instrument of healing
in our families. Bearing in mind that our family is a gift, there should be no competition
among one another. Each member carry their family name—a seat of privilege that was
passed on by our parents.
As family, it also means that members share one bloodline—a bond that is inimitable. We
should rid ourselves of selfishness and be humble when we relate to others especially our
family. The Scripture reminds us of this attitude as well Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out
of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than
yourselves.” Let us open our hearts to love and receive love in return.
C. Value Time
Spend time with your family. Before you go out and spend time with other people, keep
in mind your family. Share a meal with them, have a chat over coffee with your parents,
go window shopping with your siblings. Go to church together with your family. It’s the
little things that we do that will make our families feel the presence of God in us.
Matthew 5:16 “Just so, your light must shine before others that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your father in heaven”. We too are called to be the light to own families,
a light that will remind them of God’s goodness.
D. Express love
“The true measure of love is to love beyond measure.”
We give love until it hurts for love comes with a price. The love that we have received
comes with a price of the Cross. When we give more, we learn to die to our own
selfishness and learn to humbly acknowledge that we are nothing before God yet we are
loved beyond measure. Let us express our love through words and actions and make our
family know how much we value them and love them.
V. CONCLUSION
The family, in the world today, is in danger. While it is impossible for us to change or to control
the external factors that affects the family today, the way we live our lives and how we love
our family can change the way the world defines the family. We need to be the change that
the world needs.
We need to stand up and defend the family that we are blessed with. Our families may have
its imperfections but we need to look past this and allow the grace of God to heal whatever
hurts this imperfections might have caused us.

REFLECTION
Looking at my family, how can I start to love them unconditionally and beyond measure?
References:
1) The Family in the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Cardinal William J. Levada
2) Familiaris Consortio by St. John Paul II
3) Catholic News Angency
4) Ibid.,
5) Familiaris Consortio by St. John Paul II

SESSION 3: WAY BACK HOME

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your
God gives you.” - Exodus 20:12
OBJECTIVES
1. To inform the participants that to honor, respect and love our parents is a commandment
from God.
2. To provide the participants an overview of the roles of parents.
3. To help them gain more awareness in what they have been feeling in their relationship
towards their parents.
4. To give examples to the participants on how to honor, respect and love our parents
despite hurts or brokenness in the relationship
KEY MESSAGES
1. We are commanded by God to love our parents by honoring and respecting them.
However, because of imperfections and uncontrolled circumstances. This has never been
easy to fulfill.
2. We have, at some point, felt hurt from the relationship we have with them. God still calls
us to follow the commandment through acceptance, forgiveness, and expressing more
love.
3. As SFCs, we ought to remain grateful, knowing that God still gave them to us as a gift, to
take care of and love.
TONE
Challenging and Introspective. This session, though it begins with a humorous note, aims to help
the participants examine their relationship with their parents, and how they feel about it.
SPEAKER’S PROFILE
A parent (can be a FTW, SFC Couple Coordinator, or CFC leader) someone who must have had
difficulty in honoring and respecting his/her parent but was able to overcome those moments
and now has a good and strong relationship with them; someone who has appreciated deeply
his/her parents through the relationship he/she has now – with their own children.
DYNAMICS
1. Talk Proper
2. Letter from the Parents Activity
 Prior to this retreat, it is important that the service team, through each participant’s
household heads, ask the participant’s parents to write a letter for them.
 If in any case that parents are unable to write (by choice or by circumstance),
household heads may ask letters from participant’s closest family member / guardian
/ siblings

 As they are given the letter in this part of the session, keep a solemn and reflective
atmosphere through accompanying music.
 Allow the participant’s time to read and absorb what they read in the letter.
 Speaker may guide the participants to pray as they do.
3. Reflection from the book “Captivating”
4. Conclusion
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
The first relationship and encounter a child would have is with his or her parents. From the
stirrings inside the mother's womb, an intimate relationship is started and built up. This
relationship is the most universal since a child's foundation and moral obligation is formed
through his/her parents or elders/ancestors. Because of its value, God places great
importance in keeping the relationship together at all costs through establishing His
commandment of honoring our parents.
The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue. It shows us the order of
charity. God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents to whom we owe life
and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God. We are obliged to honor and respect
all those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority. - CCC 2197
We are commanded by God to respect, honor, and love our parents for the simple and most
concrete reason, that they are the ones who gave us life. However, growing up, many of us
often tend to forget this very important fact. As we learn to make our decisions and
understand deeper the lives that we live in, we begin to rely less on our parents and more on
ourselves. As a result, we tend to show actions that reflect a lack of honor and respect for
them. Through the grace of memory, we are called to remember God’s original design in the
relationship we have with our parents – and the special anointing He gave them, in order for
us to experience the life we have now.
II. THE ANOINTING OF PARENTS
God has given a specific anointing to our parents, a special mission of entrustment given by
God to the people entrusted to reflect His very nature. Called into a sacred union of marriage,
they were given the special task of bringing us into this world. We become God’s gift to our
parents, receiving us, in order to love, to educate, to provide for, and protect. Thus, our
parents are anointed by God to:
Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons.
Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children
to fulfil God's law. (CCC 2222)

A. Give us life
Through the human bodies of our parents and the Spirit of God, our parents brought us
into this world with life. We were born helpless, defenseless, and in deep need of
continuous care. They fed us, kept us warm, took care of our daily needs.
Like Mary, she bore Jesus in her womb and gave birth to him. Upon learning from the
magi that Herod was looking for Jesus to kill him, Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to
Egypt (Mt. 2:12-23). In other words, more than just bringing us into this world, part of
giving life also includes:
 Providing for our needs
 Making sure that we are able to live in a home that makes us feel secure and safe
 Nourishing us with food and emotional care and support
B. Be our first teachers to guide us in how we should live our lives
Our parents are typically the first people that we meet as we begin to exist in this world.
These people stand to be both our teachers and our guardians, persons that impart to us
their values, and help us learn skills. We received our first instructions from our parents.
We acquired our first words and first set of skills from our parents. Through them, we
start to learn:
 How to make decisions
 Distinguish what is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable
 Our own capabilities and our possible potential
 How to interact with others –
Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness
to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect,
fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the
virtues. CCC 2222-2223
.
C. Be witnesses of God in our lives
Part of our parents’ anointing is to serve as good role models and living examples of
Christ’s love. Reflecting the image of God the Father, they are called to make God’s love
real through their actions and their ways of parenting. More than being their children, we
are first and foremost God’s children and so our parents are called to lead us in knowing
our Father in heaven. As witnesses, they are called to:
 Help us know our faith by bringing us into experiencing the Sacraments in our faith
 Teach us about Jesus and who He is personally
 Be living examples of Jesus’ teachings in order for us to have a life of prayer and
faith (Lk. 2:22-38)

Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing
how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to
guide and correct them: - CCC 2222 – 2223)
III. THE SCARS WE CARRY
It is an understatement to say that the task placed upon our parents is not easy. Our parents
are accountable to God for how we live, love, and serve Him. Just as God the Father deeply
loves His children on earth and does everything He can for our sake, our parents, too, have
that call of living selfless and sacrificial lives for our sake.
Just like anyone, our parents are imperfect too. Living with these imperfections can come
across as a great challenge living here in this world. Having several responsibilities, they are
also in the mission of protecting us from “the things of this world”.
Most often, we tend to forget these things. We forget to see our parents in this light. Growing
up, we have experienced hurts as a result of these imperfections, personal mistakes, or
circumstances that our families face. Sadly, we have the tendency to blame our parents for
these things – having an innate expectation that they should’ve “loved us better”. Growing
up, we probably have:
A. Felt distant from our parents
Our hurts often come from resentment or estrangement as a result of the distance we
feel from our parents. Either by our parent’s choice or circumstance, some of us may have
experienced:
 Having our parents physically present but emotionally absent (either consumed
with work or other priorities aside from spending time with us).
 Being left at home while one of them/both of them choose to work outside the
country – ending up seeing them only occasionally, and not being with them
during important and vital moments of our lives.
 Wanting to feel something more – either more love or more physical presence.
Some of us know that they are “generally okay” with their parents but know deep
inside that there can be something more, closeness and authentic love is lacking
– seeing this through robotic or obligatory ways of showing love.
B. Felt abandoned
Our hurts may also have come from feeling left alone to fend for ourselves completely as
a result of our parents removing us from their responsibilities. Either by our parent’s
choice or unexpected circumstance, some of us may have experienced:
 Being offered up for adoption – either because our parents didn’t have the
capability to raise or because of the fear of being a parent to us, resulting in us not

seeing and knowing each other. In the end, we lost that mother/father figure that
ought to help us in growing up.
 Being left behind for another family - either because their marriage wasn’t strong
enough to work, born out of wedlock, or marital infidelity – we became the
casualty of their decision, leaving us wondering who to go to and depend on
C. Felt angry or in pain from misunderstandings and mistakes
Though our family is “intact”, some of us are probably still nursing the hurt we felt through
unresolved family issues, holding on to more bitterness. At some point, we may have felt:
 Bashed with hurtful words as a result of anger during arguments. Our parents may
have said things (knowingly or unknowingly) that hurt us and remain as scars in
our hearts.
 Annoyed and frustrated with being caught in between unresolved issues between
family members, resulting to having less time to act as a family and more time for
hate and anger.
 Abused (verbally, emotionally, mentally, or physically), feeling completely
disoriented and unsure about the concept of parent and most of all and distorted
with the concept of love
IV. FINDING THE WAY BACK HOME
The Greek word for honor in its simplest form means to "give high regard", to value highly,
to respect, prize and value. Honoring our parents is not an easy task. It becomes more difficult
when we are left unhealed from the hurts in our relationship with them, or when we become
our own individuals and them not always approving our decisions. Moreover, taking care of
our ageing parents is becomes more difficult because as they grow older and weaker, we also
learn that to honor and respect them requires concrete sacrifices. This means giving up our
own time and treasure to cater to their needs and wants.
This is why the Lord’s commandment is not only God’s order. It is also comes with God’s
promise.
“Children, obey your parents [in the Lord], for this is right. “Honor your father and mother.”
This is the first commandment with a promise, “that it may go well with you and that you may
have a long life on earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up
with the training and instruction of the Lord. (Eph 6: 1-4)
God establishes it as a command because He puts great emphasis in teaching us the

importance of family, of learning and trusting in someone ANNOINTED to be “in authority”
over us, accountable for our welfare. In spite of their failures and shortcomings, this anointing
is never taken away from them. We are who we are because of them. We recognize that God
wants us to learn from something from our parents, whether they have been good role
models or not.

Through the example of Jesus in the Holy Family, we look to Jesus in how He treated His
parents. As SFCs, our first mission is to love our families. Because of this – in order to return
to God’s original masterpiece of love, we are called to honor and respect our parents by:
A. Accepting them despite of their mistakes
Seeing their imperfections and knowing ours at the same time should lead us towards a
deeper acceptance and compassion for them. Through grace, we are called to understand
that they too, may have been victims of their own parents’ hurts. In grace, we learn to
deal with their imperfections and grow into a deeper respect for that they have done
good despite any of their shortcomings. We could:
 Show great respect for their own opinions and wisdom by listening to them and
considering their inputs.
 Asking them for advice, knowing that they can help us through their personal
experiences.
 Be more helpful to them with their needs as they grow old, as we also remember
how much they have done for us when we were still young
“O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives; even if
he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your strength do not despise him.
. . . Whoever forsakes his father is like a blasphemer, and whoever angers his mother is
cursed by the Lord. (Sirach 3:12-13;16)
B. Seeking to forgive them and being open to give them another chance to be parents to
us (mend and restore relationships)
It is not easy to forgive. In fact, for some, the abuse we have felt may take “a lifetime” to
get over from. However, it is only through God’s grace that we can forgive and experience
the start of healing. Love means choosing what is best for another regardless of the costs.
This means that sometimes, even distance is needed for healing to properly take place –
and this can still be a manner of respect and honor to them, -- by refusing to add to the
hurt and allowing each to take time in mending each one’s brokenness, hoping for the
best without grudge or revenge, and most of all praying for them. Forgiveness is one key
to keep a relationship. It may take time, but as SFCs, we should work towards it.
C. Constantly reaching out to them to express love (despite feeling distant)
"With all your heart honor your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.
Remember that through your parents you were born; what can you give back to them that
equals their gift to you?" (Sirach 7:27-28)

As SFCs, we are called to express love in our first mission, our families – more so our
parents. It may not be easy for us to express love but God honors every little act we do to
make others feel His presence. We are called to show love concretely to inspire further
the culture of love now, and in our future families. We can start with simple acts of:
 Offering to help them in our errands instead of prioritizing our own needs first.
 Send messages even through phone, email, or social media to let them know that
you are there for them.
 A simple genuine pat on the back or hug.
 Simple gifts of thoughtfulness to remind them that they are always cared for.
 Invite them to a life of prayer or join the community
Aside from our parents, some of us may have had the opportunity to have another person
stand as our “Second Parents”, our Couple Coordinators, our relatives (aunt or uncles), or
elders who stood by us through these years, guiding us and loving us. We, too, should
honor and respect them.
V. CONCLUSION
Giving us life, seeking to show us love, and giving us a chance to know Christ, we are reminded
to be grateful for everything that and anything that they have done. As we live our lives
seeking to fulfill the fourth commandment, may our love for our parents be a reflection of
our ultimate love for God. May our lives be a translation of gratefulness for the life we have
received through them.
REFLECTION
 Speaker leads participants into prayer.
 Speaker may use these lines to encourage the participants to reflect more.
From the book Captivating:

"First, God led me into taking a much closer look at my own father. Who has he really? How
did he really feel about me? What did I even remember? God invited me to go with him into
the deep places of my heart that were hidden and wounded and bleeding still from the
heartbreaks and wounds I had received from my father's hand. Places I did not want to go.
Memories I did not want to revisit. Emotions I did not want to feel.
The only reason I said yes to God, the only reason I would travel there, was because I knew he
would go with me. Hand in hand. He would hold my heart. And I had come to trust his. There
is a core part of our hearts that was made for Daddy. Made for his strong and tender love.
That part is still there, and longing. Open it to Jesus and to your Father God. Ask him to come
and love you there. Meet you there. We've all tried so hard to find the fulfillment of this love
in other people, and it never, ever works. Let us give this treasure back to the One who can
love us best."

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. How can I concretely love my parents more?
2. How can I honor my father and mother and those who have stood like parents to me?
3. Are there moments when I feel that cannot respect and obey my parents? Why and what
should I do to the force of love in my family?
Sources:
CCC 2217-2223
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a4.htm
http://www.aggiecatholicblog.org/2014/08/how-do-you-fulfill-the-commandment-to-honor-
your- father-mother-when-they-abuse-you/

SESSION 4: FRIENDSHIP OF A LIFETIME

ANCHOR VERSE
“Children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and truth.” John 3:18
OBJECTIVES
1. To emphasize our role in the family as manifested in the relationship we have with our
brothers and sisters
2. To explain how our relationship with our brother and sisters reflect God’s sincere
and everlasting friendship with us.
3. To encourage everyone to commit concrete actions of love, respect, and generosity in
order to witness God’s love within their family.
KEY MESSAGES
1. We are all called to be a gift to our families, especially to our brothers and sisters.
2. All siblings are challenged with issues concerning their relationship with one another.
Imperfect as we all are, we are called to love, respect, and be generous.
3. As SFCs, we have a commitment to bring Christ’s love to our families by becoming faithful
to our covenant and witness in love to them. We are called to START NOW.
TONE
Enlightening and Encouraging. Spoken through a vibrant and lively tone, the session is an eye-
opener on issues present among siblings. Speaker must be able to talk about these issues without
being overemotional about each situation. Instead, the goal is to lift up the hearts of the
participants.
SPEAKER’S PROFILE
An CFC or SFC who has siblings and has a lot of personal experiences to share regarding
their relationship; A speaker who is arresting, able to capture the attention of the audience and
drive out the points of the talk without being overemotional.
DYNAMICS
1. Talk Proper
2. Reflective Letter Writing Activity (before The Mission is Now part)
 In this activity, participants are instructed to write a letter as a response of
love, forgiveness, and trust to their parents.
 The speaker shall guide them by realizing that though their families have a
lot of imperfection, we are who we are because of them – for this we ought to be
thankful.
3. Conclusion

EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
Aside from blessing us with parents to take care and love us, God also places us in the
company of people that can love us and keep us company, simply because they can relate
with us in so many ways – our brothers and sisters. If our parents help us define who we are,
these people help us understand who we are in relation to others, to our peers. This
relationship pushes us to take a look at our roles and how we are in relation to them.
II. THE TEMPTATION WE FACE
Just like our parents, God also gives us our brothers and sisters as a gift, for a special purpose.
However, temptations surround us, causing us to harbor ill-thoughts and cause sin toward
each other. Instead of seeing them precious and God-given, someone we can trust and rely
on, we see them as people to compete with, over power, or push-out. At some point, we
have experienced:
A. Envy with their successes and Self-pity w ith o ur own “failures”
Sometimes, we are tempted to compare the love we receive from our parents with how
they show their love for others. Our personal insecurities and the temptation of envy
pushes us to not be happy for them, making their successes in life as a reason to form
resentments against them. Instead of feeling joyful, we become unhappy with ourselves
and their company.
 Another sibling earns more – and thus is able to contribute more to the family
than we can.
 Another sibling has more luxuries that we dream of.
 Another sibling receives parents’ approval with regard to choices in life
NOTE: Speaker may relate this point to the story in the bible regarding - Envy within
siblings – Joseph, son of Jacob was the envy of his brothers so they sold him off as a slave.
(Gen. 37:26-28)
B. Anger and Misunderstandings
Mistakes and wrongdoing can often cause a lot of tension between us and our brothers
and sisters. Sometimes, we become defiant, justifying our wrong doing. On another
hand, sometimes, we get mad and act self-righteous in seeing the mistakes done by our
brothers and sisters.
Instead of being of forgiving and compassionate, we would rather distance ourselves,

causing our hearts to be hardened to any effort that we receive from the other person.

We become cold-hearted and harbor ill thoughts towards another, refusing to take time
to listen.
 Being aloof to their presence in the home
 Rebelliousness against a sibling who refused to offer help and support when we
needed it
NOTE: Speaker may site story from the bible regarding - Jealousy among brothers – Cain’s
jealousy resulted with him murdering his brother Abel. (Gen. 4))
C. Pride and Selfishness
Sometimes, the roles we play in our family cause more fear than offer friendship towards
our brothers and sisters. Instead of creating an atmosphere of openness and generosity
towards each other, we often fall into the temptation of thinking that we are “better”
than them. These temptations shift the atmosphere to a more competitive environment
in the home, resulting in bullying, competition, and disrespect.
 Prioritizing the self over their needs when they ask for help
 Having the mindset that “they will never learn”
NOTE: Speaker may site story from the bible regarding – Selfishness in wanting to take
away somebody else’s blessing and birthright – Isaac loved Esau, while Rebekah loved
Jacob (Gen.25:28)
III. THE FRIENDSHIP FOR A LIFETIME
God creates the masterpiece of a brother-sister relationship to help us understand the

FRIENDSHIP God has with us. Through our brothers and sisters, we realize that a special bond
can be formed between God and man – more than just seeing God as someone to be
“followed”/(authoritative figure), we can also see Him as our constant companion and our
friend. In other words, we are called to be a gift to others by receiving and offering eternal
and irrevocable friendship to our brothers and sisters.
Friendships allow us to see who we are in relation to others. Our brothers and sisters are
given to us by God to be the friendship that would last a lifetime, no matter what happens.
This kind of learning ought to provide a very inspiring way of living life joyfully for the Lord,
knowing that we have people who understand us and can be with us every step of the way,
a friendship that will never end.
This kind of relationship that is intended to last forever will go through challenges and
difficulties. Thus, it implies a continuous effort to work hard to nourish and protect it. Through
the wisdom of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, God is calling us to:
“Teach your children to love one another. Teach your children to have respect for each other.
Teach your children to share.” –Mother Teresa

A. Love One Another
This irrevocable friendship calls for a persevering love. This means we are called to accept
one another as they are in spite of their imperfections. Along with this acceptance, comes a
proactive way of correcting our siblings’ wrongdoing, most especially with the mindset of
protecting the honor of our family members. To love one another also means allowing several
simple expressions of love that need not be forced, but made sure that it is felt in different
ways. In other words, our homes should be a place where the love experience can help us
grow.
NOTE: The following questions can be said by the speaker to help the participant start with
their reflection.
• Is there anyone I know who needs to feel more loved and special attention?
• Have I done anything about it?
B. Have mutual respect and honor for one another
This means honoring the birthright of our older siblings, and having special care for our
younger ones. We do not see each other as competition but as people we can learn from
and grow with. We do not only give respect to the opinions of our older siblings but also
give chance to listen and value the opinions of the younger ones.
The home should be a place for all members of the family to feel secure. This means that
we ought to speak with love and kindness to one another, avoiding labeling, shouting, or
belittling.
their reflection.
• Is there anyone I know that I consciously or unknowingly belittle or disrespect?

• Have I done anything about it?
C. Share and Be Open to one another
Since this is a lifetime friendship given by God, it needs to be worked on. This calls for
setting special time with them, not just as something that should be scheduled, but as
seeing the relationship as a gift that should constantly be taken care of and nourished.
This sharing of time leads to a habit of openness, allowing each other to share thoughts,
stories, and advice – to help each other grow and be encouraged in times of trial. Our
friendship with our brothers and sisters also calls for constant effort to reach out despite

the distance placed between the both of you, offering presence, assurance of love and
SUPPORT IN TIME OF NEED. Thus, an unbroken state of BEING THERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
their reflection.
• When was the last time that I have bonded/spent quality time with our brothers
and sisters? Have I really gotten to know them?
• What can I do about this?
Some of you may be wondering how you can be called to fulfill this role as a brother or sister
if you don’t have any siblings. Remember, however unique our family setup is, even if we are
living alone, we need to recognize that we are never alone. (Read CCC Chapter 2, Article 4,
2212)
As Christians, our relationship extends to our cousins/relatives, fellow citizens, members of

our Church, and to every human person. Our roles in the family stay the same. We need to
recognize this first, so we can begin to fulfill our mission within our families.
CCC Chapter 2, Article 4, 212: The fourth commandment illuminates other relationships
in society. In our brothers and sisters we see the children of our parents; in our cousins,
the descendants of our ancestors; in our fellow citizens, the children of our country; in the
baptized, the children of our mother the Church; in every human person, a son or daughter
of the One who wants to be called "our Father." In this way our relationships with our
neighbors are recognized as personal in character. The neighbor is not a "unit" in the
human collective; he is "someone" who by his known origins deserves particular attention
and respect.
REFLECTIVE LETTER WRITING ACTIVITY
Coming from the previous activity where they were able to reflect upon their family situation.
We are now given the opportunity to respond to the letter we received from our parents and
also to write to our siblings to express what is in our hearts.
Speaker comes in after the activity to continue with talk proper.
IV. THE MISSION IS NOW
As Singles for Christ, we are often confronted with the reality where we eagerly serve others
in the community, but when it comes to our own family, we fall short of bearing-witness to
Christ’s love and mercy. We have a unique role to play in our family and no one else can do
it for us. Embodied within our covenant is the call to shed God’s light within our family. To do
this, we need to start at home. We’ve heard of the saying: “family comes first,” and it is true
with our service and commitment. Be reminded of what we committed to during our CLPs:

• Become an instrument of unity in our family.

• Bring our family members into the community of CFC.
• Become effective role models to the younger members of our family and be good
• Christian witnesses at home.
• Intercede daily for our family.
V. CONCLUSION
God has given us our siblings to love us and for us to love, through a special irrevocable
friendship centered on Him. Let us take on these challenges knowing full well that it is in
loving our siblings, in being an instrument of unity in the family, and bringing each member
to God that we obey Him, experience Him and love Him more.

SESSION 5: THE LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL

ANCHOR VERSE
‘’Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
OBJECTIVES
1. To explain and help the participants understand the kind of love that God wants us to
have in our families and for other families
2. To explain the mission of Singles for Christ in our families
3. To show concrete ways on how SFCs can take part in building the Church of the Home, as
a single person and as future couples for Christ
KEY MESSAGES
1. We are grateful to have a family that reflects the beauty of God‘s plan. Through
everything, we know that we are called to do something for this gift that He has given us.
2. To protect its beauty, we are called to express a love that bears, believes, hopes, and
endures in all things.
3. More than just expressing it our families, we are called to be united with our families in
order to reach out to others, sharing with them the reality of God’s love.
TONE
Challenging and Exciting. This session presents concrete ways on how we should stand up for the
beauty of God’s design for the family.
SPEAKER’S PROFILE
A CFC leader or a couple coordinator, preferably also from SFC, who experienced difficulties and
challenges in his/her family when he/she was still single but was able to overcome it with God’s
grace. He/she in turn brought with him/her all the learnings and the values that comes from
his/her experiences as he/she now builds his/her own family and participate in God’s plan for the
family. The speaker could also be Sharer #4

EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION
Realizing everything, the good memories and the painful moments we had in our families, we
realize that God has created our families uniquely beautiful, full of meaning and purpose,
constantly seeking to complement each other.
We are all God’s masterpiece. This means God’s bring to mind that the beauty of families is
something to behold, appreciated, and protect. Our family, imperfect as it may seem, has
helped us to become who we are. He has used our family to mold and prepare us for the
fulfillment of His plan.
Our family is and will always remain to be a gift to each one of us no matter what the
circumstance. Placed in the perfect canvass of a family, we are woven constantly in His love
to produce a grander masterpiece, serving an irreplaceable role in God’s plan for humanity.
II. THE LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL
Our family has become not just a masterpiece we hang on our walls or an enclosed glass
frames as decorations, they have become real treasures in our lives. It is because of its great
value that we need to love our family. Not just love for the sake of loving, but loving like the
love of Jesus – a love that bears all things, believes in all things, hopes in all things and endures
all things. In the family, God encourages us to have a love that:
A. Bears our challenges with patience and humility (like Jesus)
Jesus’ love for us, made him bear all things. From being God to being man. From a simple
life with his family and friends to a complex life of mission and persecution. From
convenience to the cross. Through His example, we are urged by the Holy Spirit to bear
our challenges with the patience and humility of heart.
• From complaining to praying dutifully for our families everyday

• From being sad and emotional to choosing to remain joyful and cheerful through
the struggles
• From selfishness to making sacrifices
As He bore our sins through carrying the cross, we, too, are called to love as we bear
difficulties, help carry another’s burden, and share in one another’s suffering.
B. Believes in the good and Hopes for the best in others
Our society today is experiencing a great change in its values and belief system. We can
now feel and see the effect of this change From being conservative catholics to

cafeteria catholics – choosing to do what we only want to do and when to do it. From self-
giving to prioritizing the self. From God’s Plan for family and marriage being redrawn into
Man’s design.
Despite these changes, the way God intended us to be – our very core, has still that innate
capability to do good and be good. This is why God never gave up on us. Despite drowning
in sin, He sent Jesus to give us another chance to repent and save us.
In the same way, He calls us to further believe in the goodness of others, especially our
family members, having a heart that HOPES for God’s will to happen in time. As SFCs, we
are called to a bigger mission of having a love that believes in the goodness God placed in
society through the family. We can contribute to this mission by:
1. Keeping and believing in the Sanctity of Marriage

A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family
(CCC 2202). This is God’s design for His Masterpiece – that family life starts in the
sacrament of matrimony where husbands and wives established themselves as
partners for their entire life, to complete the mission of procreation and education of
their children. We are called to personally:
• Choose to receive this sacrament in the context of a matrimonial vow presided

by a priest, within the realms of the Catholic Church.
• Encourage our friends to receive this sacrament and see this as a way to
receive grace to live out married life.
• Encourage husbands and wives to seek ways to keep their marriage intact –
fruitful and faithful.
• To keep our relationships with our bf/gf (now or in the future) pure and chaste,
preparing ourselves for the bigger responsibility of married life.
• Being proud to proclaim and advocate purity and pro-life
2. Praying for and Pursuing our Vocation

More than just being married or choosing Holy order, pursuing our vocation means
learning to understand the purpose and loving the life that God has given us. We are
called to live out our vocation now by fulfilling our role as a daughter/son, or brother
and sister. Learning our roles now prepares us for the greater challenge of leading
families in the future.
3. Never lose that HOPE

Hope will keep us walking in this journey, seeking to see the vision become a reality.
People without hope are defeated and see no reason in living as well. This hope is
asked of us for our families and society.
Our family members may have committed mistakes in the past or there are still
broken relationships or family issues that are still unresolved. Our society might have

changed for the worst, but let us keep that hope, bearing in mind that God created
each one of us with goodness. Believe and hope that one day, in God’s perfect time
everything will come into its place as what He did numerous times in the lives of His
people.
C. Endures and perseveres in the mission of family
Believing and hoping will not be complete without action. Jesus did not just believe and
hope. He chose the way of the Cross for our Salvation. It is His enduring love that saves
mankind. It is the refusal to come down form the cross that pushed the mission into
victory, from death to life.
The mission of loving humanity did not end with Jesus dying on the cross. The mission to
love has been shared to humanity – from Jesus to the apostles to the disciple, to the
community of believers to the Church, to the family, to us. We are called to express love
that stands the test of time, to be there for our family members till the end, despite not
seeing the fruits of our efforts. To have an enduring love means to continue until the end.
This means that we ought to do everything we can to:
• Lead other people, especially our family members, closer to God despite being
rejected, ignored, or laughed at
• Apply the Word of God and continuing to do good in our daily lives
• Receive and participating in the sacraments consistently
• Go the outside our comfort zones to love and serve one another (Church,
Community, Society, Country)
III. CONCLUSION
Our families are God’s masterpieces, a God-given gift entrusted to us to love, protect, and
nourish. And so it is with this value that we give our lives for it and help each other to achieve
God’s plan, not just for our family, but for all the families in the world. This decision to love
our family greatly without bounds, ultimately brings victory in our lives. Whatever happens,
the love that we give and offer will never be in vain. We might not be able to see its effects
now but we know that we have a love that victorious, a love never fails.

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CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

It seeks to achieve the following objectives:

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 2

Session 1: God’s Masterpiece

Session 2: Love Beyond Measure

Session 3: Way Back Home

Session 4: Friendship of a Lifetime

Needed Materials: letter writing

Session 5: Love that Conquers All

Day 1: Saturday (afternoon)

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 3

01:00 PM Teaching of songs & Afternoon Prayer

Day 2: Sunday Morning

For any inquiries and feedback, please email us at [email protected]

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 4

SESSSION 1: GOD’S MASTERPIECE

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 5

Points for the sharing:

II. DEFINITION OF FAMILY

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 6

III. THE FAMILY AS GOD’s MASTERPIECE

What do we mean when we say masterpiece?

A. First experience the love of God

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 7

B. Learn how to love

C. Form who we are and solidify our identity

D. Relate with others

E. Discover our Purpose

A collection of individuals different from one another, placed together in an irrevocable

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 8

NOTE: Task of the Christian Family (CCC 2204-2206)

IV. THE REALITY OF GOD’S MASTERPIECE

There are two realities affecting the modern family today:

A. Unconventional Family Setups due to Socio-economic factors (structures).

Some of us may have grown up with:

B. Shifting definitions and changing ways of living -- Socio-cultural factors.

Some of us might see the following as normal and “acceptable”:

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 9

V. THE MODEL FAMILY

The Holy Family is what we should aspire to follow because of their:

A. Consistent Obedience to His Will

B. Steadfast in their faith

C. Daily devotion to Prayer

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 10

VI. PLACED IN OUR HANDS

1. Take care and treasure

3. Nurture and build upon it

(Speaker leads everyone into prayer)

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 11

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 12

SESSION 2: LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 13

A. The Unconventional Definition of Family

B. Co-habitation Among Couples in a Relationship

1. Co-habitation is commonly referred to as “moving in together or living together”.

PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 14

2. Co-habitation negates God’s design for sexual union.

3. Separation & Divorce