CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS

World Assembly of Families and ICCFM General Assembly in 2010 Goa, India The World Assembly with the theme, "Challenges to The Family In The Emerging Global Reality", was held at Goa, India on September 10-14, 2010. Click here for details and talks to download.

World Assembly of Families and ICCFM General Assembly in 2007 Fatima, Portugal The World Assembly with the theme, "The Legacy of Fatima to the Family, Spirituality and Sacrifice", was held at Fatima, Portugal on July 25-29, 2007. Click here for details and talks to download.

World Assembly of Families and ICCFM General Assembly in 2004 Santa Clara, California, USA The World Assembly with the theme, "Family: Artisans of an Evolving Society" was held at Santa Clara University on July 28-August 1, 2004. Click here for details and talks to download. The World Assembly of Families was conducted Wednesday to Friday while the ICCFM General Assembly was from Saturday to Sunday noon. The conference used the Cardijn methodology of OBSERVE-JUDGE-ACT to discern the role of married couples as authentic partners and co-creators with God in a constantly evolving society. It focused on the true meaning of the marriage relationship and its responsibility for addressing the challenges of a contemporary society being transformed in a post-modern age. Specifically, the assembly reaffirmed the value of marriage and the family in the critical examination and redirection of society's shift in a technological era. The ICCFM preliminary planning groups included Presidents Nop and Elma Muangkroot, Special Representatives and Past Presidents Wayne and Sue Hamilton, North American Presidents, Kay and Gary Aitchison, North American Treasurer Carolyn Broeren, Continental Chaplain Rev. Sam Palmer and Assembly Adviser Rev. Ken Weare.

CFM Asia Continental Convention in 2003
Bangalore, India

The CFM Asia Convention has been scheduled for September 19 – 21, 2003. The theme, still to be confirmed, will relate to the different aspects of CFM service in Asia and the methodology of See-Judge-Act. About 30 to 40 foreign delegates are expected to participate in the program in addition to the national delegates. Special guests will be members of the ICCFM Executive Secretariat, which will hold its pre-World Assembly secretariat meeting in Bangalore to coincide with the Asian Convention. Committees to work on theme, program, logistics and marketing are presently being formed.

Preliminary planning for the Continental Convention was held on April 7 – 10, 2002, in Bangalore. Present were ICCFM Presidents Nop and Elma Muangkroot, CFM Asia Continental President Dennis Chua, CFM India International Representatives David and Aloma Lobo, CFM India Presidents Francis and Carmel Colaso, CFM Bangalore Presidents Albert and Rosalind Selvanayagam, Secretaries Joan and Hubert de Nazareth and Treasurers Eddie and Flavia Nazareth.

See the CFM India December 2003 Newsletter for a summary of this convention.

CFM European Congress in 2003
Zagreb, Croatia

The European CFM Congress will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 17 to 20, 2003. The theme, "The Family as a Life-long Community," has been chosen because it is challenging and interesting, a topic to be examined and discussed not only at the Congress but also in everyday life.

CFM Europe Presidents Tony and Lily Gauci were in Zagreb, Croatia, from May 8-12, 2002, and met with Congress Chaircouple Marijo and Darka Zivkovic, to discuss the Congress program. They visited the Apostolic Nuncio, who accepted to address the Congress, the Bishop of Zagreb and government and Church representatives for the Family.

The Congress will focus on four main talks, followed by questions, which will be sent in advance for delegates to discuss in their own country. Thus the Congress will gain from the participation not only of the delegates in Zagreb but also of other CFM members at home. The four speakers include a resource person from the USA, one from Milan, a couple and a priest from Croatia.

Four workshops on the following themes:

1. Marriage and growth in mutual love
2. Parenthood and the success of a happy family;
3. Environment and the family
4. Communication

The Official Opening Ceremony on the afternoon of July 17 will feature addresses by Marijo and Darka, the Apostolic Nuncio, Tony and Lily with Fr. N. Debono Montebello, representing the CFM Europe Presidency, and Nop and Elma Muangkroot, ICCFM President Couple. There will also be addresses by the civil and ecclesiastical authorities.

After the Congress there will be an optional tour of two days to Medjugorje.

Latin American Encounter and Latin American General Assembly in 2003
San Jose, Costa Rica

To be held on July 4-6, 2003, in San Jose, Costa Rica, the Latin American Encounter (ELA) will have the theme, "Let Us Make of the MFC the House and the School of Mutual Sharing." The concept is based on the four MFC pillars of Formation, Spirituality, Promotion and Solidarity.

After the ELA, there will be a Latin American General Assembly (AGLA) on July 8-9. The planning for the ELA and the AGLA will be conducted by the MFC (Movimiento Familiar Cristiano) Secretariat on September 13-15 at Chiriqui, Panama, close to the border with Costa Rica.

Participants are:
From Panama: Latin American Presidents William and Esilda Cheng, Vice-Presidents Enrique and Graciela Alvarenga, Secretaries Alberto and Yabel Hernandez, Treasurers Rodolfo and Eneida Naranjo, Editors Emilio and Yolanda Wong and Chaplain Rev. Fr. Jose Majadas, OSA.
From Costa Rica: Zone 1 Presidents and ICCFM Special Representatives Alvaro and Margarita Rivera, Costa Rica Presidents Norman and Sonia Maynard and their team.

In the plan of action, the Latin American Secretariat (SPLA) will be in charge of theme and program, and MFC Costa Rica will take care of the logistics.

CFM Commitment to Service and Solidarity in 2002
Mark Worldwide Assembly Preparations

On the national, continental and international levels, 2002 has been a fruitful year for CFM assemblies realized and being planned in all six ICCFM continents. The meetings achieve closer communication and interaction recommended in Resolution 4 of the 2001 ICCFM World Assembly of Families in Brazil: "That the International Confederation of Christian Family Movements promote unity in the CFM and help restore and activate its internal and external solidarity."

Aside from the spiritual enrichment and new action plans gained during the conference process, the meetings heighten unity and foster solidarity among CFM members through loving personal contact and mutual encouragement. In turn, this togetherness generates a transcendent power for greater fervor in the service, as promised by Jesus Himself when groups gather together in His name.

The international assemblies now being focused on and undergoing preparations through the concerted efforts of the ICCFM are the World Assembly of Families and ICCFM General Assembly in 2004, and in 2003 the Latin American Encounter and Latin American General Assembly, the CFM European Congress and the CFM Asia Continental Convention.

World Assembly of Families and ICCFM General Assembly in 2001
Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil

ICCFM (International Confederation of Christian Family Movements) holds a world assembly every 3 years. The World Assembly took place July 25-29, 2001 in Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil.

The theme of the conference was "Ethics of Life in a Globalized and Excluding World." All CFMers were invited to provide input as well as to attend this Assembly.

The following questions formed the agenda:

1. In what sphere of life do you think globalization takes place? What impact does globalization have on the areas of your life?
2. What are the most notorious characteristics of this globalized and excluding world?
3. What criteria and values support globalization in the world?
4. How does the adoption of these criteria and models reflect upon the social structure? What are their consequences?
5. What are their consequences and how do they reflect upon human relationships and the relationship of mankind with the environment?
6. What values should families support towards an adequate globalization, in such a way that it is at the service of life, and therefore, more humanizing?
7. Are there other globalization issues that need to be mentioned? Are there other relevant aspects?