MISSIONARY FAMILIES OF CHRIST

We are a servant of the Church, working to renew her children through every generation and throughout the world, until the Lord returns once again. MFC adheres to a set of beliefs and ideals from which flow its Christian attitudes, values and behavior, as well as its programs, teachings and approaches to Christian renewal within the context of family relationships.

WE BELIEVE in marriage as an indissoluble institution as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 19:6). WE BELIEVE that God created marriage primarily for love between man and woman, and for the procreation and proper rearing of children.

WE BELIEVE that God created man and wife with equal personal worth and dignity. WE BELIEVE that God ordained order in the family by giving the man the role as head of the family and the woman as helpmate and support, which roles best express their complementarity.

WE BELIEVE in the inalienable and irreplaceable right and responsibility of parents to educate their children. WE BELIEVE that children need to be educated in essential human and Christian values for them to become responsible and mature members of society.

WE BELIEVE that the family, in practicing the gospel message, shares in the life and mission of the Church—through prayers, evangelization, and service to others, especially the poor.

WE BELIEVE that Christian family renewal can best be achieved by inviting Jesus to be the Lord of our homes, by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to lead our family lives, and through the full use of all spiritual gifts at our disposal

Our Core Values describe who we are and what we are called to do in the world. They provide parameters and constant guideposts in our moving on in our life and mission.

1. Centered on Christ.

In everything that we are and do, we look to Jesus, who is our Savior and Lord. Jesus is our model in our obedience to the Father, in our faithfulness to His call, and to total submission to His divine will. And as He who called us is holy, we ourselves will strive for holiness of life (1 Pt 1:15-16), and look to exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in our day-to-day lives (Gal 5:22-23).

2. Evangelistic and missionary.

We are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus to the whole world (Mk 16:15). We are his witnesses (Lk 24:48). Every MFC member is an evangelizer, in the normal day-to-day environments of our lives. We look to doing mission beyond our own environments to the very ends of the earth.

3. Focused on the family.

Our life and mission is founded on strong families in Christ. We recognize that the future of humanity passes by way of the family. We defend and strengthen Christian marriage, we raise our children to be the next generation of God’s people, we establish our homes as pieces of Kingdom ground. In our defense of the family, we are called to a strong advocacy and defense of the culture of life.

4. Being community.

We are part of the larger family of MFC, a global family of many different nationalities and cultures but all sharing brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. We desire to move forward together in our life in the Lord, providing love, affirmation, friendship, support and healing. We are committed to the good of our brethren, always living the truth in love (Eph 4:15).

5. Living a preferential option for the poor.

We recognize Jesus’ mission to bring glad tidings to the poor (Lk 4:18). We look to both the spiritual and material upliftment of the least among our brethren. In doing so, we will be in solidarity with the poor by striving to live a simple lifestyle, to share our resources, and to fight for social justice in the world.

6. Exercising servant leadership.

We are privileged to serve God and His people, both in and out of MFC. We serve with the mind and heart of Jesus, who came to serve and not to be served (Mt 20:28). Leaders are to serve with humility, self-sacrifice and submission to the Chief Shepherd, to whom we will render an account (Hb 13:17). He who wishes to be great shall be the least of all (Mt 20:26-27).

7. Being a servant to the Church.

We in MFC are an integral part of the Catholic Church. We are submitted to our bishops and to the pope. Our life, formation and service will conform to Catholic values and ideals. We make ourselves available to be of service in the parishes and dioceses, especially in the areas of family and life. We look to Mary, the mother of the Church, as our inspiration and help.

5.1. Those who join MFC are made part of a small cell group called a household. The household members meet regularly for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian life.

5.11. The household meetings, normally held in the homes of the group members on rotation basis, would normally involve some time for prayers, a time for sharing or discussion, and finally some time for fellowship.

5.2. All members undergo continuing formation both in the Christian life and also in the life and mission of MFC.

5.3. Members of MFC are related to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. As such, their relationship is not to be functional but should reflect the intimacy of Christian love, caring and sharing.

6.0. Organization

6.1. The household is the basic cell grouping in MFC. It is in the household where members share their lives more intimately and support one another in their spiritual growth.

6.2. Households form a unit, units form a chapter, chapters form a cluster, and clusters form a district. All these form a pyramidal structure of pastoral care and governance.

6.3. The pastoral groupings conform to Church pastoral and territorial structures. Districts conform to the diocese, clusters to the vicariate, and chapters to the parish.

6.4. MFC may establish itself as a foundation or corporation or formal association, in accordance with local and/or national laws, for purposes of conducting transactions as a juridical entity, under any appropriate name. Such juridical personality however does not supersede the more basic reality that MFC is a spiritual movement and a Christian community with its own organization, government and patterns of life.

• Though a Catholic community, MFC is open to membership by non-Catholic Christians, who can join as associate members. Associate members can participate fully in the non-sacramental life and mission of MFC, and must recognize and defer to the Catholic nature of the community. Non-Catholic associates, though remaining faithful to their Church, have to accept, respect, and defer to the principles and teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage, human sexuality and the family.

• Those who want to join MFC go through a seminar called a Christian Life Seminar (CLS) for adults, or a Youth Camp for young adults. The CLS and Youth Camp are integrated courses leading to a renewed understanding of God’s call to Christians, to a personal response of accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, and to receiving a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Young children also join MFC through a Kids Camp.

• After the CLS or Youth Camp, those who finish are considered underway members, and after the Covenant Recollection (CR) are invited to join MFC as full members, demonstrating their commitment by accepting the MFC covenant.

• Other forms of membership may be authorized by the Servant General, such as for clerics and religious, or for auxiliaries and affiliates.

Servant Council:

• Jojo Lorena
• EJ Aguila
• Cocoi Javier
• Jepoy Meneses
• Xavier Padilla
• Anton Padua
• Dylan Reyes