CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

FAMILY IS A GIFT

SFC FAMILY MONTH

WEEKLY CHALLENGES

FAMILY IN CHRIST

Pope Francis said, “The family is the place of encounter, of sharing, of going out of oneself to welcome
the other and be close to him. It is the first place where one learns to love”.

For this month of September, as we celebrate the SFC Family Month, we remember that family love
is both a calling and a path to holiness. This very special month and every day, let us take this
opportunity to show our love to our family. It doesn’t always have to be grand gestures; it’s the little
everyday things we do to show and celebrate the gift of each other. It may sound difficult considering
our busy schedules with work, personal and community activities and we are transitioning from online
to hybrid activities, but it is attainable with God’s grace.

Let us pursue the One who gives joy, faith, hope and love. God gives abundantly to those who ask.
In all the moments of choice, we will choose to share joy, faith, hope, and love with our family and be
thankful for the gift of family. We ask the Lord to grant us the grace of inner peace to find Jesus in our
hearts at all times as we love and proclaim Christ in our family.

#FamilyinChrist
#FamilyisaGift

WEEK 1: September 1-3, 2022

THEME: Joy

In his Apostolic Exhortation on The Joy of Love, Pope Francis said, “The Joy of Love experienced by
families is also the joy of the Church.”

Nothing leads to joy as efficiently as connecting with other human beings, cultivating relationships,
and bonding with others. A joyful heart makes a joyful house because joy flows from the inside out,
not the other way around. Joy and gladness are choices. One thing is quickly apparent when we
reflect upon what makes a joyful home: Joy is not different from the other fruits of the Spirit. Where
there is joy, there is usually kindness, gentleness, patience, and love. Show love. Speak words of
love often. Love one another, and joy will often follow close behind. Spending time with the people
we love is one of the easiest ways of cultivating joy. Let us make it a priority to schedule time with the
people we love. Let us mark it as our most important item of the day.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE (Joy in Action)

• TOGETHER WITH FAMILY
Schedule family time. Put down your cellphone and ask your family members to join you for
a cup of coffee/tea or cook a meal for them. Strike up a conversation by asking, “How was
your day?” or “What gives you joy these days?”

• AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY (Physically not together but connected in love)
Schedule family time. Call one of your family members or message through email or
messenger or on any social media platform and ask your family members, “How was your
day?” or “What gives you joy these days?”

SFC FAMILY MONTH 2022

WEEKLY CHALLENGES FOR THE MONTH 1
 CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
FAMILY IS A GIFT

WEEK 2: September 4-10, 2022

THEME: Faith

The family is the community where the language of faith is nurtured, developed and strengthened
through prayer and Christian practice. The same has been true since the very beginning of the
Christian Church. Living this faith's fullness, in all its wondrous newness, is a great gift.

Jesus Christ gives each family member a unique mission: to be a saint building not only a cathedral
but a palace that will unfold the kingdom of God. And that mission will unfold one at a time, one act
of forgiveness at a time, one challenging day of balancing work and family at a time. Together with
our family, let us journey to the path of holiness. No mission is easy, but the struggles that make its
execution difficult are also what make the mission glorious. And the glory is all God's.

This week is extra special as it is our Mother Mary's birthday on September 8th.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE (Faith in Action)

• TOGETHER WITH FAMILY
1. Pray the Rosary together as a family.
2. Start a Novena with the family. Get to know the saint honored in the Novena.
3. If you can physically attend mass inside a Church, then go to mass together. Otherwise,
check the schedule of your Parish’s online Mass. Gather all family members to hear online
Mass together.

• AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY (Physically not together but connected in love)
1. Pray the Rosary together as a family virtually.
2. Start a Novena with the family. Get to know the saint honored in the Novena.
3. Check the schedule of your Parish’s online Mass. Use any video conference app (Zoom,
Webex, Microsoft Teams) and gather all family members to hear online Mass together.

List of Novenas for September:

https://www.praymorenovenas.com/novenas
https://novenaprayer.com/september-novenas/

WEEK 3: September 11-17, 2022

THEME: Hope

In one exhortation, Pope Francis said, "God made this marvelous world in which we live, and because
sometimes we are a bit confused, we are destroying it. But the most beautiful thing that God did says
the Bible, was the family."

How can we elevate our hearts to hope when we have doubts and fears? Hope is not mere optimism
or wishful thinking; it's an essential part of our faith. Hope in the Lord gives us strength, teaches us
patience, and brings encouragement. When we hope in Him, we find the confidence and strength to
face any challenge that comes our way. We can find peace in God's unfailing love for us. Because of
Jesus, we have hope for this life and eternity.

Bringing hope to our family, in whatever form, can go a long way. Giving encouraging words, lending
a helping hand, or showing compassion will lift their spirits. This week and every day, let us find ways
to reach out to those who need a ray of hope and kindness the most.

SFC FAMILY MONTH 2022

WEEKLY CHALLENGES FOR THE MONTH 2
 CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
FAMILY IS A GIFT

WEEKLY CHALLENGE (Hope in Action)

• TOGETHER WITH FAMILY
1. Invite all family members to a Family Household.
2. Say any words of affirmation and encouragement to each of your family members.

• AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY (Physically not together but connected in love)
1. Invite all family members to a Family Household. Use any video conference app (Zoom,
Webex, Microsoft Teams) to facilitate the household.
2. Call or message each member of your family and say any words of affirmation and
encouragement.

WEEK 4: September 18-24, 2022

THEME: Love

“No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature
in the ability to love.” ~ Amoris Laetitia, 324

The early Church Father Saint Irenaeus famously said that “the glory of God is man fully alive.” In like
manner, the glory of men and women is their capacity to love as God loves Love is our mission; we
will be fully alive by loving God and one another.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE (Love in Action)

• TOGETHER WITH FAMILY

1. Say “I love you” to your parents and siblings personally. You can also leave a note in your
dining area.
2. Do a random act of kindness to your parents or siblings. Complete it with a hug and kiss.
3. There are 5 Love languages. If you weren’t able to do the 5 love language test, you might
try to do it this time. Take time to talk about the result as well.

• AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY (Physically not together but connected in love)
1. Say “I love you” to your parents and siblings via a phone call or message.
2. Do a virtual random act of kindness to your parents or siblings. Complete it with a phone
call or message to say, “God bless you!”
3. There are 5 Love languages. If you weren’t able to do the 5 love language test, you might
try to do it this time. Take time to talk about the result as well.

WEEK 5: September 25-30, 2022

THEME: Thanksgiving

Family is a gift. No matter the circumstances and realities in our family, it is a gift. Family plays an
essential role throughout life.

One of the most essential things in life is having relationships, and this week offers us an opportunity
to feel and express gratitude for our relationships with our family members. Letting our family know
how much we appreciate them can be such a meaningful experience for them.

SFC FAMILY MONTH 2022

WEEKLY CHALLENGES FOR THE MONTH 3
 CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
FAMILY IS A GIFT

WEEKLY CHALLENGE (Thanksgiving in Action)

• TOGETHER WITH FAMILY
1. Create a collage of photos of people and/or things your family is grateful for and place it
somewhere where everyone can view it.
2. Gather the whole family and grab the opportunity to have a family honoring.
3. Before the SFC Family month ends, pray over your family members. Assure your family
of your prayers.

• AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY (Physically not together but connected in love)
1. Create a collage of photos of people and/or things your family is grateful for and place it
somewhere where everyone can view it.
2. Gather the whole family and grab the opportunity to have a family honoring. You can do
this virtually.
3. Before the SFC Family Month ends, say a short prayer for your family through a phone
call or virtually.

SFC FAMILY MONTH 2022

WEEKLY CHALLENGES FOR THE MONTH 4