Delegates called to witness truth

By Wendy Shaw

More than 200 people attended the Couples for Christ Australia Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) national conference in Launceston from 1 to 3 May.

CFCA Tasmania hosted the conference at the Grand Chancellor Hotel, with assistance from Victorian members.

It was billed as a “national gathering of HOLD members from across Australia, coming together to share in life-giving sacraments, spirit-filled praise and worship, inspiring talks, and joyful activities that strengthen fellowship and relationships”.

Burnie-Wynyard Parish Administrator Fr Jessie Banez is the spiritual director for CFCA Tasmania.

“The key message of the conference is to develop this year’s theme, ‘Consecrated in Truth, Be Christ to others’ which I relate to the chosen reading about the Annunciation during the opening Mass before the conference started,” Fr Jessie said.

“At the opening, I spoke about the truth that Mary bears as she didn’t just receive the truth; she embraced it.

“I encouraged the participants that in a world where truth is redefined and avoided, the more we are called to witness to the truth.

“Mary didn’t reshape the truth to fit her life. She reshapes her life to fit God’s truth.

“Mary’s story reminds us that the truth is not just a concept, it is the person of Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Launceston Parish Priest Fr Shammi Perera celebrated Mass at the conference on Sunday, 3 May.

CFCA describes itself on its website as a “vibrant Catholic community renewing families and strengthening faith. Open to couples, singles, youth, and families, we journey together in Christ to build strong homes, share God’s love, and bring the joy of the Gospel to our communities”.

CFCA family ministries include Kids for Christ, Youth for Christ, Singles for Christ, Handmaids of the Lord and Servants of the Lord. Handmaids of the Lord is a charismatic ministry and support group for mature-aged women in Australia.

In Tasmania, CFCA groups meet in the Launceston and Mersey Leven parishes. There are plans for a new CFCA Family Ministry in the Burnie-Wynyard Parish and an orientation prayer meeting was scheduled to be held on 17 May.

After the Launceston conference, some delegates took part in a popular tour to the scenic North West Coast town of Stanley.