Christian Life Program (CLP) is the foremost initiation course of the Couples for Christ leading into a life in the Holy Spirit. More specifically it is the entry into the CFC. The goal of CLP is to evangelize the world beginning at the very root of the human society, which is THE FAMILY. Couples for Christ has taken on this mission of Jesus from Mt. 28:20 - Go out to all nations and Evangelize for I am with you always until the end of this world.

An initial registration period saw 80 people join the course, a marvelous response for CFC in its second year of inception in Kuwait. CLP comprising 3 Modules, each containing 4 talks, was held over a period of three days at the Holy Family Cathedral Basement in downtown Kuwait City. Praise and Worship by Sr. Dorothy D’Souza followed the introductory talk by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias our Spiritual Director at Module One, which commenced on 17 March 2000 at 1100 hours.

Bro. Dante Fermazi, who specially flew from Dubai gave Talk 1 "God’s Love". Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas Our Unit Leader delivered Talk 2 "Who is Jesus Christ". This was followed by coffee break accompanied with workshop. Bro. Edsel D’Souza a present household leader and a very senior member of CFC delivered talk 3 "What it means to be a Christian". Rev. Fr. Gabriel gave Talk 4 on "Repentance and Faith" after which the gathering broke up into groups for workshop accompanied with lunch. Bro. Rudolf Fernandes animated the proceedings for the day, which closed with a hymn at 1500 hours.

Sr. Freeda D’Souza started Module 2 on 18 March 2000 with a Praise and Worship. Bro. Bosco Silveira animated the proceedings and invited our Shepherd Bishop Francis Micallef OCD who tackled Talk 5 "Loving God". Bro. Rudolf Fernandes completed the second part of the greatest commandment "Loving Neighbour" in Talk 6 after which the gathering took a coffee break cum workshop. By her Talk 7 "The Christian Family" Sr. Meera D’Souza mesmerized the audience with Christian Living and showed them the avoidance of negative points. Bro. Rudolf Fernandes, who substituted for Bro. Dante Fermazi, delivered Talk 8 "Life in the Holy Spirit", which was followed by lunch and workshop.

Bro. Lancy Pinto led the Praise and Worship for Module 3 on 19 March 2000 held at the Holy Redeemer Chapel, Salmiya at 1900 hours. Talk 9 "Receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit" was delivered by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias OCD in place of Rev. Fr. Rutillo Mallillin MS followed by Talk 10 "Growing in the Holy Spirit" by Sr. Meera D’Souza. A quick coffee break followed as the talks were continuing after a hard day work. Bro. Louis D’Costa’s Talk 11 "The Life and Mission of CFC" was well received and Bro. Augustine David completed the last Talk 12 "Transformation in Christ" with a personal testimony of his transformation. The proceedings of the day were animate by Sr. Jina Franco.

Nine household leaders were appointed and the new members moved into the new household groups accordingly. Thereafter the theme song "Welcome to Couples for Christ" was rendered by the Music Ministry followed by a beautiful Dedication Ceremony officiated by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias. Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas the Unit Leader thanked all the Senior CFC Members for their contribution, evangelization and participation and urged the New CFC Members to attend the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Commissioning Service which was to be held at the Holy Family Cathedral - Kuwait City on 5 April 2000.

The household leaders then met their respective household members in a little ‘know your group’ workshop accompanied with a sumptuous dinner. Rev. Fr. Gabriel declared the proceedings closed and the curtain finally came down on the three-day Second Christian Life Program course.

Those who worked behind the scene:

• Overall Team Leader: Bro. Bosco Silveira
• Photography: Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas
• Animator: Bro. Rudolf Fernandes
• CFC Admin. Team headed by Sr. Leena Noronha.
• CFC Music Team headed by Bro. John Fernandes.
• Acoustic and Sound Team headed by Bro. James Franco.
• Synchronizing / Overhead Projector in-charge Sr. Jina Franco.
• Intercessory Team headed by Bro. Lancy Pinto.
• Child-care Team: Sr. Christina, Sr. Jolly, Sr. Freeda and Sr. Tanya.

- March Report by Rudolf Alex Fernandes

Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Commissioning Service is the culmination of Christian Life Program (CLP) the foremost initiation course of the Couples for Christ. This service was held on 5 April 2000 at the Holy Family Cathedral - Kuwait City starting with a foreword by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias the Spiritual Director. Bro. Jason D’Souza a youth in CFC led the Praise and Worship. The Renewal of the Baptismal Vows was led by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias, who exposed theBlessed Sacrament in preparation for the first part of the service "Baptism of the Holy Spirit".

The Elders of CFC acting as coordinators were led into the hall with lighted candles where they were annointed by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias. They comprised Bro. Edsel D’Souza, Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas, Bro. Lancy Pinto, Bro. John B. Fernandes, Bro. Sabu Kurian, Bro. Rudolf Fernandes, Sis. Meera D’Souza, Sis. Christina Mascarenhas, Freeda D’Costa, Sis. Eliza Apos, Sis. Dorothy D’Souza and Sis. Effie David. The awesome presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the manifestation of the love of God the Father in the gentle laying of hands and the renewal of the Holy Spirit with Its gifts and fruits, brought a lifelong experience to the new aspirants.

The ushers comprising Bro. Louis D’Costa, Bro. Stanly Noronha, Bro. Alex Lobo, Bro. Walter Apos, Bro. John O. Fernandes, Sis. Sandra Silveira, Sis. Leena Noronha, Sis Ludovina Fernandes, Sis. Jolly Kurian and Sis. Aonida Fernandes led the aspirants to and forth in an orderly manner. Finally the aspirants were annointed by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias.

Our Shepherd Bishop Francis Micallef conducted the second part - Commissioning Service with a Holy Mass. The First Reading (Isaiah 6: 1-8) of the day was done by Bro. John O. Fernandes followed by a Responsorial Psalm By Bro. John B. Fernandes. The Bishop read the Gospel (John 15: 1-6) and delivered an appropriate homily about Jesus the True Vine.

Sis. Marina D’Souza led the Prayer of the Faithful which was followed by an impressive offertory procession. Bro. Rakesh and Sis. Christina carried the Candle and Salt which was followed by Fruits and Flowers by Bro. Archie and Sis. Mariette. The Bible and Rosary were borne by Bro. Walter and Sis. Eliza. A basket containing the Covenant Cards were offered by Bro. Rudolf Fernandes on behalf of all the household leaders, followed by Bread and Wine by Bro. Ivan and Sis. Diana. The commentary during the procession was delivered by Sis. Sybelle Anjina Lobo.

After all had received the Holy Eucharist, the Covenant Cards were distributed and the Bishop officially commissioned the participants. A befitting final hymn "Shine Jesus Shine" brought the service to a close. After a vote of thanks by the Unit Leader Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas, a fellowship and the distribution of the CFC Paraphanalia followed. The overall Team Leader for the service was Bro. Rudolf Fernandes and the animator was Sis. Sybelle Anjina Lobo.

- April Report by Rudolf Alex Fernandes

The Second Formation Course of the Couples for Christ "Covenant Orientation" comprising of 4 talks was held on 14 June 2000 at the Holy Family Cathedral Basement in downtown Kuwait City. The members started arriving at 1030 hours and the deliberations for the day started after some Gathering Songs at 1100 hours. Bro. Tennyson Arokiadas led a very spiritual Praise and Worship.

Bro. Sabu Kurien, a household leader, delivered the first talk "Our Covenant in CFC" touching on God’s Covenant with us and our Covenant in CFC, an authority to govern the body and the common life. He advised the attendees to live out the Covenant with God and with His people. Sr. Freeda D’Costa shared some reflections on the teachings accompanied with her personal testimony.

Our guest speaker, Rev. Fr. Daniel Maliakkal, OCD spoke at length on "Prayer and Scripture" capturing the hearts of those present. He distributed a handout detailing Personal Prayer, Mental Prayer, a stage of dryness in our prayer life, its causes and methods of avoidance. He also answered questions. Sr. Dorothy D’Souza gave an inspiring testimony mingling the reflection on prayer with a hymn.

A Coffee break followed which gave those present an opportunity to fellowship. Sr. Meera D’Souza hypnotized the audience by delivering a scintillating third talk on "Strengthening Family Life." She touched on such topics as spouses in marriage along with their commitment and service, parents as pastors and teachers, faith and character builders and reiterated that a clean family environment leads to a clean community environment. She stressed that the family must be built in accordance with Christian principles

A hilarious and jovial household leader from Kuwait City, Bro. James Franco sent down a strong message through the last talk "Our Christian Culture in CFC." His vivid expressions of Christian culture in CFC ably accompanied with personal examples and jokes brought the attendees on their heels. He demonstrated how his life was a reflection of CFC Culture, which is counter-culture to the world’s ways.

The last activity of the day was Lunch accompanied with Workshop. Bro. Anthony Baptista a very senior visitor from Goa-India led the prayers before meals. Rev. Fr. Gabriel Dias our Spiritual Director visited the different workshops assisting the participants. Bro. Rakesh Mascarenhas, the Unit Leader delivered a vote of thanks.