Marco Carvalho
The local Couples for Christ community commemorated its 25th anniversary in December. The milestone highlighted over two decades of dedicated service to family renewal, evangelization and outreach to the poor, underscoring the group’s ongoing mission in Macau.
The Couples for Christ Macau Association has celebrated earlier last month a milestone that few lay movements in the Chinese Special Administrative Region can claim: a quarter of a century of continuous presence, service and evangelization. On December 14th, the community gathered at the Church of St. Augustine for two solemn Eucharistic celebrations—one in Tagalog and another in English—before moving to Coloane for an afternoon of fellowship that brought together more than a hundred participants
The anniversary was not only a commemoration of past achievements but also a reaffirmation of the group’s mission to strengthen Christian family life and to be leaven and light in a world more divided than ever. Founded in 2000 by Filipino migrants, the Couples for Christ Macau Association imported both the mission and organizational practices of the international movement born in Manila in 1981 under the charismatic community Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. Officially recognized by the Vatican in 2000 as an international association of lay faithful, the Couples for Christ movement has since spread to 163 countries and territories – including Hong Kong and mainland China – and is now firmly rooted in Macau. For the local branch, the past 25 years have been marked by growth, resilience and a steady commitment to service. Today, around 80 members form the backbone of the association, animating liturgies in Tagalog and English at the Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Church, while also running programs that nurture the faith of families across generations: “We are currently serving both at the Cathedral and at the Church of Saint Augustine, where, along with other groups, we are responsible for the Music Ministry. We also promote the Christina Life Program. It is a seminar for couples, for those who are not yet married, but also for the Handmaids of the Lord. Our mission is not limited to couples”, Dante Quijano told “O Clarim”. We have the Youth for Christ ministry, the Singles for Christ ministry and also the Kids for Christ. Once a month we hold prayer meetings, sometimes at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, sometimes in private homes. Every week, we gather in smaller groups to share our faith and support one another”, the current leader of Couples for Christ Macau added.
The rhythm of prayer and fellowship has created a spiritual ecosystem that sustains members through the challenges of life abroad, while also offering a sense of belonging in Macau’s diverse Catholic community. The Association’s work extends, nevertheless, beyond liturgy and prayer. Couples for Christ Macau has become a beacon of charity, responding to the needs of the poor and marginalized. Currently, the group finances nine scholarships for students who lack the means to pursue education. Each year, the members of the Couples for Christ Macau Association promote the “Global Walk,” a fundraising initiative held in Coloane and Taipa, which channels resources into these scholarships: “We try to respond to the cry of the poor. It is part of our vocation as Christians and, in our case, we offer scholarships to students without enough money to remain at school. We are currently supporting nine of these kids”, Dante Quijano explains. “Every year, we organize what we call the Global March. This is an initiative that takes place in Hác Sa and in Taipa and it allows us to raise money to finance those scholarships. During the Christmas period, we also offer gifts to disadvantaged families. This year, the initiative was particularly important because it benefited the victims of the typhoon that struck the Cebu region in November,” the leader of the Couples for Christ Macau Association added.
Commemorated on December, 14th, the anniversary also underscored the movement’s expanding footprint in Greater China. From Hong Kong, Couples for Christ has reached Shenzhen, Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai, where communities are growing steadily. For Macau, this regional presence reinforces its role as a bridge between cultures and as a hub for Filipino Catholic life in southern China: “The movement is originally from the Philippines. In this South China region, Couples for Christ first spread to Hong Kong and then to Macau, but the movement is already present in some of the largest Chinese cities. There are also Couples for Christ groups of significant size in Beijing and Shanghai”, Mr. Quijano recalls.
As the community looked back on 25 years, the mood was one of gratitude and renewed commitment. The celebrations were not only a reminder of the past but also a call to the future. For many of its members, the anniversary was a moment to recognize how far they have come: from a small group of immigrants seeking fellowship, to a recognized force in Macau’s Catholic landscape.
Yet the message is clear: the journey is far from over. With its ministries, charitable initiatives and a growing presence in greater China, Couples for Christ Macau enters its next quarter-century with the same principles and conviction that inspired its founders: faith in God, love for the family and service to the community.
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