Catholic families from around the world gathered in Thailand from July 17 to 19 as a senior Thai archbishop urged them to make their homes the starting point of evangelization, forgiveness, and missionary discipleship.
The Couples for Christ (CFC) Kids for Christ International Family Conference, or IFamCon 2026, was held at the Thailand Science Park Convention Center in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok.
In his homily during the conference Mass, Archbishop Anthony Veeradet Chaiseri, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand and overseer of the Church’s family ministry, called on participants to carry the gathering’s message into their homes, parishes, and communities.
“Go. Go out and be missionary disciples. Go and be a builder of communion and peace. We start with our family first. Make our families a place of forgiveness. By walking together, let our families be a place of love and humility,” he said.
The archbishop told parents and children to view the conference not as a destination but as a launching point for everyday discipleship. He said the spiritual seeds sown during the gathering should bear lasting fruit in families that serve as witnesses of faith in their communities.
The triennial gathering carried the biblical theme “Full Build,” inspired by 1 John 1:3–4 and the passage “so that our joy may be complete.”
Organizers said the conference sought to strengthen family bonds, deepen faith, and prepare children to become active instruments of evangelization.
CFC Kids for Christ is one of the family ministries of Couples for Christ, which began in Manila in 1993. The ministry was established to evangelize children through the family.
“More than just words,” the organizer said, “these are the active ways our kids grow in faith, look out for one another, and bring Christ’s joy into the world every day.”
The main convention was preceded by the Families on Mission gathering from July 14 to 16. The three-day program included prayer, fellowship, and immersion in Thai culture.
“It was absolutely a spirit-filled and exciting experience for our Families on Mission,” one international participant said. “The three days were filled with memories that will last a lifetime. We thank the Lord for His grace.”
Organizers said the gathering reflected a shared commitment to proclaim God’s word across cultural boundaries.
“From Thailand’s majestic tradition and warm hospitality, we rose together as one global family, ready to celebrate the fullness of Christ’s joy,” they added.
The conference formally opened July 17 with an Opening Kids Praise led by Big Brother Keith Ramirez, who urged families to rely on God during times of difficulty.
“When we face struggles, we are not alone because it is His goodness that helps us get through,” Ramirez said.
“With the cross as the symbol of God’s love embracing us, we rest in His grace. In our families, let us always put Him at the center and allow Him to fill our homes with His love and mercy,” he added.
During another session, the Ecleo family told delegates that the joy received from God should extend beyond the household.
“The joy we receive from God is never meant to stop within us—it overflows into our homes, our communities, and to every person He sends our way. This joy is not dependent on material things or worldly achievements, but in the truth that God loves our families,” the Ecleo family shared.
The conference also featured workshops for children, sessions for ROCK, or Reach Out for Christ’s Kingdom, youth facilitators, and a Couples Coordinators and Parents Summit.
During the Parents Summit, Father Rob Galea spoke about the responsibility of Christian parents to form their children in faith.
“God has given us the ultimate responsibility not just to raise kids, but to raise saints,” Father Galea emphasized.
“We are not doing this alone. He grants us the grace and strength needed to guide our children along His path,” he said.
The program also included a family fellowship festival, an open-mic talent showcase, regional food stalls, recreational activities, Eucharistic adoration, and closing worship.
