History of the FILIPINO CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN KUWAIT (FCCK)
How it all started? How did it start? Jess Gueco is the founder. He is a Capuchin Filipino priest who was assigned in Kuwait in 1987. He made the announcement during the mass sometime before the month of October then,
There will be a BIBLE STUDY for Filipinos on the first Tuesday of October that year from 5:30-7:00pm. It was just a small
group of 50-100 Filipinos. Out of curiosity was the reason of most whom Attended, others didn’t have anything to do so they come and others wanted to learn. Most were neophytes with the Bible Study. Jess was also neophytes. It was his first time to conduct such a big group. At first it was a purely Bible Study, then in February 1988 the fellowship started a Prayer Meeting, and we also had some good speakers, Bro. JR Camina, Bro. Nolette who was also a good singer. He introduced and taught us different Gospel Songs. After sometime, different sub-groups from different areas sprouted, meeting weekly aside from Tuesday regular sessions. The different groups included “Maternity”, “Mubarak-Salmiya”, Jahra”, Subhan”, Reggae”. Every Sunday there were also prayer meetings held in Yarmouk in the place of the run-away domestic helpers, and there was also a Friday group in the city led by Subhan Brothers. For those whose offdays is only Friday. In 1989 Fr. Jess would leave Kuwait, but before he did, he asked the group to vote for 6 core leaders to lead the group during the absence of the Spiritual Leader. The 6 leaders were Bro. Nolette, Bro. JR Camina Sis. Norrie, Bro. Arnie, Sis. Letty and Bro. Francis. This group had their first meeting before Fr. Jess left and it was decided to name the group and the name “FILIPINO CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN KUWAIT”, was chosen. From then, a monthly programs includes Bible Study, Group Sharing, Individual Sharing, Lectures of invited guest speakers, Prayer meetings & Fellowship. Monthly fellowship Pot-luck was recommended by Fr. Jess so the members would be able to relax and know each other better which brought about the growth of Brotherhood & Camaraderie. Jess entrusted the group to Fr. Pinto after he left. John Pinto became the spiritual adviser Until Fr. Angelo Madelo came. Though Fr. Angelo’s residence is in Ahmadi, he comes in the city every Fridays & Tuesday for the community. Anniversaries were celebrated with whole day affair in the beach, where everybody enjoyed the sun, the water, & the people around, games were also played & winners happily brought home some prices. Everything stopped abruptly due to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi in August 1990, still the members were able to contact each other through telephones & Fr. Angelo was to say Mass to different places where the members cannot come to church. When there was a go signal from him, most of the members left Kuwait via Iraq-Jordan to the Phillippines. After the war in October 1991, FCCK resumed its activities, with the small group at first, which grew in numbers up to the present, with the help & guidance of our spiritual adviser from Fr. Pinto, Fr. Stan and Fr. Rutty. This year 2015, FCCK will be celebrating its 28th Anniversary, we will all give Thanks and Praises to our God for all the Blessings, Trials, Hardships difficulties the group has undertaken. Though the FCCK started as Bible Study to Prayer Meetings and now to a Charismatic Prayer Group still FCCK resembles to the original concept and the History lives on because we will continue to spread the Good News of our LORD and bring more Brothers & Sisters to God. FCCK Family
