Glimpses for Contemplating an Apostolic Body

44 Pages·2017·2.46 MB·English

Publication of the World Christian Life Community
Glimpses for Contemplating
an Apostolic Body
N 1 • 2018
Glimpses
World Executive Council Meeting 2018
Borgo Santo Spirito, 4 – 00193 Rome-ITALY • Web site: www.cvx-clc.netE-mail: [email protected]
English, French and Spanish Editions
From top to bottom, Left to Right
Editor: Alwin Macalalad
ExCo Meeting 2018
Progressio is the official publication of the Glimpses for Contemplating an Apostolic Body Snow in Rome
Christian Life Community (CLC). It seeks to
Alwin Macalalad
build community, supplement formation, and World CLC Vice President
promote apostolic works. By publishing sto- 1
Edel Churu
ries, reflections, events and opinions, it
endeavors to reinforce, challenge and deep-
en the community’s understanding and living
of the CLC Charism, Ignatian Spirituality and the CLC Latin American Assembly Meeting of leaders
gospel values
Miguel Collado and Christian Ubilla Miguel Collado
ABOUT OUR LOGO
We did not go too far to find inspiration for the
logo of the Christian Life Community (CLC).
Countless books have been written about the
Salvation history of CLC and its beginning in The ExCo with the ESDAG
year 1563. From that came the Marian 2 4 Team: Françoise Uylenbroeck,
Congregations and its symbol (shown on the José De Pablo and Graziano
top right), having the “P” over the “X” (for the Calci
Greek Christus) and the inserted “M” illustrates A Discerning Path in Mission Reaching out to the Youth of Asia
that the Congregations were put under the
patronage of Mary, the mother of Jesus. CLC Uruguay National Executive Council Ibrahim Aryon A moment of silence, reflection
The blue curved line illustrates a movement Chris Hogan, Herminio Rico;
forward to one World Community in 1967; Najat Sayegh and Denis
hence the globe. From this new beginning came
Dobbelstein
a new name: Communauté de Vie Chrétienne
(CVX) in French; Comunidad de Vida Cristiana
(CVX) in Spanish; Christian Life Community
(CLC) in English.
8 13
PHOTOSBACKCOVER
1. CLC Agustino (Peru): World CLC Day 2018
celebration. City on a Hill that can’t be Hidden Insights for our CLC Youth
2. CVX Braga (Portugal) visiting Rome. Michael Walker Eduardo Martín Hermana World ExCo after their final
3. CLC Davao (Philippines): World CLC Day meeting- L-R: Denis, Mauricio,
2018 celebration. Alwin, Rojean, Fr. Arturo Sosa
4. Members of CLC Poland meeting CLC SJ, Edel, Najat, Chris, Ann
Manresa (Italy) in Rome. Marie, Herminio.
5. World CLC Day 2018 in Malta.
6. World CLC Day 2018 in Taiwan.
The World ExCo with Cardinal
19 21 Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the
Dicastery for the Laity, Family
and Life; Fr. Alexandre Awi
The following persons collaborated to this Care of the Oceans Ecological Conversion Mello, Secretary of the
publication, Translators and Proof Readers: Joan Woods and Nicholas Kim Jenny and Chris Gardner Dicastery; and the
Marie Bailloux, Arielle Campin, Yves Cromphaut, Undersecretary for the Section
Dominique Cyr, Marita de Lorenzi, Charlotte for the Laity, Dr. Linda Ghisoni.
Dubuisson, Mary Fernandez de Cofone, David
Formosa, Jennifer Fox, Françoise Garcin, Chartur
Salvador Gonzalez-Ayala, Alban Lapointe, Agnes
Rausch, Herminio Rico SJ, Clifford Schisler,
Solange-Marie Slack, Veronica Villegas, Sarah 24 28
Walker, Elena Yeyati
Lay out: Nguyen Thi Thu Van
Buenos Aires 2018 In memory of Fr. P.H.Kolvenbach
This publication may be copied and redistributed ARUPA Daniela Frank
in whole or in part, for non-commercial purposes,
with the condition that proper attribution is given.
For other uses, contact [email protected]
Printed by: Tipografia Città Nuova
via Pieve Torina, 55, 00156 Roma 32 37
Glimpses for Contemplating an Apostolic Body
Alwin Macalalad
here is a temptation of thinking Within another institutional-level invol-
Tabout CLC as a mix-and-match vement, Joan Woods and Nicholas Kim,
toolbox of practices that can be from the CLC UN Working Group, give
picked-up and discarded. It is as if it us a briefing on the Ocean Conference
would be possible to say “I use CLC in the UN, and CLC’s participation
tools to become a good Christian.” It’s through #OceanAction2176. While, as a
easy to say this because there is truth couple, Chris and Jenny Gardner (CLC
to it. There is also a temptation to think Australia) reflect on their personal jour-
that the CLC way of life can be lived in ney and CLC’s involvement in the ca-
pieces, as if our Charism is made up of ring for our common home.
separate puzzle pieces that snap toge-
For the first time, in history, we also
ther to form a whole. But thinking of it
witness three national communities col-
as a vocation that integrates all aspects
laborating to host a World Assembly.
of life, the Ignatian tradition, and the
ARUPA (Argentina, Uruguay, Para-
moment-by-moment action of the Holy
guay) reveals its journey and the mea-
Spirit in the Church and the world— Alwin and Rojean
ning of its name, and its service for the
this crosses to the territory of mystery. Macalalad
world community in the Buenos Aires
Our Lay Apostolic Body is alive. As we
World Assembly. 
have continually rediscovered in the
World Executive Council, contempla- Lastly, instead of the section for Being
ting CLC brings us to holy ground. EA, we present a remembrance of the
There is something going on here, lar- late Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, who
ger and deeper than any us. We parti- accompanied us as World Ecclesiastical
cipate, witness, discern and move Assistant for 24 years—almost half our
forward with faith. CLC lifetime. He saw the CLC and the
Society of Jesus as “two communities…
Progressio is one of the windows for this
moved by the same Spirit..” while en-
contemplation. In this issue we collect a
couraging us to deepen our identity as
few more perspectives into the life of
Ignatian laity. He articulated this while
CLC as Lay Apostolic Body. It is a body
deeply embodying the meaning of par-
of many levels, layers and sides. In this
tnership throughout those years.
issue we have CLC Uruguay, describing
what goes on inside the heart of a natio- All of these are part of our ongoing jour-
nal community that seeks to be intima- ney and response, like an ongoing dance
tely in-touch, and responsive with God’s of faith and commitment to a God who is
invitations into apostolic life. Through always in motion. Larger and longer than
Christian Ubilla (CLC Ecuador) and Mi- our lives and perceptions.
guel Collado (CLC Chile), we get a glim-
In these months leading up to the World
pse of the Latin American CLC national
Assembly, we feel, once again, the sense
leaders gathering to determine ways of
of being ONE whole. A living commu-
better service. Miguel Collado further
nity, with many parts. A community
describes his experience in a gathering
with a lot of rough edges- some parts
of ecclesial movements in the Dominican
broken and pained, some parts getting
Republic and how CLC might be able to
to know itself, some parts sensing union
better serve the local Church.
with the mother Church, other parts de-
Through Ibrahim Aryon (CLC Indone- veloping very concrete institutional
sia), the regional team for Asia recounts identity for engaging with other bodies.
CLC’s service in the Asian Youth Day As long as we can hold on to the thread
(AYD) in Indonesia, and the CLC gathe- that holds us to what we are — our li-
ring that followed afterwards.  Michael ving Charism— and not get lost in the
Walker (CLC Australia) gives us his in- frantic details that pull at us, I believe
sights regarding the Church of the fu- that we will see this Apostolic Body
ture, after what he has seen in the AYD. grow and bear fruit. And so let’s conti-
Under the same thread, Edu Martin nue begging for that grace: We desire
shares his experience about CLC Youth greater depth and integration in the li-
- after attending the European Youth ving out of our CLC Charism in the
Encounter in Malta. world today.
1
A Body in Movement…
journying with our eyes fixed on the horizon of the Kingdom
Miguel Collado and Christian Ubilla - CENAL Service Team
n Lima (Peru), at the Feast of Pen- express our needs and dreams for our
Itecost 2017, we, the National Exe- Latin American CLC.
cutive Councils of the Christian
Life Community in Latin America By way of communal apostolic discer-
(CENAL by its acronym in Spanish), nment, we defined the most important
gathered between 2 and 6 June, to actions we need to undertake in order
renew our desire to be "a body in mo- to cooperate through a network of
vement... journeying with our eyes communities with the Society of
fixed on the horizon of the Kingdom". Jesus, the Universal Church and
others in pursuit of a single godly mis-
This was a unique opportunity to ack- sion, duly focused on the Frontiers de-
nowledge and thank CENAL for allo- fined at the World Assembly in
wing us to meet there on a quarterly Lebanon 2013, and accompanying the
basis, virtually and uninterruptedly, youth and families in their diverse
The CENAL Executive Council
over the last 9 years, thus walking to- realities. Thus, a new regional team
was elected during the
gether and supporting one another in was formed to encourage the forma-
World Assembly in Lebanon
by the delegates of the the challenges we proposed as a re- tion and expression of experiences at
national CLCs in Latin gion in the World Assembly of Fatima the Youth Frontier.
America in order to 2008. On this occasion, 35 delegates
encourage collaboration and from 15 national communities were With regard to the Family Frontier,
networking. It is currently able to meet in person, in addition, we we need to identify methodologies and
made up of Miguel Collado were accompanied by our World Vice develop tools to reach out to families
(Chile), Rafael Madera
Ecclesiastical Assistant, P. Herminio in their various realities (traditional,
(Dominican Republic) and
Rico SJ and our World Executive Se- single-parent families, LGBT, mi-
Christian Ubilla (Ecuador)
cretary, Alwin Macalalad. grants, etc.). We greatly value the con-
tribution that the Family Clock
The Assembly provided a privileged (designed by CLC in Spain) is giving
space in which to share our journey, to our communities, and we are thus
Below: our consolations and hardships, our encouraged to better prepare oursel-
Presentation of the realities hopes and goals. Through the metho- ves to accompany the diverse realities
of our national communities dology referred to as Open Space, we faced by families in our societies.
We welcome the regional training pro- Finally, we would like to organise our-
grams, such as the MAGIS Programme selves better, not to establish new hie-
for theological formation for laity (by rarchies but to share our identity and
2018 it will be 20 years since it began, our resources to a greater degree, and
this is now the fifth edition), and the to clearly express the mission common
Political Dimension of Social Commit- to us all. We entrusted the CENAL
ment Programme CLC-LA 2018 (com- Service Team with the task of collec-
pleting its third generation in 2018) ting the contributions from national
and we recommend a general evalua- communities to develop a proposal of
tion at this point using the DSSE dyna- Agreements for Collaboration of CLC
mics, with the objective of obtaining Latin America, and we issue the call
greater accompaniment on the part of
to meet in the World Assembly in Bue-
national communities and for the rene-
nos Aires to approve the new guideli-
wal of contents and methodologies, fai-
nes for the region.
thful to the original objectives but
responding effectively to new emerging
With gratitude to Mary and the Holy
challenges for our communities.
Spirit, we carry the momentum of
your flame to light other fires in our
Below:
We also feel called to share the gift of
communities. - Working in groups - Open
our spirituality with others, especially
Space
with those who are the most vulnera-
Original in Spanish - Official photo of the CLC-
ble and excluded within our societies,
Translated by Clifford Schisler LA Assembly
with the certainty that in this way we
also make our preferential option for
the poor a reality, as was suggested in
the most recent World Assemblies.
Another recommendation was that we
continue increasing our availability in
order to offer ourselves with greater
service to the Church, achieving grea-
ter institutional rapprochement to
CPAL (Jesuit Conference of Provin-
cials in Latin America and the Carib-
bean) and working with parishes
where our communities are present.
We feel the need to express our solida-
rity even in the field of shared respon-
sibility in economic stewardship, now
more than ever, and in a special way
with our brothers of Central America,
Cuba and Venezuela.
Meeting of leaders of ecclesial movements
and new communities in Latin America
Miguel Collado - CLC Latinoamérica - CLC Chile
Introduction ble because I had never been in a mee-
ting with the hierarchy of the dioce-
This meeting was convened by san Church. All my experience had
CELAM (Latin American Episcopal been in Ignatian environments, with
Conference) and was held in Santo Jesuits, and in the parishes where I
Domingo, Dominican Republic bet- develop my apostolate. Except for a
ween May 17 and 19, 2017. I attended few very specific situations, my rela-
in my capacity as one of the members tionship with the episcopal clergy was
of the coordinating team of the CLC practically nil.
Executive Councils of Latin America
(CENAL). I had always felt a distance from the
hierarchical environments and now I
Computer engineer, small When I received the invitation to par- had the opportunity to be in a
business owner, father and ticipate in the meeting I had many CELAM meeting to coordinate the
grandfather. He works in the mixed reactions. By the way, it was a work of lay movements and associa-
coordinating team of CLC very great privilege to represent our tions in our Church. I found the mo-
Latin America. He is also a Community in a continental meeting ment important and interesting.
guide for spiritual organized by the Latin American Epi-
accompaniment and the scopal Conference. However, at the The novelty
Exercises. He has been a
same time, it was a little uncomforta-
community guide and
The first surprise was to find myself
president of the regional
with such a small group of partici-
community of Valparaíso
I found a very warm pants. The leaders who were present
and of the national
community of Chile. He belonged to only eight movements:
and friendly
currently gives spiritual CLC, Schoenstat, Charismatic Rene-
workshops and retreats in atmosphere in the wal, Cursillista, Faith and Light, Fo-
the Diocese of Valparaíso. colare and Sine. Many of the
participating bishops. participants were locals from the host
country. This meeting was held every
It was a surprise for
four years, but it had not taken place
me since I had a for eight years. The last time it was
held, 20 different movements partici-
previous image of pated, but in reality many more exist
in Latin America and worldwide. The
distance which I
good news is that the meeting was re-
thought was imposed vived. The worrying news is that par-
ticipation has decreased to less than
by the hierarchy. half of the movements which were in-
terested in attending since the last
During the encounter
time.
the image changed
By the way, with this scenario, the
into their being friends presentation of each one of us was
very important. Another surprise CLC
in God with whom one
is not known. Our existence was a no-
can dialogue and build velty for most of the participants:
What we do, our charism, our history
collaborative working and our coverage were all a novelty; a
positive turn, certainly.
teams.
4
After listening to the different expe- 2. The mutual lack of knowledge bet-
riences, talking with the delegations, ween the movements with which
sharing with lay people and bishops, collaborative inter-movement
I was surprised by some aspects that tasks could replace duplication of
I did not expect. efforts, and that in certain areas
could work more as coordinated
a. I found a very warm and friendly teams than as competitors.
atmosphere in the participating bi-
shops. It was a surprise for me since 3. There is a certain distance bet-
I had a previous image of distance ween the movements and the dio-
which I thought was imposed by the ceses. Greater availability is
hierarchy. During the encounter the required for the local needs of each
image changed into their being diocese, according to the pastoral
friends in God with whom one can plans, and the participation of
dialogue and build collaborative each movements the areas of their
working teams. At least that's what best competence.
I experienced with those who were
present. 4. The Ignatian charism of CLC can
contribute a lot in specific areas of
b. A great distance and a lack of kno- other movements as well as dioce-
wledge of the different movements ses in topics that are natural in
and associations of the dioceses our spirituality, but that can be-
and also among the representati- come very valuable and even new
ves of the movements.. for others. Themes such as spiri-
tual discernment, spiritual accom-
c. I was surprised by the level of cle- paniment and different modalities
ricalism that exists in many of the of spiritual exercises are concrete
other lay participants, which is re- and specific contributions that
flected in a passivity in the action each of our national and regional
and in the hope of receiving gui- communities can develop in their
dance from the Episcopate. These countries and regions.
can be very valuable actions, but
tend to be carried out according to Specific tasks that could be
what the pastor inspires, instead of carried out: Gifts for the
being the laity’s own discernment,
Church and the World
seeking to find the will of God and
move forward from lay initiatives.
To a greater or lesser degree in dif- With all the abovementioned, I feel
ferent participants, this was what that the Holy Spirit may be asking us
I perceived in the environment. for certain concrete tasks to address
Challenges
Behind all of this I find that there are
challenges and a special invitation to
CLC as a Latin American Community
as well as a worldwide body to inte-
grate ourselves more and better into
our Church.
1. There is a very important breach
of ignorance of the mission and the
charism of the movements on the
part of the dioceses. It is necessary
to improve this situation so that
the bishops can commission speci-
fic missions to the movements that
have activities in their dioceses.
5
register of the movements that are
operating in the territories where
we are, and then schedule mee-
tings for mutual knowledge and
collaborative planning, using the
same instruments developed for
the dioceses.
4 Revealing Ignatian Spirituality.It
is necessary to leave available for
the diocese and for the other move-
ments formation workshops in the
following topics:
w Discernment of spirits. So that
this practice that has done so
much good for us in community or
personally can be shared in our
the challenges that appear after the
church in a broader way. Dioce-
encounter.
san pastoral agents and leaders
of other movements will be able
4 Availability of Information about
to make better decisions with
CLC given to the Diocese. It is ne-
greater fruit in our Church.
cessary to create, update what
exists so that the following things w Christian leadership. There are
about us can be known in a simple elements of leadership that we
and concrete way: our charism, our handle in the Ignatian manner
specific apostolates and our organi- that can help the parishes as
zation in each place where we are well as the diocesean structures
present. Many of the documents and other movements that we
are aimed at internal formation or can communicate both in theory
to attract new members. What is as well as in practice.
required are brief documents, testi-
w Spiritual Accompaniment. This
monials, Powerpoint presentations
practice which we promote so
and videos for dissemination so
much and which we practice in-
that the dioceses, their bishops, pa-
ternally needs to be shared so it
rish priests, and diocesan teams
can be valued on a diocesen level
know of our existence and what we
as well as by other movements.
can do together for them. This has
to be developed centrally, and it is w Spiritual Exercises of Saint
necessary to have it carried out in
Ignatius.We need to offer exer-
each city where
cises outside of our
we work with
The Ignatian charism communities. For
dioceses. We
this it is necessary
should be able of CLC can contribute to express the most
to hand these
important aspects,
out in meetings a lot in specific areas of
which are, how
about the avai-
other movements as they can be done
lability of the
and what they are
CLC for the well as dioceses in for.
local church.
topics that are natural
For these wor-
4 Registry of mo-
in our spirituality, but kshops it is neces-
vements in our
sary to prepare
territories. It is that can become very material centrally
necessary to
at a regional or in-
have some a re- valuable and even new
ternational level
search work
for others. and then deliver
done to have a
them locally to dio-
6
ceses and movements as well as make same way referred to regarding Spiri-
them available in a simple way on the tual Accompaniment, we can do this
internet in different formats (docu- with our members, religious and lay
ments, presentations, videos, etc.) people who are prepared for it and
joint projects can be established with
Spiritual Accompaniment other Jesuit organizations that exist
in some of the provinces, such as the
Centers for Ignatian Spirituality.
To give this service to our members,
the religious and the laity, and to the
Conclusion
dioceses and movements. We also
need to prepare people to perform
these function which is so necessary A great experience was lived. A new
to develop the spiritual life and the ef- image of work for the whole Church.
fective following of Jesus Christ. For Great challenges that can only be ac-
this, joint projects can be established tualized with the participation and
with other Jesuit organizations that local work of our communities spread
exist in some of the provinces such as across the continent and around the
the Ignatian Spirituality Centers so world. By collaborating with the other
as not to duplicate efforts within our movements and with the dioceses we
own spirituality. can advance more and better in the
building of God’s Kingdom. The speci-
Spiritual Exercises fic elements of our spirituality identi-
fied in this document are gifts that we
can give to our Church and the world.
Offer the exercises of Saint Ignatius
in various modalities (brief retreats,
weekend, week, month-long and re-
Original in Spanish
treats in daily life) in an open manner
Translated by Jennifer Fox
to dioceses and movements. In the
7
A Discerning Path in Mission – CLC Uruguay
CLC Uruguay National Executive Council
Who We Are: Among all CLC members, 48 percent
serve in volunteer groups, besides
Our CLC Uruguay consists of 450 their CLC participation. Some of them
members, divided in 37 small groups. are part of the pastoral team in a va-
There are 157 married members and riety of schools, community lunch pro-
44 married couples. CLC Uruguay grams or parishes, among other
has 242 members who have taken service options.
their temporary commitment and 25
members who have expressed their Approximately 23 percent of all CLC
permanent commitment. members provide volunteer work as
an internal service to CLC Uruguay.
All 37 small groups are diverse, in They may act as guides to other small
terms of age range and their way of li- groups, take part in our apostolic
ving their CLC calling, although du- works, serve as members of the diffe-
ring general events organized for the rent frontier teams, and/or offer sup-
community at large, we all experience port and help to organize a variety of
the action of a common Spirit at work activities and events.
among us. Currently, 31 groups have
guides -occasionally in pairs- consi- In addition, a delegate from each
sting of 34 lay people, 7 Jesuits, and 2 small group takes part at the Board of
sisters of the Order of Jesus. Delegates, where all small groups are
represented and a common spirit of
A strength worthy to be highlighted in CLC Uruguay is promoted and gene-
our national community is our ability rated. During the last few years, this
to acknowledge the graces received. place has regained the relevance it
Specifically, the humility to persevere should have in the national commu-
in the search for God’s will along the nity. This Board of Delegates organi-
years. We have learned to ask: “In zed and created a new format and
what direction are we going into?,” dynamics to conduct our National As-
while feeling close and keeping confi- sembly in 2017, which received a very
dence in the people surrounding us. positive evaluation.
Our motivation to write this article is
based on our reflection about the gra- Another strength to emphasize is the
ces received. high participation of youth members
On this page:
- National Executive Council
and Family Frontier,
sending to the International
Meeting of the Family
2017.
On the other page:
- Temporary commitments
of Pentecost, San José
Obrero Parish, Montevideo.
- Pre comunity members
accompanied by members
with temporary
commitments.
- Undertaking the Spiritual
Exercises during the Holy
Week.
8