An Examen 2020, in the Ignatian tradition, was held on February 4. The following is the word cloud that was created at the end of the meeting. A repeat of the Examen 2020 webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 10 at 8 pm.
CLC-USA invites you to celebrate the February 8 Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakihita and to participate in activities that support the end of human trafficking. February 8 is also a World Day of Prayer to end human trafficking. The following are some links to help you learn more about St. Josephine’s life and to link you with resources to end human trafficking.
Please click on the blue heading text above to view Fr. O'Keefe's video reflection for Advent 2020. The new USA East Jesuit Provincial Fr. Joseph O'Keefe S.J. presented an inspiring video reflection at Metro NY CLC's Advent Day of Prayer this past Sunday. His story about the Jesuit martyr to the Nazis, Alfred Delp, S.J., was deeply moving. The song Fr. O'Keefe includes, "How Can I Keep From Singing" brought tears to our eyes too as we reflected on this pandemic year. Blessings of the Advent Season to All!
Father Jose de Pablo, SJ, our recently appointed CVX-CLC World Ecclesiastical Assistant, joined our National Coordinating Council meeting on Saturday, September 19-Father Jose noted that his virtual meeting with Ex-Co and NCC was his first in his new role as World EA.
It is with joy that we share the news of the appointment of Fr. José de Pablo S.J. as the new Vice- Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Christian Life Community. Welcome José!
From World CLC ExCo: The images seen of what happened in Beirut this week deeply sadden the whole CLC. It is a real disaster following two strong explosions at the port of Beirut. The city is devastated. There are a lot of victims, wounded, people lost under the ruins or thrown into the sea, and widespread damage in the area. In the blink of an eye, many found themselves homeless. It is sad. (click blue text above to read more.)
Happy Feast of St. Ignatius to all in CLC and to our Jesuit collaborators and our dear friends around the World! Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me. Saint Ignatius Loyola
Please join with CLC USA President Barb Rudolph and CLC members and communities across the USA in offering a special prayer for healing and change in these troubling times. Please click in the blue heading text above to read the prayer.
Please click the headline above to view this powerful video collage of excerpts from the recent worldwide CLC Zoom video call featuring CLC members from 5 continents sharing their experiences and testimonies about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their communities. The video includes opening remarks from Fr. General Arturo Sosa S.J. of the Jesuits and includes comments from a young Emergency Room physician in Spain and a person in Northern Italy, two areas which have suffered greatly. Speakers from CLC-USA included Ann Marie Brennan of Metro NY CLC and Ed Plocha of Washington State.
Metro NY CLC members attended Fr. Greg Boyle SJ's talk at Fordham Prep on March 8th. Fr. Greg is the founder of Homeboy Industries which works with gang members in LA. Peppered with humor, Fr. Greg 's masterful storytelling was especially relevant to CLCers as he shared his life's work by interweaving prayer, relationship with God, and mission in creating a "culture of kinship" and of healing with those on the margins. It was an outstanding and moving talk that resonates deeply with our Ignatian charism. Click blue heading text to view Fr. Greg's talk starting at 11:45.
Former CLC World President Mauricio Lopez writes passionately about the Pope's new apostolic exhortation: Querida Amazonia. Mauricio was named by Pope Francis as the only layperson among the 18 members of the pre-synodal council that helped draft the gathering's eventual working document, and was later a participant at the synod.
CLC is with and for young people. Youth are an indispensable part of the apostolic body. Youth is not just a nice topic for the 2020 World CLC Day (March 25th), but it is a major concern and challenge for all of us in CLC. We are inviting you to launch a long-term effort! Regional CLC teams, National ExCo’s, National formation teams and leaders of local communities, should design concrete plans to communicate and offer the gift of CLC to young people in this new context. In general, all the members of local CLC should review how to share our gifts with the younger people.
Click the blue text above to view this short video which beautifully captures the wonderful spirit of the Assembly. More news and photos of the Assembly will follow in the next days and weeks.
NY Metro CLC members have been working along with others on the planning and logistics for the Jesuit/Ignatian family's participation in the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development happening in NYC this week. The Forum theme is "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality,” and the Sustainable Development Goals that will be reviewed include quality education, reduced inequalities and climate action.