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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.

CLC's UN Working Group was instrumental in the first-ever Jesuit/Ignatian collaboration at the UN's High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. CLC-USA members worked very closely with the Jesuit Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat in Rome on planning and logistics to facilitate the attendance of the Jesuits and other Ignatian collaborators at this important UN Forum which begins July 9th. CLC also helped to organize the special event planned for Thursday evening July 11th at the Jesuit Conference Center in Manhattan entitled "How To Collaborate on the Care of Our Common Home." Jesuit Fr. General Sosa made a special video for the Jesuit/Ignatian delegation and said “This is an important event for the Society of Jesus, first of all because we have a long experience of working in all these fields in numerous places in the world: accompanying excluded persons and communities, working for justice and reconciliation and for the care of our common home."

Click the blue headline text to read and download the latest letter from the World ExCo to all members with reflections on the significance of the World Assembly held in Buenos Aires in 2018. "... move the tent... create spaces of transcendence wherever we are concretely committed!"

Topic: Paths for Reconciliation, Using our CLC Gifts to Build Bridges: Vital, Social, Cultural, Personal, Religious Facilitated by Sister Laurence Loubiere, XMM Sr. Laurence Loubières, of the Xavières Missionaires du Christ Jésus, is the director of the Jesuit Service for Discernment in Common and assistant to the Canadian provincial for communal discernment, based at Sacred Heart House in Toronto.

Please view the profoundly beautiful new video about the Jesuits recently announced Universal Apostolic Preferences narrated by Fr. General Sosa. Please click on the blue heading text to get link to video and learn more.

Father General Arturo Sosa has urged members of Christian Life Community (CLC) define the mission of the movement in relation to the key elements of the Second Vatican Council. Father General also reminded the CLC members of the importance of involving the youth in the mission of the movement. Youths will ensure continuity of the mission of community in different parts of the world. He said the members of CLC were apostles within the Church, sent out on mission. As such, their mission should also include reaching the youth, who in recent years are being recognised as a very important group within the Christian family.

Told through the voices of residents, Moundsville is “an economic biography of a classic American town” located along the Ohio River in West Virginia. Pittsburgh CLC member and former Wall Street Journal reporter John W. Miller co-directed the film with David Bernarbo. The stories of the local people--in their own voices--offer a great way for us to better connect and understand each other... and to laugh with and appreciate one another, too! It was very well done!

Here's another article by John W. Miller (Breathing Room CLC, Pittsburgh) that explores his latest film project with a behind-the-scenes analysis of choices he and his partner made in framing the narrative of this small town. I think the documentary is an example of wisdom language that Fr Nicholas speaks to us about as we live our vocation in the world, preaching the gospel at all times, if necessary using words, and always inviting, not imposing a deeper understanding of one another, from a world view based in Love.

Be part of the largest annual Catholic social justice gathering in the United States. Click the blue text heading above to go to the IFTJ website with the list of all speakers and events. The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) is an annual gathering for members of the Ignatian family (Jesuit institutions and larger church) to come together in the context of social justice and solidarity to learn, reflect, pray, network, and advocate together. It is a place where people are empowered, re-energized, inspired, challenged, and supported by a community that sees faith and justice integrally linked. Now in its 21st year, the IFTJ has a rich history rooted in honoring the Jesuits and their companions who were martyred in El Salvador in 1989.

The CLC NorthWest Region held its annual retreat from September 14-16 at Collins Retreat Center in Eagle Creek outside of Portland, Oregon. The retreat theme was "Finding God in All Things" led by Fr. Larry Gooley SJ.

The final document of the Buenos Aires World Assembly is not … final. And maybe we should not even refer to a document, because it’s rather a narrative. Thus, you have two excellent reasons to dive into the reading with curiosity. Please click on the blue heading text above to read the document.

In a message addressed to Mauricio Lopez, President of the World Christian Life Communities, Pope Francis sent encouragement to all members to “to continue to make Christ present in their respective environments", giving an apostolic meaning to all the activities they undertake. Representatives of 70 countries are gathered in Buenos Aires for the World Assembly of Christian Life Communities. The assembly is taking place from 22 to 31 July in Buenos Aires. Expressing appreciation for their particular charism the Pope thanked all participants for their “dedication and love towards the Church and towards their brothers and sisters”. Click the blue heading text above to read the Vatican News article.

Jesuit Fr. General Arturo Sosa S.J., the World Ecclesiastical Assistant for CLC, addressed the World Assembly gathering of CLC-CVX delegates from over 70 countries currently ongoing in Buenos Aires. The title of his talk was "A Discerning Lay Community in the Service of Reconciliation." The full text of Fr. General's address is available by clicking the blue heading text above.

The World Assembly team has curated all the happenings of the Assembly into an excellent and comprehensive website with daily updates, prayers, stories, photos and videos. Please click the blue heading text above to view the Assembly website and follow along with the delegates.

CLC members from Michigan and Ohio gathered in Toledo, Ohio at St. John's High School for the annual spring region day. Presenter Father Lou Papes, led a day of recollection titled "Francis' Call to Holiness in the Modern World." Prior to the meeting, members were asked to read Gaudete et Exsultate. "Rejoice and Be Glad" ON THE CALL TO HOLINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD. The day concluded with Mass. Several members commented on how well the Mass readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter enhanced the theme of the day. After Mass, members gathered with Father Lou for a group photo.

The CLC-USA Executive Council (ExCo) held an in-person meeting at the River’s Edge Retreat and Conference Center (Motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph) in Cleveland, Ohio from April 24 - 27. The goal of the meeting was to make operational some clear next-steps in designated high-priority areas (formation, communication, membership, youth and young adults), moving them to the next level of implementation, and to reach a consensus on certain other directional goals that need further attention; and address new issues that have come before ExCo and require action.

NY Metro CLC members were delighted to welcome Fr. Trevor Scott S.J., the Ecclesial Assistant of CLC Canada, to lead the annual Lenten World CLC Day of Prayer at Fordham. The subject of the day was Projects 169: “Caring for our gift, offering it more generously in joy." During the morning session, Fr. Scott presented on the history of the previous World Assemblies and how CLC reflects on them with consciousness and gratitude. In the afternoon, Fr. Scott spoke about how CLC shares in "Taking Joy in Thinking in Harmony with Francis’ Vision" as expressed in Pope Francis' encyclical The Joy of the Gospel. Click on the blue headline text above to access a pdf copy of Fr. Scott's presentation.

This past weekend, 21 young adults from the Midwest came together for a SEED discernment and formation weekend in Houston TX. Veteran SEED Young Adults from around the US made up the core team providing the content of the program. Dong Hanh and CLC at large prayed for this gathering...so the participants felt very blessed and cared for through the prayers, food and hospitality of the Houston communities. It was a faith filled weekend full of awesomeness..!! By clicking on the blue headline text above, you can access more information about the weekend and read the heartfelt sharing about how God was calling these young adults during the weekend.

The theme of our next World Assembly (this summer in Buenos Aires) invites us to look at CLC as a gift. A gift is something that may be either received or given, or, as in the case of our CLC graced experience, received in order to be given: “you received without charge, give without charge” (Mt 10, 8). In the preparation for the Assembly, we are asked to acknowledge with greater profundity and gratitude what we have been given, and increase our readiness to share it in service, in the Church and in the world. Please click on the blue text above to view Projects 169 for World CLC Day 2018.