THE NATIONAL UPDATE
Easter Edition 2018

" Now the green blade rises, from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain.
Love lives again, that with the dead has been,
Love is come again like wheat arising green."

(Hymn, author, John MacLeod Campbell Crum)
sunrise 1
"We spent a week in the outer banks of North Carolina. Every morning we would go to the beach at dawn for morning meditation. Then watch the glorious sunrise over the Atlantic ocean and take photos."
IN THIS ISSUE

  1. A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT
  2. REFLECTIONS ON THE WORLD ASSEMBLY BY OUR DELEGATES
  3. THE DISCERNMENT PROCESS FOR CHOOSING DELEGATES
  4. REFLECTIONS ON THE LIVES OF FRAN MORRISON AND PETER NIGHTINGALE AND BOB GATCHENE
  5. JOURNEYING IN SOLIDARITY WITH CVX HAITI
  6. THE HOLY TRINITY AND COMMUNITY
angel in the tomb
"Angel on the Holy Sepulchre", by Mikhail Nesterov
Towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre...the angel of the Lord...came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His face was like lightening, his robe white as snow...he said to the women, "There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would."
(Matthew 28)
angel at the tomb
"The Empty Tomb" by Mikhail Nestorov
THE CLC WORLD ASSEMBLY

A Reflection On New Life,
Awareness of the Holy Spirit
and the Meaning of Community
The Meaning and Significance of the
World Assembly

BY LEAH MICHAUD, CLC Canada President
Dear CLC Sisters and Brothers,
 
Blessings in this Easter Season! As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and new life, let us reflect, as members of one World Body, the gift of CLC and how we continue to unwrap and live this blessed gift.
 
CLC is united in its ongoing growth (deepening). Since the days of Ignatius and the Spiritual Exercises, eventually giving rise to the evolution of CLC, and despite multiple obstacles over the years, CLC gives witness to the fact that the decisions of how to journey together has been a work of human hearts and hands responding to the voice of the Risen One resulting in continually renewed life.
 
This pathway continues by the convening of CLC in Buenos Aires Argentina for the 17 th World General Assembly in July, 2018. Every five years delegates from every member National around the world gather for a CLC family reunion and celebration. The two hundred or so participants will meet, share stories, pray together, laugh, dance, experience some differences, recollect a shared history and discern a communal orientation for the next five years.
 
Realistically, most CLC members in the World Community will never go to a World General Assembly so it is understandable that there may be only a rather mild interest in an event that, while it sounds exciting and somewhat impressive, generally does not really seem to impact the daily life of CLC members.
 
However, each World Assembly does affect each local group in each National Community. CLC gatherings are based on the dimensions of the Spiritual Exercises, community, and apostolic mission leading to a deepening embrace of the Vision of CLC. This vision is focused in the General Principles, the CLC Charism, Our Common Mission, the Ignatian Criteria for Mission, the process of Discerning, Sending, Supporting and Evaluating (DSSE), communally discerned common mission, guidelines for CLC Formation, criteria for world membership, governance, financial co-responsibility and the re-visioning of the General Principles and General Norms. And these are but a few of the many fruits resulting from World General Assemblies. The intent and grace of each Assembly is, and has been, to enhance CLC by unwrapping more fully the tools to live more intentionally the gifts of CLC.
 
“We desire greater depth and integration in the living out of our CLC charism in the world today,” is the Grace we, with the World Community, are asked to pray in preparation for this 17 th Assembly. We look forward to the ‘new life’ this year’s Assembly will bring us!
 
Taking a closer look at our own Canadian National CLC, the current process of a National Consultation on evaluating our structure has been the surprising foreshadowing of a worldwide awareness of evaluating how we are living CLC. This will be at the heart of what will be addressed in Buenos Aires, Argentina! The Grace for this upcoming World General Assembly is a welcome sign that the Spirit is not only present and attentive to the National needs around the world, but works proactively in calling attention to all CLC to be united in working towards greater generosity, authenticity and commitment in our vocation as members of CLC.
 
May a desire for growth in unity, joy and peace bind us together.
 
Leah Michaud
President CLC Canada


A Reflection on the 2018 World Assembly

By MICHELLE MAHONEY
CLC Canada President Elect
I can’t say that it hasn’t been a struggle, and continues to be, in getting to this point. As President Elect I am expected to attend the World Assembly in Buenos Aires as one of 3 delegates. I meet all the criteria set out in the SOP on choosing a world delegate. I am also passionate about the CLC way of life. Yet, I feel like I would rather run from this responsibility as far as I can. I ask myself: ‘Is this just the Evil One getting in the way?’ (#315 SE)

I can relate to Moses. Who am I that I should go? There are so many others that have better skill sets and speak other languages. As Mauricio Lopez writes in the Convocation letter: “Every member in the National community must understand that to be chosen as a delegate is not an ‘honour bestowed’ but a serious obligation, and a mission received for the benefit of the World CLC”.

As you are aware, the Theme of the World Assembly is ‘CLC, a gift for the Church and the World’. Here is where I stop arguing with God. In the past year, we have been celebrating the great gift of CLC. It has been 50 years since we received our new Name and General Principles, in truth, our new Identity! I have been graced with ‘sitting at the feet’ of many of our elders over my past 23 years in CLC and I am deeply grateful. It is out of my gratitude to God and all of you who are committed to living out the CLC way of life that I am able to go to this World Assembly.

I quote Mauricio again when I say “It is time to take what we have received into the world with more courage and bravery”. This can’t be done without a sense of belonging to the discerning and loving World Body of CLC.

Catherine, Fr. Trevor and I have begun the process of preparing ourselves to “Go and see”. I feel as if my loaves are few. I know that our Gracious Creator can do so much with very little. Nevertheless, I count on the support and prayers of each one of you, our Canadian CLC family, to pray for us and the Grace of the Assembly:

“WE DESIRE GREATER DEPTH AND INTEGRATION
IN THE LIVING OUT OF OUR
CLC CHARISM IN THE WORLD TODAY”

May the ‘JOY’ of Pope Francis be with us all! (Projects 169)

Michelle Mahoney

The Hopes of Our Elected
CLC 2018 World Assembly Delegate

By CATHERINE KELLY
My name is Catherine Kelly. I am a member of the CLC group at St. Mark's Parish at the University of British Columbia-Vancouver. As part of a university community in a cosmopolitan city, we have a very international group with members from CLC Philippines, Chile, Ethiopia, Hong Kong and CVX Rwanda, and members from New Zealand, the United States and Canada. I feel like I already have a taste of the World CLC community and its beauty, its diversity, its fruitfulness, and its attentiveness to the presence and activity of God in our midst. I am honored to serve as a delegate for CLC Canada and to represent its concerns to the nations.

My hope for the World Assembly is that like at the first Christian Pentecost, the Holy Spirit will enable us, members of CLC/CVX from over 60 countries, to hear and to understand each other, each speaking the language of the heart which unites us. 

I am excited to meet delegates from around the world and witness how Ignatian spirituality animates their lives in their various historical-cultural-geographical contexts. I look forward to hearing the world community's reflections on the many graces participation in CLC/CVX has generated in the last 50 years. I am eager to discern with the Assembly where and how the Holy Spirit is calling our world community forward. I hope to share this direction with CLC Canada as it unfolds and help implement it upon our return. I humbly ask for your prayers for a grace-filled experience for all involved.
 
On the CLC World Assembly and Project #169

By TREVOR SCOTT, S.J.,
CLC English Canada
Ecclesial Assistant
Recently I was invited to lead a Lenten day of reflection with the New York CLC members upon the coming CLC World Assembly in light of its theme as expressed in Project#169: ‘CLC Celebration, Consolidation, Renewal.’ This was a wonderful opportunity to help me prepare for my attendance to this Assembly as one of our CLC English Canada’s delegates, along with Michelle Mahoney, as our President elect, and Catherine Kelly, from the Rockies Region.

What struck me initially about our theme for this year’s World Assembly is the tone of the invitation… to look back at the blessings CLC has been to us in our lives, and to look ahead at how we can better share these blessings of this particular lay vocation of CLC within the church. This particular World Assembly in Argentina is calling us to be more prayerfully mindful of ourselves as stewards of the CLC vocation in our world and in Canada. In thislight, Project #169 - the basis of the theme of our coming Assembly - can be seen as a kind of Ignatian Examen of Awareness… asking us to reflect upon our past, and to prepare more thoughtfully and prayerfully for our future.

This theme draws me to the thoughts of Pope Francis. He has been continually
expressing concern with the seeming absence of Christ in our world in the eyes of a growing number of people, and to the affects of a lack of consciousness and gratitude within our faith community that is rooted in the Gospels. For many people in our world our Church does not give witness to the Christ we experience in the Gospels. There are many who do not witness this presence, this ideal of Christ in our faith… that we have become disassociated from him…that we no longer really see him… that we no longer truly emulate or imitate him, or only halfheartedly,
in a luke-warm, mediocre way.

In light of these concerns of Francis’, and as a means of entering more fully into
Project #169, perhaps we could examen ourselves in awareness: How do each of us continue to remain in relation with the 3 Pillars of CLC: The Pillar of our Spirituality, rooted in the Christ of the Gospel as we have come to affectively know him through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius; the Pillar of our Communities, that are rooted in the intimate witness of the early disciples around Christ; and the Pillar of apostolic Mission, rooted in the witness of the early disciples striving to reach out to others as Christ sent and encouraged them? Do we live these 3 Pillars in our CLC vocations… do we give witness to them in our prayer and our daily lives?

Francis calls us to live our faith in Christ in a genuinely Christ-like way… but just as
importantly, to give witness to it… to show it in a way that can be more readily seen and appreciated by others. But so often we can be overcome with all sorts of weaknesses and“ailments” in living our faith in such a directly relatable way. Francis directs our attention to some of these “ailments” of our faith that are particular to our time - in the lives of both clergy and laity:

* Spiritual Narcissism, that leads us to behave like lords and masters.
* A ‘Martha Complex’ of excessive activity, that can so easily squeeze out
our basic human sympathy.
* Spiritual Alzheimer’s/Spiritual Emptiness, that builds walls and
routines around ourselves, forgetting the spirit of the Gospels.
* Cliquishness, Indifference to others… being too enclosed in our chosen,
well-crafted communities.

We are called to develop our CLC gift of vocation in our world, not just preserve it…
to help make it more valuable and fruitful… through awareness and gratitude.

“Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two
more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and
trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things,
I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
(Mt 25:22-23)

Project 169 points out to us that in the era of Pope Francis we are living in a Kairos moment…for a renewal of our Church by becoming more aware of our weaknesses as a church community and striving to grow beyond them. This is a moment of challenge and attraction by the vision and action of Pope Francis… a moment that calls us to live a more communally thoughtful and discerning faith, one that is lived with joy. We cannot forget that joy too is a witness of the depth and genuineness of our faith.

But if we are continually looking for and expecting moments of joy in our lives within CLC, we are bound to be disappointed. Like a stimulating drug, we can never have enough moments of joy. What the CLC vocation in the church invites us towards, based upon the 3 Pillars and General Principles, is not a live of endless joyful moments, but a lens through which to live and see the world, through the highs and lows… that we live our lives and faith vocations through the lens of joy… through our prayer lives, our communities, and our apostolic outreach towards others. If living these 3 Pillars genuinely gives us joy the people around us will see it and be compelled by our vocations in their own search for a community of faith. But this joy can only come in knowing our history with gratitude… with how God has been present to us personally and with those who came before us in our CLC family.

These are very compelling and challenging thoughts that I look forward to exploring
further in our preparations for the World Assembly… and in sharing with all of you in the weeks and months afterwards.
THE GENERAL COUNCIL DISCERNMENT PROCESS
FOR SENDING DELEGATES TO
THE WORLD ASSEMBLY

In late June 2017, the World ExCo announced that the 17 th CLC World General Assembly would take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from July 22-31, 2018. The theme of the Assembly, “CLC, a gift for the Church and for the World” both affirms and challenges CLC to continue being present as agents of change at the frontiers.

According to World directives, the CLC Canada General Council entered into a discernment process of choosing three delegates who would, not only represent our multifaceted National character, but be able to enter into the International conversation and return to share the Assembly story with all of us.

Following the “Discern, Send, Support, Evaluate“ process (DSSE), the General Council officially announces and, on behalf of the National Community, “Sends” the following CLC Canada Delegates to the 17 th CLC World General Assembly:

  • Michelle Mahoney, President-Elect,
  • Fr. Trevor Scott, National E.A.,
  • Catherine Kelly, CLC Rockies Member,
  • Peter Chouinard, CLC Atlantic Member (Alternate Delegate).

Further, the General Council invites the national Community to “Support” the delegates as they begin their preparations for travel, engagement in the Assembly and their return. As suggested in Projects #169 , the World CLC Day celebrations in the Regions will be a wonderful opportunity to affirm the CLC Canada Delegation by some symbolic gesture or prayer ritual of support.

Together, in gratitude for the guidance of the Trinity, let us be united in ongoing prayers for the convening of the World General Assembly, for fruitful outcomes, for open and generous delegates and, most specifically, let us thank the Trinity for Michelle, Fr Trevor, Catherine and Peter’s generosity.

May the Spirit of God continue to go before us, leading the way.

CLC Canada General Council:
Leah Michaud (National President),
Michelle Mahoney (National President-elect),
Pat Lawson (Secretary,
Fr. Trevor Scott (Ecclesiastical Assistant),
Bill Greenwood (Treasurer),
Jane Abernethy-Parker (Atlantic Region Representative),
Mary-Lou Gonzales (Central Region Representative),
Howard R. Engel (Prairies Region Representative), and
Janet Ho (Rockies Region Representative)
We Remember...
A Reflection on the Life and Spirit of
Fran Morrison

By ELAINE NIGHTINGALE
In the past years, many of you have been blessed to be billeted at the Morrison home in Waterloo. You experienced for yourself that the ‘Morrison door’ was always open to family, friends, neighbours and to CLCers locally, nationally and internationally. In fact in 2005, CVX delegates from Montreal enroute to the North American Conference in Chicago literally found the door open. Fran and Hugh had left the previous day to help in the organization of the conference.

Fran always had time for a cuppa tea or a glass of wine as she welcomed all and shared the CLC Charism in her daily life. One would not leave her home without witnessing Ignatius’ Magis i.e. thinking globally, acting locally; walking where nobody else walks; and ‘the multiplier effect’.

Fran loved the Spiritual Exercises of St.Ignatius - loved giving them and also prayer companioning in her own parish, and in university and ecumenical settings. Fran lived out the Exercises with her family and in her neighbourhood by sharing the Examen and personal/communal discernments.

Indeed Fran was a woman of prayer and action. For many decades she encouraged her own community, Fidelis, and the K/W cluster to act against unjust structures plus to reach out in mission e.g. by working hands-on in Dr. Simone’s warehouse, cooking breakfast for Out of the Cold, fund-raising by garage and bake sales etc.

In local CLC meetings and also at National as President, Fran never let us forget the importance of coming prepared, being organized, and being totally honest in evaluations. We were not to leave until the business was completed with minutes as she described as being ‘pithy’ i.e. decisions clearly stated, to be completed by whom and when.

For those of you who have been fortunate to know and work with Fran or those of you who wish that you had, take time to ponder......Fran’s smile, her laughter, her Scottish humour and most of all her great love of CLC. Enjoy a cuppa tea or a glass of wine, and ask yourself.....

How am I and my community being called to live out the CLC Charism more fully in daily life and in CLC Canada?
A REFLECTION ON THE LIFE AND SPIRIT OF
PETER NIGHTINGALE

- excerpted from Peter's funeral homily -

BY TREVOR SCOTT, S.J.
This past Christmas, in a season of joy and celebration we lost - and still mourn
Peter Nightingale…a husband, father, teacher, companion, and friend to us all.
 
In the spirit of a Christmas season, the Season of God’s Incarnate presence among us, let us dwell and ponder on the life of Peter in our lives… the gift of his presence in our lives… the gift of his husbandship, fatherhood, teacherhood, companionship, and friendship… Should we not seek to discover where the Heart of Hope lies in our ‘loss’ of Peter… that lies and sounds so close to despair in French?

”J’espère.” …“I hope.” “Je désespère” …“I despair.”

If we are not listening closely we can easily confuse these two very different states of mind and heart… and so lose sight of the true spirit of the joy in hope-filled lives, and the hope of faith-filled lives.
 
Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Among the stories that Ignatius asks us to contemplate in the Exercises is the Gospel story of two disciples walking away from Jerusalem in despair. In his ministry of spiritual direction Peter would have known this story well… it was among his favourite scripture stories. Why? Because of how unbearably human it is? Because of the sudden hope and joy it gives witness to in the midst of despair? Because of the effect it has on people?
 
We can ponder the meaning of the journey of two of Christ’s disciples after their loss of him upon the Cross in the Gospel reading of the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) in light of our loss of Peter in our lives… to ponder their loss of hope, desolation… and despair… and of their renewed hope and sudden joy.
 
The Grace of the Emmaus Story
This is a story that comes near the end of the Spiritual Exercises, during Christ’s Resurrection… after his death on the Cross. The grace we desire from God at this near end of the Exercises is rejoicing and gladness… the same movements that the Season of Christmas - the Season of our Lord’s Incarnate presence - invites us to experience… if we are prepared to receive such gifts …if our eyes are open wide enough to receive such gifts.
 
The Road to Emmaus is a story of the Resurrected Christ coming to console his friends… to enter upon their path as their companion, and to help them find meaning in their experience, and to help them see the presence of God in their lives. This is what Peter strove to do in his life and the lives of those around him.
 
Peter’s Gifts
Peter was a man of many gifts and accomplishments, particularly as a teacher and mentor… gifts of his that he gave most of his life towards sharing. One of the later gifts within him that he later revealed about himself…that he devoted the later part of his life towards cultivating a different way of teaching and mentorship; as a spiritual director and spiritual companion with those who desired to grow in their prayer and faith.
Bob Gatchene

Bob Gatchene, a faithful member of Central Region CLC for several years in the "early days" (late 70's, early 80's) passed away this March 27th.

Bob and his wife, Shirley, led a CLC group, were active in formation, promoted the Spiritual Exercises and served as spiritual directors. Bob was a quiet, gentle, humble man, with a deep faith.

Journeying In Solidarity With CVX Haiti

By LEAH MICHAUD

On 18 th Feb. 2018 a letter was sent to the World ExCo that CLC Canada, with CVX Canada, would collaborate in the companioning of CVX Haiti in their journey towards incorporation into the World CLC.

What followed was the mandating of a CVX Haiti Work Group (WG). Members of the WG are: Eleonore and Denis Tchuente from CVX Canada, Mary Balfe and Gilles Michaud (Coordinator) from CLC Canada. The WG were tasked to work with CVX Haiti Leaders to assure that all requirements of incorporation were met. Two members, Sr Nadia Gbauid and Joseph Richard, have been selected to attend the 2018 World in Buenos Aires, Argentina as Observers from CVX Haiti.

Haiti, as you know, is a very impoverished country. Most CVX members are students and unable to pay for the total expenses of attending the Assembly. It is estimated that the total cost for the 2 members will be approximately $5,000. To reach that goal, we are initiating a National Haiti Solidarity Fund. CVX Canada will add their contributions to this fund.

We are asking for your financial support as your gift will allow CVX Haiti to continue their journey in becoming a member of our CLC Family.

A charitable donation receipt for tax purposes will be automatically sent to you by email when you make a donation. You can donate through Canada Helps or mail your donations by filling out the CLC Donation Form. Please remember to note that your donation is for the National Haiti Solidarity Fund.
During Eastertide:
Ignatian Contemplations in the media:

"Risen" (Netflix)

"Jesus of Montreal" (DVD)

"The Man Who Planted Trees" (DVD)

"The Milagro Beanfield War" (Netflix)
Holy Trinity
EASTERTIDE
AND THE HOLY TRINITY

The Holy Trinity, whose divine relational reality we celebrate on Trinity Sunday, invites us to live in communion with each other and the living beings of the planet. The theologian, Catherine Mowry La Cugna, wrote a beautiful reflection on the Holy Trinity by considering the 15 th century icon of the Trinity by Andrei Rublev. She wrote,

“The icon… was inspired… by the story in Genesis 18 of the visit of three men to the home of Abraham and Sarah…(who) showed the visitors extraordinary hospitality…”  

Sarah and Abraham prepared a meal for their guests, who were revealed to be Yahweh and two angels. La Cugna wrote,

“One has the distinct sensation when meditating on the icon that one is not only invited into this (the Trinity’s) communion, but indeed, one already is part of it… God is not far from us but lives among us in a communion of persons.” 

How do our CLCs reflect this radical hospitality of the other? Can we use the prayer of the imagination and contemplate the Trinity inviting all World Assembly participants to come to their table, and share the Eucharistic cup?
Felipe Barnados Schwerter , Rockies Region and I, Lois Zachariah of Central Region, will be taking responsibility for National communications. Felipe will manage our web-site and I will manage the newsletter. We hope that we can reflect the spirit and wisdom of our CLC communities and our Ignatian formation and way of life. I would like to thank Fr. Trevor Scott, S.J. for his invaluable, patient and creative assistance to me, in organizing and completing this newsletter . if you have any suggestions for the newsletter, please contact me. My email is
loiszach3@gmail.com