Dearest Members of CLC Canada,
The National Assembly is fast approaching and I sense the enthusiasm and hopeful joy that the Spirit is generating among us.
By now many of you have already met in your small communities and are beginning to pray with the 3 Prayer Exercises and the National Evaluation themes and summaries.
In this letter, I have a bit of a different focus than in the past bulletins. I need to draw your attention to a very important Webinar which is both directly and indirectly related to our National Assembly. The Webinar link is:
As many of you are aware, in the Bahamas and throughout Atlantic Canada Hurricane Dorian has left much devastation in its wake. Here in the Atlantic, the loss of thousands of trees has been heart breaking. Many of our CLC members were without electricity, including heat and water for up to 5 days. And we got off so much more lightly than our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas who have lost lives and homes.
It was quite timely that I also attended a Webinar this week- the ‘Kick off’ for the Fall Action Plan of Development and Peace/ Caritas entitled “A Future for the Amazon, A Future for All.” The Webinar reflects on the Care of our Common Home, with a focus on the upcoming Synod on the Amazon (October 6-27, 2019).
In 2015, Pope Francis visited Peru where, as is his custom, he sat down and truly ‘listened’ to the cry of the Indigenous people in Peru and how the Amazon and their culture were being threatened beyond their control. Pope Francis decided to ACT for the Magis, the greater good, by calling for this Synod on the Amazon.
If you watch this Webinar, about one hour in length, you will discover how closely related we are throughout Canada and the World on the issues of our Indigenous Peoples, Deforestation and Climate Change. You will also gain a clearer perspective of how Communal Discernment for Mission works to change the world.
CLC is a way of life where we are called to ‘listen’ with ‘Spiritual Freedom’ to the signs of the times through the voices of the poor and marginalized.
Out of this listening, like Pope Francis, we are able to DISCERN and then act on that which is for the greater good for all of God’s wondrous Creation
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This Webinar illustrates the communal hope, energy, and commitment to action, that emerge when decisions are made in this way. This is the CLC Way of Life.
We are connected to this Webinar in another special way since one of the key speakers, Mauricio Lopez, is our past World CLC President. Appointed by Pope Francis, Mauricio is the Executive Director of REPAM (a Catholic Church Network that promotes the rights and dignity of people living in the Amazon). Mauricio and his team have been meeting with and listening to the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, who, in solidarity with ALL Earth’s Indigenous communities, are the “Guardians of the Forests” and have much to teach those of us who will listen- to reconcile, reflect and change the world. Other persons on the Webinar panel are Kelly Di Demenico (Development and Peace), Archbishop Don Bolen of Regina, Saskatchewan and Josianne Gauthier (Secretary General of CIDSE in Belgium). All are dedicated, inspiring and most of all, collaborative.
I know that we are all very busy getting back into Fall commitments and in preparing for the national Assembly. If you could take one hour of your day to watch this video, I think that God will make it truly worth your while!
Blessings and Peace!
Michelle
