Exercising our Faith
Christian Life Community in the High School
Identifying Real Needs
◦ Hunger for personal identity
◦ Hunger for intimacy in relationships
◦ Hunger for life-giving spirituality
◦ Hunger for meaningful work
According to the USCCB Pastoral Plan for Ministry to Young Adults “Sons and Daughters of the Light”
~Community ~ Spirituality ~ Mission ~
Hunger for COMMUNITY
Strength
Challenge
Accountability
Comfort
Companionship
Hunger for SPIRITUALITY
Real experiences of Jesuit tradition and Ignatian Spiritulity
Personal encounters with God
Felt knowledge “sentir”
Deepen retreat experiences
Hunger for MISSION
More to Mission than acts of service
Discovering our deep desires and natural giftedness
Awareness of the world’s greatest needs
Seeking the MAGIS
One Possible Means…
CLC
What is CLC?
CLC stands for CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY. It is a lay world community of people who meet weekly or biweekly for prayer, discernment, and sharing.
CLC groups are usually comprised of 6-12 individuals from a common geographical locale, high school, university, or cultural community.
Key Components
Community: we gather as a community of faith, as a residence community (in some situations), as a school community, as a larger CLC community
Spirituality: grounded in the Spiritual Exercises, natural flow and continuation of Campus Ministry retreat experiences, deepening engagement of service experiences and immersion opportunities, finding God in all things
Mission: we are not just about service acts, we are about discerning how to best live and work and challenge ourselves in this world. How do my greatest gifts coincide with the world’s deep needs?
What does a CLC look like?
Through weekly small group meetings, co-facilitated by a student coordinator and an adult guide
Participation in a variety of spiritual and mission-oriented events in the larger community.
Sample Meeting
Opening Prayer
Check In (how do you come?)
Formation Topic (reflection, prayer, discussion)
Evaluation and Review of Prayer (how do you leave?)
Closing Prayer
Why CLC on a Campus?
Many Involvements: a need to prioritize, reflect, and discern
Ignatian means of sharing faith
Non-threatening, welcomingenvironment to explore questions of life and faith
Student Growth in CLC
Explore one’s personal vocation- a sense of being called uniquely by God
Introduction to the graces of the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises
Exposure to various methods of prayer: Awareness Examen, imaginative prayer, meditation, contemplation, review of prayer, colloquy, Sunday worship, annual retreat/days of recollection
Adult Guides and Student CLC
Young people and the desire for relationships with positive adult influences
CLC structure of adult guide, student coordinator, and peer sharing
Ignatian model of companionship
Where to learn more…
www.clcyya.org - national Youth and Young Adult CLC
www.clc-usa.org - national website for CLC in the USA
www.cvx-clc.net - worldwide website for CLC
http://www.belenjesuit.org/studentlife/christianlifecommunity/CLCPAMPHLET.pdf - Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami, Florida has a number of resources listed online for High School CLC
CLC Contacts
Jen Horan, Western Region and National CLC [email protected]
Christopher Nguyen SJ, Western Region Ecclesial Assistant [email protected]
Jerry Hayes SJ, Loyola High Campus Minister