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 jhoran@clcusawest.org

Christopher Nguyen SJ, Western Region Ecclesial Assistant ctnguyen@calprov.org

Jerry Hayes SJ, Loyola High Campus Minister