The Christian Life Community of the Philippines is a discerning community growing in union with Christ through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius de Loyola. Imbued with the sense of and love for the Church, we participate in Christ’s mission specifically in bringing about maturity in faith and social justice with a sense of urgency and disponibility.
EMPTY CROSS: symbol of our faith in the Risen Christ
THREE NAILS: three elements of the CLC: spirituality, community and mission
FLAME: the fire of Ignatius that burns in the hearts of all CLCers
QUADRANTS: the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises
CIRCLE: the community united in the Holy Eucharist
BLUE COLOR: color of Mary, our model of cooperation in Christ’s mission
Fatima highlights were shared with the Philippine community. Magis @ 40 Regional Encounters held from late August to November 2008 provided an immediate and direct venue for our delegates John Gamit, Je Wu and Fr. Tony de Castro to share Fatima’s themes with members in the farthest reaches of the country. These sessions helped to strengthen the members’ sense of “connectivity” to the World Community and their realization that their needs and concerns are not so different from those of other countries, after all, thus strengthening the spirit of solidarity with the World CLC.
World CLC Day celebrations will be planned by the different Regional Communities based on the theme “Deepening the Graces of Fatima to undertake our path to become a Prophetic Community as World CLC.” The First and Second Moments for personal and community prayer will be proposed to provide the structure for the Day (cf. Projects No. 141, Nov. 2008).
The 2009 National Assembly will be held on October 17-19, 2009, with the theme to be based on John 13:35, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” By going deeper into the call to “Love one another as I have loved you” which was the grace of last year’s NA, this year’s Assembly is hoped to be the occasion for the community to gain a firmer grasp of what it means to be an apostolic body made up of disciples/apostles who love one another and whose love helps build the nation; an apostolic body that is prophetic.
In its processes, CLCP will promote the practice of DSSE and deepening/understanding of Apostolic Body. For this purpose, the Spanish DSSE and the French-language interview of Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach are being translated into English and Tagalog. This is a challenge, considering that there are members who are not proficient in English and for whom documents and other communications will have to be translated into two other dialects, Visayan and Bicolano.
Other activities being planned are an Assembly for Young Professionals (different from a Youth Assembly) in the summer, and the celebration of the Feast of St. Ignatius on July 31st. Both events will build on the theme of becoming an apostolic, prophetic body in preparation for the October National Assembly.
CLCP’s Formation Institute is working with our National EA Fr. Tony to develop a structured, multi-year retreat program to enable members to experience the entire movement of the Spiritual Exercises, from the First to the Fourth Week. It is contemplated to introduce this new program for the Holy Week 2009 Retreats.
FI will also be focusing its attention on the formation of guides and the youth, and on strengthening the sense of commitment of members.
The CLCP National Leadership Community has initiated a Strategic Planning process that will see greater participation by members not only at the national, but also at the regional, levels. With data generated by the recent Magis @ 40 Regional Encounters, accompanied by a discernment process to highlight the CLCP’s communitarian history, a new 3- or 5-year Strategic Plan is expected to be presented to the National Assembly.
Areas that need more workers in the vineyard are the Regional Development and the Youth Development programs.
The Leadership Community has strengthened its ties with the Core of Responsibles, which has recently been convened to review and clarify its role and purpose, structure, and relationship with the NLC to provide support to the CLCP through the years.
- Adelina Artadi
- Roberto Artadi
- Adelaida Endaya
- Fr. Robert Hogan, SJ
- Jean Llorin
- Vitalino Nañagas II
- Fr. Benjamin Sim, SJ
- Ma. Belen Sim
- Paul Sim Jr.
- Fr. Ramon Prudencio Toledo, SJ
- Aurora Valdellon
- Adelaida Villegas
- Veronica Villegas
John Robert C. Gamit
President
Ma. Alegria M. Bautista
Vice-President
Donnabelle D. Chua
Corporate Secretary and Head, Resource Management Team
Serafin M. Mirasol Jr.
Treasurer
Christine G. Talaguit
Auditor and Head, Regional Development Team
Dr. Cristeto Azucena
Head, Youth Development Team
Jeraldine Ching-Wu
Asia Pacific Link
Belen O. Chua
Consultor
Fr. Antonio de Castro SJ
National Ecclesiastical Assistant
Rose Linda O. Bautista
Executive Director
A new initiative has been started by a group called the Signs of the Times Discerning Group (STDG) to provide CLC members with information on, and analysis of, various social issues for their personal and community discernment, and a venue where these issues can be discussed in an environment which is open, transparent and participatory. CLCP members and their expertise will be tapped in the discussion and discernment of issues, thus serving as bridges to help direct CLCP in becoming more engaged in responding to societal issues and in nation-building in the spirit of Christian hope.
A continued channel for apostolic action and partnership with the Jesuit Society has been opened in the form of management services for the Mirador Jesuit Villa in Baguio. With the help of the CLCP, this Jesuit retreat house now runs efficient and cost-effective operations to serve people seeking a quiet place for prayer and reflection.
The GIFT Community, with the blessing of the Leadership Community, has also accepted to manage the former Camillian Novitiate in Baguio as a retreat and formation center. This will be the second retreat house in Baguio that the CLC is running. It is a concrete expression of religious/lay collaboration.
CLCP and the Jesuits have had a long history of collaboration. CLC members from Cebu have helped to run the Jesuit Retreat House in Banawa, Cebu City for many years, as members are now doing for the Mirador Jesuit Villa in Baguio (also mentioned in the section on Apostolic Action).
Our National EA is a Jesuit, and other Jesuits have been appointed as Regional EAs for Zamboanga and Davao in Mindanao, and Cebu in the Visayas. In addition, many of the CLC’s spiritual directors and retreat directors are Jesuit priests and scholastics.
The Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus will be celebrating its 150th anniversary beginning June 2009. The CLCP has been invited to participate in the celebration, and efforts will be undertaken to draw up plans in collaboration with Jesuit and other lay partners.
Jesuit Provincial Superior, Fr. Jose Magadia S.J., has been invited as a guest speaker at the forthcoming 2009 National Assembly. He also had a dialogue with the Leadership Community and Core of Responsibles last year where he raised important questions about the CLCP, its role in Philippine society today, and the state of its local communities.
As of January 31, 2009, the CLCP counts a total of 109 local communities (full-member, observer, emerging and youth CLCs), and at least 832 individual members.
The CLCP’s financial sustainability remains a challenge. The LC is looking into ways to achieve better cost effectiveness, particularly with regards to operations of the Formation Institute.
The Resource Management Team continues to promote sound financial management. Rental from the use of its facilities and management fees from Mirador Jesuit Villa have helped to provide funds for operations, even as CLCP continues to view these services mainly as part of its apostolic action.
The linkage between CLC Germany and CLCP remains strong. Members of the April Fools CLC visited with the CLC Germany last summer.
A new linkage was started last November by the CLCP with the newly-formed Magis CLC in Singapore to accompany its long journey toward membership as a national CLC.
The Philippines continues to receive visitors from CLCs of various countries, including Germany, Australia and the U.S.-based representative to the U.N. Last month, Fr. Jesus Maria Muñoz, National EA of Taiwan, visited Manila and joined the interaction with the CLCs of Mary the Queen Parish whose parishioners are largely Filipino-Chinese.
CLCP provided CLC Australia with copies of its Pray CD.
And just recently, we received communication from CLC Korea for a possible partnership in providing the CLC Korea Youth with an immersion program. We are quite excited about this prospect as we used to collaborate with Germany and Japan, among other countries, for an immersion program of their members. If successful, this will be another example of Asia Pacific collaboration.
CLCP’s website, , is up and running again. Information continues to be updated. Attention will also be given to making the website more interactive.
Three tools enable the LC to keep in close touch with the general membership: the Balitaan (a monthly newsflash from the National Secretariat), Balitang LC (a quarterly news bulletin to report on the quarterly LC meetings and Kwentong CLC (a bi-annual newsmagazine featuring the lives and activities of CLC members).
The project to establish and update CLCP’s membership database is 80% complete.
The remaining challenge is to establish effective ways to communicate with members from regions or provinces who have no internet/email access, and with those who are more proficient in their local dialects.
According to AP Coordinator Paul (Jody) Sim, there is a need to review the structure and mandate of the Asia-Pacific Community. At the present time, it serves mainly as a communication hub among national CLCs. Organizing the next Asia Pacific Meeting is a major challenge, given the lack of resources. We request the World Exco to give this matter some attention.
1967 and 1980. The era between 1970 and 1980 is one of extremes in that we begin with the dark days of martial Law and end with the bright but challenging days of People Power. It was an era of social upheaval and great social divide.
- Fr. Jose Blanco, SJ brings new General Principles to
the Philippines from Rome - Sodality of our Lady changes name to Christian Life
Community - Fr. Benjamin Sim, SJ organizes aggiornamento seminars
nationwide as Vice Ecclesiastical Assistant and National
Promoter - Organization is transformed from MABOS to MAFOSS to
PNFCLC - General Assembly issues ZAMBOANGA STAND 1971 (Martial
Law is proclaimed; school CLCs and other organizations
were controlled.) - CLC accepts Volunteer/Full-timers
- CLC organizes Training Institute 1972
- Fr. Ben is appointed Consultor to World EXCO
- Germany adopts the PNFCLC as its twin community
- Philippines hosts World Assembly in Baguio (Manila ‘76)
- Vinzons elected President of World Federation of CLC
- World CLC Formation Courses are held in Manila
- PNFCLC becomes CLCP; ExCo to LC; GCM to GA)
- First National CLC Convention is held in Baguio
- Cora Sim becomes Secretary at World CLC Secretariat
1981 to 1990. It was the era of People Power. Rallies after Ninoy’s death increased. Here with us today to tell us about the CLC during the dark days of Martial Law and the bright days of People Power veterans of the CLC, veterans of the revolution – People Power.
- Asia Formation Course is held in Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches
- CLCP builds HCFC in Trece Martirez, Cavite
- CLCP issues a stand: Diwa ng Trece 1982
- CLCP adopts Active Non-Violence (ANV)
- CLCP joins the People Power movement through ANV principle
- CLCP decides to hold regional assemblies
- Punla sa Pag-unlad (PUNLAD) is formed
- Fr. Denny Toledo, SJ is appointed EA
- CLC collaborates with San Jose Seminary for SPFY (Social-Pastoral
Formation Year). - CLCP hosts CLC members from other countries for immersion program;
Germany, Japan, etc.
1991 to 2000. Many people will say that these were the years of relative calm and peacefulness. It was a time to build a time to gain strength.
- CLCP adopts Barangay Apalit after Mt. Pinatubo erupted
- National CLC Office is razed by fire
- Office transfers to Looban to B. Gonzales to Mary The
Queen Parish to Spiritual Pastoral Center to LST - Fr. Ben Sim is officially appointed national EA
- World CLC sends Shine Sim and Gabe Mercado to World
Youth Day 1995. CLCP hosts CLC members from Slovenia,
Hong Kong, Korea, France, etc. - International Formation Encounter is held in Caleruega
in Nasugbu, Batangas to discuss the CLC Charism - CLC Youth Commission is created with Gabe Mercado as
Fulltime Coordinator - CLCP partners with JVP
- CLCP formulates Vision / Mission: A spreading Ignatian
Fire - CLC Formation Institute is created as a National Apostolate
- LC begins accreditation of local communities
- Tinnah dela Rosa develops Teen Treats Program for the
youth - Social Development Institute is conceptualized and created
- CLC attends Jesuit-Lay Partners Retreat in Mirador with
Fr. Tom O’Gorman, SJ -closer Jesuit-CLC lay collaboration
begins - Pagbicol is established by Naga Pro
- CLCP produces A Touch of Silver; A Glimpse of Gold video–
Silver Jubilee of CLC - Tinnah dela Rosa is appointed fulltime National Youth
Coordinator - CLCP produces Spreading the Ignatian Fire Video
- Lanny Nañagas is elected Treasurer of World
CLC - Ronnie Villegas is elected Consultor of World CLC
- GA approves CLCP National Statutes
2001 to Present. The era of 2001 to the present is very important because it is our era. Sometimes we are caught up in our own daily struggles that we miss out on what the CLC and the Secretariat or LC is doing.
- Core of Responsibles is created
- CLCFI joins Spirituality Cluster Meetings by the Jesuit
Philippine Province - CLC Center is constructed inside ADMU Campus
- CLCP develops 5 year Strategic Plan
- Pray CD is produced
- Philippines hosts Asia Pacific meeting in Claret School.
- CLC collaborates with Center for Ignatian Spirituality
in retreat-giving - CLCFI gives orientation to Neo Regents, Tertians and
San Jose Seminarians - Sa Harong ni Lord is established in Bicol
- CLCP accepts appointment to manage Mirador Jesuit Villa
in Baguio
I. Membership
1. A person can become a member of the World Christian Life Community in one of the following ways:
a)By initiating along with others a local, pre-CLC community, which is accepted by a regional or national community. The accepting community must provide the formation resources for the development of this new community.
b)By being a member of an existing group of Christians, which has chosen the CLC way of life. This group accordingly has been received as a local community by the regional or national community, which is its accepting community.
c)By joining an existing local community, which is the accepting community, and which provides the means of formation.
2. In whichever way admission takes place, the new members must be helped by the Community to assimilate the CLC way of life, and to decide whether a call, an ability and a willingness to live it are present, and to become identified with the wider Christian Life Community. After a period of time ordinarily no longer than four years and no less than one, they assume a temporary commitment to this way of life. An experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is strongly recommended as a means of arriving at this personal decision.
3. The temporary commitment continues as such until, after a process of discernment, the member expresses his or her permanent commitment to CLC, unless he or she freely withdraws from the Community or is excluded by it. The length of time between temporary and permanent commitment should be ordinarily no more than eight years and no less than two
4. An experience of the complete Spiritual Exercises in one of their several forms (in daily life, a closed month, retreats over several years), precedes permanent commitment to Christian Life Community.
5. The forms of these personal commitments are left to the National Communities. It is suggested that a printed model of these personal commitments be drawn up by each National Community and that they include an explicit reference to the acceptance of the General Principles of CLC.
6. All that is said above must be understood and practised according to age, culture and other specific characteristics. For this purpose the National Communities must develop formation programmes, diversified if necessary for various groupings of members and the various exceptional circumstances, which may arise for individual members.
7. The Christian Life Community is a particular way of following Jesus Christ and working with Him to bring about the reign of God. It allows for many different individual responses and does not value one more than another. Within the richness of the Gospel and the tradition of the Church and as a result of their growing in Christ, some CLC members may desire to emphasise one or more of the many evangelical counsels by taking private vows. Likewise, persons or groups of persons who have taken such vows outside CLC can be accepted into the community on the same basis as all the others.
II. Way of life
8. National and regional communities must find ways for making accessible to all members the actual experience of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, of spiritual guidance, and of other means of growth in the Spirit.
9. As a primary means to continue our growth as persons and as Christian Life Community, our ordinary way of decision-making at all levels is a discerning approach, and even a formal community discernment for the more important shared decisions.
10. In the spirit of its best tradition, and for the sake of greater apostolic efficacy, the Christian Life Community at all levels promotes the participation of its members in joint projects to respond to various and changing needs. National or international networks, specialised apostolic teams, or other such initiatives may be set up by the Community where appropriate.
11. Likewise, in the same tradition and in view of the formation of its members and of other people, the Christian Life Community at all levels promotes workshops, seminars, courses, publications and other such initiatives.
12. For the sake of mutual help and apostolic collaboration, the Christian Life Community at any appropriate level can affiliate other associations of people who wish to share in our way of life but not to become full members. Similarly, the Christian Life Community at any appropriate level can find ways of expressing meaningful links with persons or institutions that are somehow related to the same tradition.
13. Special attention must be given at the world and national levels to ensure that all local communities be helped to live a genuine CLC process with a well formed guide and an efficient co-ordinator.
14. All that is said above, both with regard to apostolic and formative challenges, supposes a good collaboration with the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and with other persons, communities and institutions that share in the Ignatian tradition.
For those who wish to read the rest of the General Principles, You may download the file from [www.cvx-clc.net/doc.html]