Dearest Friends in the Lord,

Peace of the Risen Christ be with us all! As we know, May 2022 will be our next national election. The Coronavirus pandemic has made ever more present the need for good governance and responsible political leadership with concern for the common good.

We recall paragraph 12(b) of our CLC General Principles, which speaks of our way of life and reminds us that "Our broad and demanding mission requires of each member a willingness to participate in social and political life and to develop human qualities and professional skills in order to become more competent workers and convincing witnesses."

As part of developing further our apostolic discernment for participation in social and political life, we would like to invite members to participate in a formation program entitled Bawa't Isa Mahalaga (B1M). The B1M Journey ushers followers of Jesus into greater social engagement as they recognize their roles as salt and light in the world and that every person is empowered to help transform the nation. We have also attached an overview of the program and modules to provide you further information.

Formation Program Details:
Dates: Saturday evenings beginning 24 April until 26 June from 730-930pm
Facilitators: CLC members from April Fools, Boomerangs, and NYNG
Program: Large-group inputs, small group sharing, plenary sharing, preparatory work for each session

We would like to encourage all those who are interested to be willing to make two commitments:
1. To attend all sessions.
2. To be willing to facilitate B1M modules after completing the program.

Please sign-up here to receive the zoom link and access to relevant materials throughout the program: https://tinyurl.com/B1MCLCP

Two of our fellow CLC participants in the program had this to say about the program:

B1M empowered me and convinced me that I could do something more to better respond to political forces and make sure we elect the leaders we deserve. The program was very easy to follow, and it gave us the opportunity to meet and interact with others who dare to dream and wish to build a better Philippines.

The guide questions during the sessions have helped me direct my anger, anxiety, and helplessness towards a more productive disposition regarding current events and politics in general. I liked how the program reinforces CLC's theme of "where did you find God in your discernment?" This helped me understand more how "separation of church and state" doesn't mean Christians cannot participate or contribute in politics. We are actually encouraged to capitalize on our Christian values and see that it is connected to our responsibility as PH citizens.

We look forward to seeing you in this formation program. May we continue to be the peace that the risen Christ offers to our world through us.

In Christ,

Lib and the Formation Team