My six-day CLC retreat at St Beuno’s

When I first saw the Focus notice informing me of St. Beuno’s place is jam packed with people following Jesus. She is pushing her retreat I wanted to go, but it was the beginning of Advent and it way through the crowd and I am doing the same, so strongly am I seemed so far away. I had never been there before, so I put it to drawn to her. I can feel her pain and sickness, I can feel how weak the back of my mind, so much else was going on in my life. I then she is. I want to get close to her went on a CLC weekend to Leeds and at the end of the weekend I and touch her. She covers her found out that there was still a space open at the St. Beuno’s head as she is almost there. Then retreat so, took it as God telling me that the place was mine and I a pathway clears and she was going. reaches out her hand to touch As Advent was fast approaching and my caring duties had the garment. I am now near her escalated, I had so much to do, so I prayed to God to part the and Jesus turns around and asks waters and ease my passage. I care for my extremely disabled “who touched me?” His voice is so gentle and soft and he looks mother and my daughter, who is also suffering from a long term straight at me. I am about to say “this woman touched you,” but serious illness. I was extremely tired from the long journey and my there is no one there, only me. I am that woman, with all my pain, hectic and stressful life, so the first glimpse, through the trees, of St tiredness and failing faith. I have no time to spend with Jesus. Then Beuno’s was a revelation and it took my breath away. Even so, I he speaks to me, he tells me I have great faith, he tells me he can was in the depths of that soul -deep exhaustion that robs you of joy feel my pain and weakness. He says, “you came looking for me, and my faith was rock -bottom. you touched me. My power has strength in your faith.” From the minute I stepped through the door I had the most I am at peace, I feel joy. I open my eyes, I am bathed by the rays of wonderful feeling: the house was filled with an almost palpable sunshine coming through the window and I see Jesus in all his spiritual aura. We began by having tea and coffee and a meeting glory. I have no words to describe my feelings, I just know I need to followed where we were all introduced to each other and given a share this feeling of peace, joy and holiness. Is this a mission? I do chance to reflect on the CLC World Assembly. We then met our not know. guide and entered the silence that would last the duration of our I have thrown everything away, it is mere refuse, so that I can meet retreat. This was the start of my six-day journey to find my inner self, spending time with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Christ completely unfettered. I no longer have a rightness of my When I had my meeting with my guide I felt like somebody had own, not the rightness that is gained by obeying the law but the pulled the plug on my soul and let it flow free like the water from a rightness gained through faith in Christ. Remain close to God and bath. I just let all that I had in me out, I just talked and talked. I let God love you. talked about the hurt, pain, loneliness and having to fix everybody’s You come to me as a morning star, I was overcome by your beauty. life but my own. I talked of the tears, being frightened, being sad Just looking in awe at your shining magnificence, as the pink clouds and not knowing float by. So much you have shown me through my window of where I was going. peace and so much have we shared, you and I. How good that I walked the beautiful feels, touching and being touched by you. You have prepared me grounds of St. Beuno’s, I sat in my room and well for my journey home. prayed. Taking in my Lots of things have happened. Among them Jesus has washed my surroundings with my feet gently pouring water on them, his soothing hands cleaning my eyes, ears and touch, I emptied my mind, welcoming my silence. feet. He wiped them and I touched him and hugged him. Then as I know very little from the gospel. One morning I followed a gently as he came he moved on. It is like a dream. He has shown woman through the crowds. I know nothing about her but I am me what to do by example. He has made me ready for my journey. drawn to her. She is hurrying and looks around nervously. The By Paulina Brew

NEWSLETTER February/March 2019 The 2018 CLC Individually Guided Retreat - at St Beuno’s, North Wales

Nine retreatants attended from as far away as Surrey, CLC life. We were swept through the joy of the ever Scotland, the North-East and Bristol. The largest group was present risen Christ. It was such a God-soaked journey that from Cheshire and Lancashire. Pat Callaghan gave us an every one of us enjoyed the experience to the hilt. We all introduction on the World Assembly and Brother Alan came away refreshed, renewed and invigorated to face the Harrison sj gave us a wonderful opening presentation. future in our newly God-filled lives. We finished with St. Care was taken to offer accommodation for three with Paul to the Philippians’ extract on how Paul, even though disabilities. In the evening we were introduced to our imprisoned at the time, wanted them, and so also us, to be accompaniers, who were from the resident team. They happy. introduced us to ways of grounding ourselves to At a final meeting with Br. Alan and Pat, we all endorsed experience the wonders of silence. This empowered us to the experience as one essentially to be repeated and with a soak in the absolute beauty of God’s very real presence in wish that many more members will embrace this most this most wonderful of environments. The ambience and delectable of experiences. The community fed back to us the prayerful resting in Christ’s presence enchanted each how impressed they were at how caring we were for each one of us. Each day was embraced by a Eucharist that was other. Our only regret was that more members didn’t avail both simple and yet all invasive. themselves of this so wonderful experience. We each began our journey from where we were in our Wendy Green – Lone Member – Cheshire My Father’s house has many rooms special to go as a group), sitting quietly Dear Friends, a big thank you to CLC for in the prayer room and wandering the helping me onto the six-day silent grounds, the woods, the Rock chapel, retreat at Beuno’s Spirituality Centre in visiting Gerry Hughes’ grave and walking North Wales. I couldn't have done it the Labyrinth in prayer... My cup was without you! I must first say that I overflowing... Then the Silence - The needed some encouragement to do this Mass every evening ...JOY ...and retreat as I hadn't been on a silent retreat before. Exposition after the evening meal, and, very importantly, I was a little apprehensive to say the least especially the time spent every day with Judith my Spiritual Guide; when my son said he would come and get me if it got the spiritual direction offered played a central part in the too much and if I couldn't cope with the silence!! retreat and was both prayerful and inspirational. That's What a surprise!!! How wonderful and amazing to find when my prayers were answered. God brought me to a beautiful peace, love, kindness, quiet and strength...in place of rest, a place of wonder and peace, of nearness other words I had come home to God. It was the setting and understanding, precious, precious moments of tears for the most wonderful gift of all ...the gift of Silence. sometimes of sadness but mostly of joy. At this time of year, we get bogged down with I discovered gifts that were there, given to me from God advertising and shopping and all the noise that the but unrecognised by me until now. So where do I go season brings with it. However, to find this place, this now with this newness, this new closeness to God, with place where the peace of God can touch you and bring this simplicity of Silence, love for Christian Life you closer to Him, into a deeper relationship, this was a Community, of walking with God? truly profound experience for me. On the first day of You are the light in my heart, O Lord, Yours the footsteps being at St Beuno’s I was filled with excitement, I walked to follow. So whenever a shadow of doubt creeps in I the corridors looking at the art work on the walls, remember the giftedness of God’s goodness, His truth exploring the library and the wealth of books that could and beauty, the blessings and the peace. All these gifts be borrowed, sitting in the lovely lounge in silence with are the great reminders of God’s love. Thank you Lord. others, smiling at CLC friends (which has made it so Marie Jubb Star New Star on Christmas night, of a light that will never Day Star, who shows us the day is near disappear, grow dim, burn out the end New Star, Christ Star, will continue to shine brightly if you Night Star to light our way through the let it, in each of us day and night dark times in our lives Christ Star radiates love within us, that no-one can grasp Advent Star, who invites us to wait in the depth of this love that beams in and out through us gentleness, calm Only the Divine knows this To prepare ourselves by forgiving, Open your generous heart to the Advent Star reconciling, healing areas where no good Welcome to receive the Christ Star of light, love and beauty is done, areas of hurt, pain, injustice May you receive the blessings of the Christ Star this Advent Star brings us an openness to be able to receive Christmas time with Grace, Hope, Faith, Love Love the Christ Star, he is your beloved forever. Fiona Craven National Assembly, 5th-7th July 2019, The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire “Led by the Spirit: deepen, share, go out”

The Midlands region would like to invite you to this year’s Our main focus will be on prayer, reflection and sharing, National Assembly, to be held at The Hayes Conference with a minimum of input. Centre in Swanwick. The Hayes Conference Centre (cct.org.uk) has excellent facilities with extensive grounds, including a prayer The words of our theme are taken from the final document labyrinth and lakeside walks. It is located five miles from of the 2018 World Assembly, J28 of the M1, three miles from held in Buenos Aires. At last Alfreton train station, a 35-minute year’s National Assembly in bus ride from Derby, or a 30-minute Leeds, in preparation for the drive from East Midlands Airport. World Assembly, we gave thanks for the gifts we have The Assembly is a great opportunity received through CLC and for us to meet others in CLC and enjoy considered how to share them. a wider sense of community. We hope you will think about coming, In his message to the President especially if you have not been to a of World CLC to the World National Assembly before. There will Assembly, Pope Francis said: be a warm welcome for all. Wouldn’t “We can only enter God’s heart it be great if at least one person from every CLC group in through the wounds of Christ, and we know that Christ is the country could attend? wounded in the hungry, the uneducated, the discarded, the elderly, the sick, the imprisoned…” It is not too early to book your place. If you receive Focus This year we will aim to discover what prevents us from by post a booking form will have been included. It can also taking risks to share our Ignatian gifts with others. We will be downloaded: see P4 for the link. Contact Peter then explore ways that can enable us to reach out in love Dimambro [email protected] for further and friendship as Christ calls us. information. CLC Day held at Sclerder Abbey

mixed lay and religious community, whose spirituality is also Ignatian. In 2014, the Chemin-Neuf Community opened a retreat centre mid-way between and , at Sclerder Abbey, a former Carmelite monastery. This was the venue where the and Falmouth groups met for a and Devon CLC Day, where we were, again, warmly welcomed by the Chemin-Neuf Community: this time by the three resident . Eight people from Plymouth and Falmouth groups with Evelyne Maloret at Plymouth and two from Falmouth attended an inspiring Sclerder Abbey, on 22nd September, 2018. day facilitated by Evelyne Maloret. Evelyne shared the idea The Plymouth (Maranatha) and Falmouth groups met from the CLC World Assembly of the CLC as a “prophetic together for the first time in September. We are each community” with the two groups, and of how CLC might other’s neighbouring group in the far reaches of the South become a “Gift for the Church and for the World.” The two West Region. Falmouth is about 70 miles from Plymouth. groups responded positively to Evelyne‘s input and Bristol (Plymouth’s next nearest neighbour) is around 130 enjoyed the joint meeting. We agreed that we look miles away. Over the years Judith Collin has facilitated forward to meeting again in the future. Evelyne suggested meetings between the two groups—Yate (Bethany) and we might wish to spend more time using the materials she Plymouth (Maranatha), which were always gentle, uplifting provided, after the meeting. We followed this through and and spirit-filled. One year we met at St. Gilda’s Retreat were grateful for the opportunity to pray again using these Centre in Langport, Somerset, which was roughly materials during our next two local group meetings in equidistant between Yate and Plymouth. At the time St. Plymouth . Gilda’s was owned by the Chemin-Neuf Community, a Elaine Young Noticeboard

MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION FOR 2019 5TH – 7TH JULY 2019. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, THE HAYES, To ensure that you continue to receive FOCUS don’t forget to SWANWICK, DERBYSHIRE. renew your membership. You can pay by direct transfer to Santander Business Banking, 09-01-51, 45663507, reference: “LED BY THE SPIRIT: DEEPEN, SHARE, GO OUT” Fee 2019, or by cheque payable to Christian Life Community Calling all CLC members and those interested in sent to: Julia Lane, CLC Hon Treasurer, 28 Ward Grove, Warwick Ignatian spirituality to join us for prayer, community CV34 6QL. Call or email Julia if you can't remember what or when you last contributed! See below for contact details. and inspiration on our faith journey. TREASURER Online booking form available at: Our Honorary Treasurer’s term of office will end in June when https://www.pathwaystogod.org/my-prayer-life/ the elections take place at the AGM. If you would like to consider christian-life-community/noticeboard/booking-form- taking on this role please speak to Julia to find out more about it. clc- national-assembly-2019 Contact as below - treasurer. Contact for queries: Peter Dimambro NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING [email protected] 01926 428399 The AGM will be held at 11am on Sunday 7 July 2019 at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Alfreton, Is your CLC group looking for prayer material for Lent? Why not try the IGNATIAN ON-LINE RETREAT— ’Walking together with Christ’? Find out more at LITERATURE pathwaystogod.org We have a considerable number of booklets and pamphlets available to all and .pdf files can be sent to members free of Calendar charge for you to print for yourself; printed copies are charged at a modest price to cover the cost. All this is in our Publications List, World CLC Day , St Peter’s Church, 23rd March Leamington Spa CV32 5AA which is always available on the website: go to www.clcew.org.uk , click on RESOURCES and scroll down to SE &SW Regional Day, Mount Street, London 23rd March 10.30 - 4 p.m. Publications List, then down again to FILE DOWNLOADS and open Publications List.pdf World CLC Day Blessed John Henry Newman 23rd March Church , Knutsford rd. Warrington. WA14 1JE At present, although we have a steady trickle of orders, we are not getting a significant amount of interest. Do have a look at the 30th-31st March Formation Team Meeting, Manresa House, List and see if there is perhaps just one leaflet or booklet that looks (10.30 for 11) Harborne, Birmingham interesting that you have not read. I intend to send the List to all 13th-14th April Extended Team Meeting, Birmingham our CLC group contacts and perhaps they can bring our literature to the attention of the members in their group. We also try to 18th May National Team Meeting. London make samples of our literature available for inspection at all our National Assembly , Swanwick, regional days. 5th-7th July Derbyshire CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY Inspired by St Ignatius Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises, CLC is a lay organisation, a world community of small groups of 4-10 people, helping members from all walks of life to integrate prayer and action in daily life, to respond more fully to God’s loving desire for them.

Address for correspondence, CLC England & Wales: CLC, 114 Mount St, London W1K 3AH. But please send all payments for membership, FOCUS and literature to Julia Lane, CLC Treasurer, 28, Ward Grove, Warwick , CV34 6QL. (Julia will pass on literature requests) email: [email protected] website: www.clcew.org.uk World CLC: www.cvx-clc.net NextNext FOCUS FOCUS deadline Deadline National President: Jacqueline Gill tel 02083 910146 email: [email protected] 28th February 2019 National Chaplain: Br Alan Harrison SJ, tel: 01745 583444 email: [email protected] Please send contributions PLeasefor send the April contributions FOCUS to: CLC Treasurer: Julia Lane tel: 01926 497331 email: [email protected] for [email protected] next FOCUS to CLC Secretary Vacant email: [email protected] [email protected] 20 March Administrator: Admin Team: [email protected] The annual subscription for Focus only (non-members) is £10 for postal copy , or £5 for e-FOCUS Registered Charity number 1056891