Update SUMMER ISSUE July 2012 This edition of the UPDATE highlights MEMBERSHIP , the value of community. Caption describing picture or graphic. INSIDE THIS The season of Easter and the Feast of Pentecost are just behind us and as we pre- ISSUE: pare for our summer holidays we are now in Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is in Magis Award 3 fact the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither Recipients in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in more severe penance (as in Advent and Lent), but in watchfulness and expectation of the Second Coming Greeting from 4 of Christ with Jesus fully alive and present to us. our E.A. Membership 6 Summer is heating up with CLC-CVX World interventions in collaboration with Testimonies Jesuits and the Ignatian family at the UN Conference for Sustainable Develop- ment: RIO+20 in Brazil. Prayer materials were forwarded to your region for distri- Mission 10 CVX CLC Haiti bution forming a prayer chain across the world in watch for marked signs of the Trinity among the nations gathered. “Environmental and ecological problems, Circle of Elders 16 and the many other issues preventing people from living a dignified life, are cru- cial for the way in which they reflect the vulnerability of creation and humanity World Day of 18 Prayer 2012 today, and for their inescapable importance for the future of the coming genera- tions.” http://ecojesuit.com. Be refreshed this summer noticing gifts of relation- CLC NB 24 ships in family and in all creation. Will you listen with one another to what invi- visits Rome tations we are receiving from the God of life with regard to the environment? Cooking in CLC 25 In CLC we strive to live our discerned way of life as disciples of Jesus following the General Principals and the Charism of CLC. In this issue of the UPDATE P A G E 2 Membership, the value of community continued from Front Page ... we are high-lighting the gift of where He takes us. Like Jesus, we are called membership in Christian to ‘not count the cost. In fact we are called Life Community as we to be prophetic leaders using our spiritual look at what CLC mem- gifts. bership means as shared from some of our mem- We want to thank you for your prayerful bers across Canada. Our and co-responsible financial support of our World Day of Prayer fo- General Council’s mandate to carry out the cus this year in Projects # recommendations from our National Assem- 150 asked the question; “How bly in 2009 and encourage you to continue to much have social, economic, politi- be engaged with your local community and cal or cultural realities influenced my un- your Regional activities. May you, your derstanding of the concept of membership families and your CLC families be enriched as a person, as a Christian and as a member with the graces of this summer season and of CLC?” Through our ongoing formation continue to grow in fellowship in the world. and with like minded CLC’ers of our local, United with you, Regional, National and WORLD CLC Peter Chouinard and Mary Balfe, groups, we strive to continually discover Co-Presidents, CLC Canada the answers to this question– open to go This is the inspiring story of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, a holy young Indian woman who was converted to Christian- ity by French missionaries during the 1600s. Ostracized from the Iroquois who had adopted her, Kateri lived as a single woman with deep faith, offering her suf- ferings and life to Christ. Affectionately known as "Lily of the Mohawks", she will be elevated to Sainthood on October 21, 2012. Canada’s fist Native Saint. U P D A T E P A G E 3 MAGIS AWARD RECIPIENTS 2012 Halifax’s Centre of Spirituality to award Magis 2012 to active CLC couple This year the Award cere- mony will take place at Villa Madonna in Rothe- say NB (near Saint John) on November 10. There will be a Mass in the late morning followed by a luncheon during which the award ceremony will take place. The Bishop of Saint John’s Diocese, the Most Yves and Pam Daigle Rev. Robert Harris, and the Lieutnant- Governor of New Brunswick, the Hon. Gray- The Jesuit Centre of Spirituality is very pleased don Nicholas, who participated to announce that Pam and Yves Daigle of Grand in the Jesuit Congress in 2011 will take part. Bay-Westfield NB (near Saint John) will receive More precise arrangements will be communi- the 2012 Magis Award. This fourth Magis Award cated in early September. is the first one given to a couple. Their union ex- tends beyond marriage and family to include a Please mark that date in your calendar if you shared commitment to spirituality and minis- wish to attend. If you wish to be placed on an try.For many years they have been faithful mem- early reservation list, please phone: bers of the Christian Life Community (CLC) and 902-429-7344 or email [email protected]. they have been formed in the ways of Ignatian This is a departure from the usual practice of spirituality. Yves is currently the Regional Coor- having the celebration in Halifax. It underlines dinator of the Atlantic Canada region of CLC. the vocation of the Jesuit Centre which, based Pam is very active in the Atlantic Association for in Halifax, extends to the three Maritime prov- the Spiritual Exercises Apostolate (AASEA), inces. bringing her skills as a teacher and a facilitator to numberless meetings and formation programs. Text courtesy: Jean-Marc Laporte, S.J. U P D A T E P A G E 4 Greetings from our National Ecclesiastical Assistant... Dear CLC friends, Exercises for the I am writing this on REJOICE parish; I have (LAETARE) Sunday – 4th Sunday given talks on of Lent – midway in our Lenten Ignatian spiritu- journey to the Paschal Feast of the ality and prayer; Resurrection. There is much to I have given rejoice about in CLC Canada. Even short retreats in though I am farther west than when I this area; I will began as National EA, I have been keep- be doing a 5 day ing in touch through General Council directed retreat and its Regional Reps with what is hap- with an ecu- pening across the country. The contin- menical team in ued use of the Skype technology (even May; I’m doing with its moments of challenge!) has spiritual accompaniment for some people; been a blessing to keep us in communi- working with a group at the University of cation with each other across the coun- Calgary collaborating on science, medicine try. I am using it more now to continue and spirituality; I am working with the to keep in touch with the Prairie Region, Rockies region groups in the Lethbridge while I am here in the Rockies’ region, area in preparation for their Regional As- besides the General Council meetings. I sembly next September; we have begun a am grateful for this technology because new group in CLC formation has begun in it helps to bridge the distances in our Canmore, near Banff. They are all active vast country by regular video calls or people in the church and are getting into even just audio calls. Manual 1 very well. It is a joy to be with them. All in all I am quite happy in the As I mentioned in the last Update, I am way things are unfolding here in Calgary. the only Jesuit in all of Alberta! But I have been made to feel welcome by so Fr. Fratern Masawe, sj spoke of justice and many, especially those who know the peace in Africa and how the Church brings Jesuits. It has been confirming of the hope to the people of this great continent. decision to be sent here to work with Ignatian spirituality and Christian Life The theme of this issue of Update is Community. I am residing at St. Mary’s “membership in CLC”. It is a Cathedral where I help out with week- topic that came up at the last World As- end ministry and during the week. This sembly in Fatima. I discovered there that helps covers my costs of food and lodg- there was not a uniform understanding of ing. I meet a lot of people here who tell membership and commitment in CLC. We me that it is good to have a Jesuit have, I think, been making much progress around! in both of these key elements of the CLC way of life across Canada in the past 5 Here are some of my activities in the years. This coming World Day of prayer is past months: I have been asked to fa- dedicated to reflection on this topic. We cilitate programs of adaptation of the (Con’t next page…) U P D A T E P A G E 5 Former Jesuit Superior of Africa- Madagascar spoke at St. Mary’s Cathedral Calgary on January 26th. In the 1960s most of Africa was richer than Asia; beset by conflict, debt and corruption, today Africa has some of the poorest countries in the world! What went wrong? Where is the hope? will have, no doubt, the occasion to Fr. Charles Pottie-Pate, sj, Jenny Cafiso, Director of Cana- deepen, with the help of Project 150, dian Jesuits International and Fr. Fratern Masawe, sj the meaning of membership and com mitment in CLC. I close with my sincerest wishes for a continued blessed Lenten journey, a graced-filled Triduum and the grace of abundant joy in the Christ’s resurrection.