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Hope CLC, Taunton, MA
Hope CLC, on one level, is a group of people who want to live life more fully and thus gather regularly. But this could be said of many support groups, prayer groups, and social action groups. We believe that CLC integrates all of these, that it is a gift and calling we have accepted in response to an urgent need to unite our human life, in all its dimensions, with the fullness of our Christian faith.
What we in Hope CLC share in common — and what gives us our identity — is a way of life grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It is our experience that this lay vocation challenges and helps us to integrate Ignatian spirituality, Gospel mission ant Christian community. We value this gift of integration both individually and corporately. Just as each member begins and seeks to be a contemplative in action, similarly Hope CLC is, and continually aims to be, a discerning community for mission.
Though for years Hope CLC has met weekly September through June, with a few meetings in July/August, we are currently testing a twice per month meeting schedule. The four women and two men comprising the community range in age from late thirties to mid-fifties, and most are human service or educational professionals. Two live in Taunton while the other four reside in the New Bedford and Fall River areas. All members share responsibility for the life and development of the community.
At our present meetings, we usually:
- begin with a check-in (how we are or our "feeling state" coming into the meeting) [13-18 minutes]
- move into prayer (which is led by a member on a rotating basis) [5-15 minutes or more]
- partake in faith-sharing (where have we experienced God's presence/love since last time) [10-30 min.+]
- discuss the day's main topic or do the planned activity [30-90 minutes, depending on focus]
- evaluate the meeting (what was helpful, might we to differently; where is God calling us) [5+ min.]
- end
with a brief prayer. Occasionally, we have Eucharistic and/or social celebrations
as part, or a lieu, of the above. We also sometimes take part in broader CLC gatherings
as well as other faith-and-justice-enriching opportunities at parishes/retreat
centers or perform some service in conjunction with social action events.
The name Hope CLC was selected in 1976, and two from that period remain members to this day. A few historical highlights include the discerned group apostolates of the early 1980's; "the people and situation of E1 Salvador," followed by "developmentally disabled adults of greater Taunton." We then felt called to an extensive year-long study of simple lifestyle issues around 1985-6. Along the way we've had common shared experiences of the Exercises. On several occasions, we have acted as a servant community for our movement, once leading a nation-wide consultation to draft what is still the "Vision, Mission & Values" statement for the US CLC (adopted as preamble of the national CLC by-laws.)
Anchorage CLC Challenge
Paula Burgan recently shares the experiences of Anchorage CLC Challenge living out a common mission
Two years ago the members of Anchorage CLC Challenge attended a retreat led by Father Ted Kestler, SJ. Going into the retreat, some in the group were feeling led to develop a common community mission, but not everyone felt ready for this. Father Ted led the community in a discernment process. This was a positive learning experience for the community and by the end of the retreat each member was in agreement that they were ready to pursue a common mission.
They developed a list of six potential projects and spent time praying about where they were being led. They chose the Brother Francis Shelter and started going to the shelter as a group (except for one long distance member in Fairbanks). Their idea was to conduct a talking circle with the folks at the shelter and to also help them develop resumes. The talking circle did not work out as well as hoped, but the assistance with resumes worked well. It provided an opportunity to talk with the folks at the shelter about their life and hopes, to identify with them, and learn from them.
Last summer the shelter developed a more structured program called SOAR to help those at the shelter find jobs. They divided the shelter population into 3 groups, with the first group having the most marketable skills. They asked Anchorage CLC Challenge to teach a class on computer skills to this first group. Two members teach the classes on alternate weeks and two other members assist. This has not been as ideal as their previous service because attendance in the class week to week is inconsistent and because it does not involve all the community members, yet they are continuing to be involved with Brother Francis Shelter.
At their last community retreat in October, they spent time discerning whether they were being called to some other community mission. They felt directed towards working with youth in some way. They are currently exploring different options –– one possibility is the TECH (Teens Encountering Christ) program.
The experience of community mission for Anchorage CLC Challenge has provided an opportunity for growth. It has opened them to discerning where God is calling them on their journey.
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