The Northwest Companion
Linking Christian Life Communities in the
Pacific Northwest and Alaska
Winter 2006
Editor: Rick Kunkle
Membership and Commitment in CLC
On March 25th we are planning to hold World CLC Day celebrations in our Northwest
communities (see CLC News). As part of these celebrations, we will be holding
commitment ceremonies for those CLCNW members that would like to make a
commitment to the CLC way of life. The CLC General Norms state that after a period of
time learning about CLC and the CLC way of life, a CLC member along with their
community can discern “whether a call, an ability and a willingness to live it are present.”
Commitment is expressed by a public declaration to the community of one’s desire to
live the CLC way of life first at the present time (temporary commitment) and then as a
lifelong experience (permanent commitment). So why would someone want to make a
commitment to a CLC way of life and what exactly is being committed to?
We have already made a commitment to a Catholic/Christian way of life through our
baptism and confirmation, so why is there a need to also commit to CLC? When I first
joined CLC I was looking for community. I knew little about Ignatian Spirituality. The
opportunity to share our faith experiences in my CLC community was wonderful. But as
CLC/Ignatian ways begin to permeate my life I became more conscious of the
movement of God in my experiences. My sense of God expanded and a “God of Infinite
Possibilities” began nudging me along on my journey and calling me to more. Making a
temporary and then permanent commitment to CLC was an expression of my desire to
respond to this call and continue my journey in the CLC way of life. It is seeking the
Magis. Magis is the Latin word for more. It means paying more attention to my
experiences, my feelings, and my prayer and in this way recognizing God in my life.
At this time I was also struggling with many things within the institutional Catholic
Church. But my experiences in CLC began to make me more aware that we are called
not only to belong to the Church, but to be the Church. CLC is a way of being church.
As Larry Gooley SJ once said, “CLC is not a parallel church, it is Church. It is a
community of love and companionship within the Church community.” CLC is an
association of the faithful but is specifically lay in formation and commitment. It is a way
to bring forward the vision for the laity expressed in Vatican II, a way to become the
church we are called to be.
When we make a temporary or permanent commitment to CLC, what are we committing
to? While on one level we are making a commitment to the CLC community,
fundamentally we are committing ourselves to a spirituality (Ignatian), a way of life
(CLC), and to a mission (Christ’s). The CLC General Norms and Charism documents
provide guidance on what should be considered when discerning a commitment to a
CLC way of life. This information has been given to the representatives in each cluster
to be shared and discussed by the CLC communities. I think it is important to see this
information as guidance and not as a set of rules. As Ignatian people we are called to
discern our desires and hopes and to consider where God is leading or seeking us. You
may not feel called to CLC or ready to make a commitment. That is okay. There are
many ways for each of us to live out our call to be Christ in the world. Where you are at
may be where you need to be now. For me, my journey in CLC has opened up
possibilities that have been both challenging and life giving. My commitment to CLC is
an affirmation of my desire to continue seeking how I am called to carry on the mission
of Christ.
-Rick Kunkle
New Regional Council
The new CLCNW Regional Council held their first meeting by teleconference on
December 12. At this meeting we completed the selection of Regional Council
members. The new members on the Council are Mary Minor from Amazing Grace who
is the new representative for the Newport Cluster and Sally Taylor from Eagles
Wings/Amazing Grace who was selected as one of the at-large Council representatives.
Continuing members on the Council are Karen Nolan (Spiritwalkers) and Jeanne
O’Connor (Anam Cara/Seattle I) from the Puget Sound Cluster, Tom Taylor (Eagles
Wings/Amazing Grace) from the Newport Cluster and Paula Burgan (CLC Challenge)
from the Anchorage Cluster. The Regional Council selected Rick Kunkle (Diaspora) and
Marcie Sharrock (CLC Challenge) for the two remaining at-large positions. The Council
selected Rick Kunkle to be Regional Chair and Karen Nolan to be Secretary-Treasurer.
In October 2006 there will be one vacant Regional Council position for each cluster as
well as two open at-large positions. This is an opportunity for current CLCNW members
to be part of the CLC ministry in the Northwest and to help shape the development of
CLCNW.
-Rick Kunkle
Being Apostolic
In future issues of the CLCNW newsletter, we would like to include articles from
members about individual and community experiences of being apostolic. This is an
opportunity to share about organizations and missions that are important to you. Sharing
our individual and local community experiences with the broader community allows us to
become more aware of our shared mission. Please consider what experiences you can
share and when you have time write down your thoughts. The articles do not need to be
long. They should not be more than one typed page. Send your completed articles to
Rick Kunkle (rickkunkle@comcast.net). He will collect a pool of articles that can be
included in future issues of the newsletter.
Community News
Oregon Coast: Amazing Grace hosted a retreat on January 15th attended by a total of
15 members from all three Newport-area communities. The theme was the "Spirituality
of Infinite Possibilities" based on Paul Coutinho's article in the last issue of Harvest
Magazine. On Eagles Wings will host the next retreat of the Newport-area communities
on March 25th centered on World CLC Day and will offer the opportunity for members to
make a permanent and/or temporary commitment to the CLC way of life.
-Tom Taylor
Anam Cara: The Anam Cara- Seattle CLC group prepared and served dinner to
approximately 45 homeless women at the Noel House in downtown Seattle on Saturday,
January 14. Noel House provides safe and comfortable shelter for a diverse community
of homeless women, particularly those most vulnerable. As a program of the
Archdiocesan Housing Authority, Noel House began as an emergency shelter for
homeless single women in response to the severe winter of 1990. In 2006, it continues
to respond to the needs of Seattle's most vulnerable homeless population, homeless,
single women in Seattle. The shelter is available to these women only in the evenings for
dinner, a place to sleep and breakfast. They spend their days on the streets.
Our CLC group of six women met in mid-afternoon at our parish social hall kitchen. We
spent a couple of hours preparing the meal and then transported it to downtown Seattle.
It was a very rainy, windy day and evening. The women were already lined up
outside when we arrived. As we set-up, the women filed in, many of them drenched.
After they picked out a bed and changed out of their wet clothing, they lined up for the
hot meal we served. They were young and old, large and small, well-dressed and
shabbily dressed. Some could be mistaken for a friend or neighbor. It was enlightening
and moving to witness the harsh lifestyle these women endure. We sought to see the
face of Jesus in each of them. Many expressed gratitude for the healthy meal we had
prepared. We were moved and grateful for the experience of serving these women. On
the way home, we began planning our menu for another Saturday dinner later in the
year.
-Patty Farmer
CLC News
World CLC Day: Several CLCNW members are developing an outline for communities
to celebrate World CLC Day (which is on March 20), so that even though we cannot all
be together in one place, we can share a common approach. Gatherings of the
Anchorage and Newport area communities are being planned for March 25th to celebrate
World CLC Day. For communities outside of these areas, we will share the outline and
materials for the World CLC Day Celebration so that they can participate in the
celebration as well.
National News: The CLC-USA National Coordinating Council and Executive Council will
be holding their annual meeting in Seattle on July 19-22 following the Ignatian Institute.
Plans are being made for this meeting. We hope to have an opportunity for CLCNW
members to meet with the Council on one of the evenings of their meeting for Mass or
liturgy, a meal, and conversation. Watch for information about this opportunity to gather
with the leadership for CLC-USA.
Seattle Ignatian Institute: The Seattle Ignatian Institute will be at Seattle University
from July 16-19. CLC members will be gathering with others in the Northwest (and
around the country) involved with Ignatian Ministries or Ignatian Spirituality. The theme
for the Institute is Companions on Mission and “in keeping with the Jubilee year the
keynote talks for this Institute will focus on St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier and
Blessed Peter Faber, the Three Companions whose lives and mission we celebrate this
year.” There are also a variety of interesting workshops on Ignatian topics including a
model for forming new CLC groups presented by Mary Ann Mennemeyer from St. Louis.
There will be opportunities for CLC members to gather. More information is available on
the Oregon Province website at:
http://www.nwjesuits.org/JesuitSpirituality/IgnatianInstitute/IgnatianInstitute2006.html
Greg Boyle, SJ Visit: Larry Gooley SJ has invited Greg Boyle, SJ to Idaho to visit St.
Katherine’s Parish in Priest River. He will be visiting the last weekend in April and will be
joined by a ‘Home Boy’ and ‘Home Girl’ that are part of his ministry to gang members in
Los Angeles. CLC members are welcome to be part of this visit.
Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-prevention program
in the country. The following company profile is from their website (http://www.homeboyindustries.org/):
Homeboy Industries is a non-profit organization that specializes in gangs. It was founded
by Father Greg Boyle in the late 1980's who believes in "Jobs not Jails." Up to this day
Fr. Gee as he is called by many, has faith in youngsters and tries to change their lives
around. Homeboy Industries offers different programs such as maintenance, silkscreen,
tattoo removal, job developing, bakery, bulky items, and merchandise. Jobs for a Future
helps people with counseling and job search. All these jobs are specially given to gang
members that are trying to better their lives. These gang members stand side by side
with their enemies and work together. Homeboy Industries is a one of a kind program in
the whole world. I work at Jobs for a Future, Homeboy Industries office at the tattoo
removal. Everyday I see gang members walk in and ask for an appointment, so they can
remove their gang-related tattoos. Even though it might seem like a small thing this is
actually a very hard and strong step, it is very painful too. Our machine is the most used
machine in the whole U.S. These incredible people walk into our office because they
have hope that they can make a difference. Homeboy Industries helps men and women
of all ages to start a new life. We remove their tattoos, find jobs for them, and encourage
them to be something in life. Homeboy Industries has changed many lives and
continues to do so everyday, like Father Greg once said "nothing stops a bullet like a
job."
Calendar:
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World CLC Day Cluster Gatherings in Anchorage, Seattle, and Newport, March
25, 2006
Greg Boyle, SJ visit, Priest River, Idaho, April 28-30, 2006
Seattle Ignatian Institute, July 16-19, 2006
CLC-USA National Coordinating Council Meeting, Seattle, July 19-22, 2006
Prayer for Detachment
I beg of you, my Lord, to remove anything which separates me from you and from me.
Remove anything that makes me unworthy of your sight, your control, your
reprehension; of your speech and conversation, of your benevolence and love.
Cast from me every evil that stands in the way of my seeing you, hearing, tasting,
savoring, and touching you; fearing and being mindful of you; knowing, trusting, loving,
and possessing you; being conscious of your presence and, as far as may be, enjoying
you.
This is what I ask for myself and earnestly desire form you.
Amen.
Blessed Peter Faber SJ