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“I became involved when I was in college at Creighton University because I was interested in taking my faith seriously and seeing what all was involved with that and learning more about the spirit of the Jesuits,” she said. “We’ve been privileged to be part of the same group for over 30 years.”
The maturing in life and faith has meant much over the span of time.
“These folks have become our best friends,” she said. We’ve been with them through raising children, job changes and all kinds of things,” she said. “They know us well enough to support and challenge us lovingly.”
Three areas of CLC – Ignatian Spirituality, Community and Mission – are another reason that CLC is different from prayer groups in the Catholic or other faiths.
“It has Ignatian spirituality as its foundation and we use the process we call faith sharing that is different from discussion,” Zuercher said. “It’s a real call to make a difference in how we live our lives individually and as a community.”
The Jesuits have been involved in some way since CLC’s beginning, which can be traced back to 1563, and grew to groups called the Sodality of Our Lady. Zuercher said there are Ecclesial Assistants who help with Superior General Adolfo Nicolaás, S.J., serving as the International Ecclesial Assistant. When Vatican II urged groups like the Sodality to rediscover their original roots, some sodalities continued as before, while others became Christian Life Communities. The main difference is in the size (6 to 12 members) and the regular weekly or biweekly meetings Jesuits and the Spiritual Exercises have continued in a close relationship with the groups.
“Whenever possible Jesuits are involved in different areas of the country or world,” said Zuercher. “Very often they are part of the small group.”
Zuercher, who is the Ecclesial Assistant for the North Central Region, which includes the territory of the seven states of the Wisconsin Province, said there is a rich history of Jesuits being involved with CLC groups in the North Central Region. Many Jesuits in Omaha take part in CLC groups which Zuercher said is not the norm.
“In Omaha, about nine Jesuits meet regularly with a group,” Zuercher said. “They are considered a ‘member’ of the group. In some places they are more the moderator or ‘guide’ of the group,” added Zuercher. “As a guide, and there are also lay guides, they are more responsible."
Involvement with a group gives a Jesuit a benefit, Zuercher said. It allows him to communicate as an equal with committed lay persons with each sharing their faith.
“The value of that for the Jesuit is to personally relate to adult lay persons in living the Christian life,” said Zuercher.
There is a difference between faith sharing and Bible or prayer discussion, according to Zuercher. It could be said that there is a “head versus heart” difference.
Faith sharing is primarily sharing experience rather than sharing knowledge. Members listen and respect the other’s comments without responding, whereas in discussion, things are compared and often agreements or different views are given. Faith sharing answers who Jesus is for the member rather than a type of catechism.
CLC Participants must keep regular attendance and be open to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
“There is the expectation of learning how to pray and do a daily consciousness examination and to be open to making retreats when possible,” he said. “There is also the expectation to have one’s spiritual life help mold one’s entire life as a person and follower of Christ.”
According to the CLC website, www.clc-usa.org, the mission of the National Christian Life Community (NCLC) is to “enable the widespread sharing and authentic living of our vision in the Church and culture of the United States of America.”
The North Central Region covers seven states from Wisconsin to Wyoming and is partially supported by the Wisconsin province of the Society of Jesus. The current Regional Coordinating Council's leaders reside in Omaha but there are CLC clusters in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Des Moines among others. There are 22 adult communities in the Wisconsin Province. There are nine communities in the Omaha Cluster, five communities in the Wisconsin Cluster, three communities in the Iowa Cluster and five communities in the Minnesota Cluster.
CLC groups grow mostly by invitation and word or mouth as is the case with J. Berry a member of CLC in Omaha. Berry and his wife were invited to join a community through friends.
“The benefit of CLC is sharing spiritual experiences,” Berry said. “Sharing the experience of feeling God in your presence when you’re all gathered.”
He said some of his most memorable experiences have come from the leadership conference and national assemblies.
“It’s amazing to see the diversity of people involved and committed to CLC and to share the experience together,” he said.
Berry said CLC is going through a period of discovery.
“We are going through a stage of discernment on how we are going to be a prophetic people, reaching out and living the gospel in everyday lives,” he said.
Renee and Dick O’Brien, also of Omaha, joined CLC shortly after Vatican II called people to be closer to the Church.
“We were looking for something that was more lay-led,” Renee O’Brien said.
The Society of Jesus and CLC are working to keep the role of small group faith sharing alive and active. General Congregation 36 of the Society of Jesus recognized the importance of CLC in January 2008 with Decree #6 stating:
“…the Christian Life Community has roots that are deep in the charism and history of the Society. We wish to continue to support CLC in its journey towards ever greater apostolic effectiveness and collaboration with the Society.”
Elizabeth Elliott is a freelance writer in Omaha, Neb.
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