A Graced History
The Grace of a Good Beginning
Jesuits brought CLG (Christian Life Group) to South African Catholic schools in 1966. The work of John Goller SJ, supported by the Religious Owners of schools, was instrumental in this regard, and many present-day CLC members were first inspired by the Ignatian Way, while still at school, or afterwards through forming small prayer groups.
The early 1970s to mid-1980s were years of foundation and formation for CLC South Africa. “Twinning” between South Africa and CLC Germany ensured friendships, on-going formation in the Ignatian Way and financial support. By 1975, CLC groups had been established in Johannesburg, Soweto, Cape Town, Welkom, Natal, and throughout the Eastern Cape. CLC South Africa owes much gratitude to Sr Eugene O.P., Greg Lourens, Sr Cecilia, Fr Johnson, José Gsell, and Fr Patrick O’Sullivan S.J. under whose guidance and support CLC South Africa took root and grew. A committee, comprised of members drawn from across the country, was formed in 1981, in an attempt to root CLC South Africa in sound administration. In 1986 at the Convention in George, an Interim Constitution was approved and validated for a period of two years, and the Vice Ecclesiastical Assistant, Fr Tim Quinlan S.J., welcomed CLC South Africa into the World Community.
Taking Root
Ecclesiastical Assistants were appointed, where possible from the Society of Jesus, to serve CLC South Africa and assist in forming her members in the tenets of Ignatian Spirituality, while offering advice and support while CLC South Africa discerned how best to respond to God’s call to serve humanity as an apostolic body.
The Grace of Crisis
The 1970s and 1980s were times of great socio-political turbulence in South Africa and the tensions spilled over into the leadership of CLC South Africa. Between 1987 and 1989 the National Exco was fraught with tensions and misunderstandings amongst its members, and after a spate of resignations the National Exco seemed in tatters. During this time of crisis, a Secretariat was installed in Cape Town for the purposes of good administration. When Fr Mike Lewis S.J. became Ecclesiastical Assistant in 1990, attempts were made to restore relationships with those members and groups who had distanced themselves from CLC.
The contribution of Hildegard Ehrtmann (CLC Augsburg) at the 1991 National Convention and the visit of Mary Nolan (CLC Australia) in 1992 to CLC groups strengthened CLC South Africa’s bonds with the CLC World Community. A new National Exco was elected in 1991, and at the National Convention in Port Elizabeth in 1992, a Vision Statement was discerned by the community and accepted
by Frs Jack Gillick S.J. and Graham Pugin S.J., with the proviso that symbols of Our Lady always be present in symbols and logos used to represent CLC South Africa.
Moving Forward
During the 1990s and early 2000s, CLC members did the Spiritual Exercises, attended World Assemblies in Mexico (1990s), Hong Kong (1994), Brazil (1998), Nairobi (2003), Fatima (2008), Lebanon (2013), Buenos Aires (2018) and held National Assemblies in Coolock House, Natal (1997), Hermanus (1999 and 2006), Laverna (2009 and 2017), Port Elizabeth (2004 and 2011), and Cape Town (2014). We have also sent delegates to International Formation Encounters in Zimbabwe (1991 and 2001), Johannesburg, Kenya (2009), Douala (2011) and Rwanda (2016).
CLC South Africa registered as a Public Benefit Organisation in October 2008, thereby enabling CLC to receive bequests, sponsorships and funding from registered trusts and to own property and employ staff.
At the National Assembly at La Verna in 2009, the
Assembled Community accepted that CLC is called to be an Apostolic Body, and it was agreed that a national apostolic project was the way to respond to this call. The 2011 National Assembly at Port Elizabeth discerned that support for quality education would be the national apostolic project, and it was resolved that “a school in whatever form” would be established. The Assembly Community gathered at the National Assembly in La Verna affirmed this project by reimagining it from a “school in whatever form” to “CLC Education Support”.
The frontiers identified at Lebanon (Globalisation and Poverty; Family; Ecology and Youth) were discerned and converted into action plans within groups, and the survey on the frontiers submitted to World Exco in 2015 gave groups the opportunity to reflect on progress being made in each frontier.
Growth and Formation have characterised the early years of the 21st century with members celebrating Welcome
Rites, pronouncing Temporary and Permanent Commitment, and official recognition being given to the Grahamstown and Katlehong groups.
Throughout its history, CLC South Africa has grown in understanding and commitment to becoming an Apostolic Body. We are heartened by the memory of the many graces received and are hopeful that we can respond to the needs of present times and any challenges that the future may hold for us, as we root ourselves in God-with-us and live our call and mission “to the greater glory of God”.
Leave A Comment