MASITHETHE July 2019
A note from Kaye: Reflections on retiring as National Coordinator
Dearly loved CLC members
Most of you know already that I have finished my term as national coordinator as of 6th July. I have so many feelings of nostalgia and gratitude for what I have learned and how I have grown as a person and a CLC person through the experience of 10 years as national coordinator and a few years before that on national exco. I am so grateful to those who went before me and handed CLC onto us, and to those with whom I worked on exco and to those who are taking it forward. I remember so many people in CLC but I am not going to name them in case I miss one or two inadvertently. I remember also with deep thanks the help, support and encouragement of our EA’s and Society of Jesus brothers. Many before them, but in my time, Frs Mike Lewis, Graham Pugin, David Smolira, David Rowan, Anthony Egan, and the late Shaun Carls. The scripture passage I am praying for
you all is Ephesians 3:14-21, and it is heartfelt! I have handed over the office, hat, and mantle of CLC coordinator to Malesabe Makgothi with the greatest confidence as she is a wonderful example of fully integrating the CLC charism into the complications of daily life and has been in tune with both national and world CLC for many years. The current national exco members are vibrant and energetic and I am filled with hope for the continued growth and development of CLC in SA. I am so grateful for having had the opportunity and experience of leading CLC over the past years and know that we had some difficult times and that we kept CLC anchored to our centre. Looking back over some of the difficult times, with hindsight, I might have done some things differently, but know that I did the best that we knew at the time. To the new coordinator and national exco team I want to say go forward in openness to the spirit, trust God and keep to the spirit of our CLC principles. For myself I am committed to CLC as my way of life and to the growth of lay people, their empowerment in church and spirituality. I am looking forward to serving on the national formation team and on EC regional exco. My prayer is from the hymn “Lord you have come to the lakeside” and the lines from the refrain “ I have left my boat by the lakeside and now with you I will seek other shores” in CLC and the last verse “ Lord other seas call me onward, hope eternal for hearts that are searching, and love will bind us as friends forever” in CLC. Thank you all wonderful CLC people who encouraged, supported and challenged me and enabled me to grow through our wonderful gift of CLC.
Kaye
Regional Leadership Training June 2019
I am so pleased that we had the opportunity to present this weekend, and so grateful for the grant from the Society of Jesus Endowment Fund that enabled us to have the weekend. For once the unpredictable winter weather of PE played along and gave us a beautiful weekend and no power outages. The idea of this training was first proposed by national exco in 2017, but we didn’t get our proposal in in time, but we got there. I was anxious about the model I put together as it is always difficult to get the balance right between inputs, reflections, discussions and plenaries, but from the evaluations by the participants, it worked. We achieved, I believe, a growth in community on the national level as we were able to share, discuss and interact with people from other regions. The inputs from our presenters from the membership of CLC were insightful and informative
and show that we have what we need to take CLC forward. One of the desired outcomes from the training was to affirm and grow members on the regional levels to lead their regions with more confidence. From the evaluations it seems that this happened and participants went home with more information, more confidence and an understanding that our founding documents are not way beyond their understanding. CLC PE members were superb in their background work, meeting flights, delivering food, and the great fruit cake we all enjoyed, real community effort. Having to take people out and go to the bank to effect changes to signatories on the national account broke into the programme, but it was such a blessing to have all the signatories present and get the changes done. Those who have been through this process before will know how much time, effort and stress this saved us. We also missed having an EA with us and had to take time out for Mass in a parish, however it showed a CLC presence. Sabie’s dedication to CLC was again affirmed, when despite the sudden death of her father she continued with the programme, did her slots and participated fully. We send her our continued support as she deals with this loss and all the add ons. I think that some similar national training programmes can be considered in future, maybe in the years when we don’t have a national assembly.
CLC Western Cape Retreat
Blue mountains, fields of cows and frisky goats, and a peaceful garden greeted us on arrival at the Capuchin Adoration Convent in Swellendam. From early days, many in CLC have chosen to travel to this part of the Overberg for retreats. The Sisters, now mainly from Mexico, welcome us with great love. It is a place of prayer and perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel, with daily Mass. Our rooms in the retreat house were comfortable and sunny, with private bathrooms and the food was good. In spite of sickness and other problems before setting out, we
came with strong desires and were greatly blessed. We found unique encounters with the Lord, healing and gratitude – new hope in facing life’s challenges ahead. So thank you to all who came from CLC and our monthly days of reflection. Thank you to all who made this retreat possible. It
was a privilege to accompany each person – to the ‘greater glory of God’!
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