Quarterly Updates: Celebrating Faith, Renewal and Community

The Jubilee Year of Hope is an extraordinary period for reflection, renewal, and celebration within the framework of Ignatian spirituality. Rooted in the values of discernment, service, and finding God in all things, this year encourages communities to come together in pursuit of hope-filled futures. Below are highlights and updates from the past quarter, showcasing how various events and activities have aligned with this Spirituality.

Setting the Tone of Hope

CLC gathering in March 2025 to celebrate World CLC Day

‘Pilgrims on a hope-filled journey…living Spirituality in Everyday Life’ – a talk that was well presented by Bro Terry Casey; he offered us a reflective afternoon and his shared ‘lived experience of Spirituality’ with the CLC National Priorities.

Priority 1: Forming our members and sharing Ignatian Spirituality

Priority 2: Caring for God’s Creation

Priority 3: Walking with the excluded

Cultivating the Spirit of Caring for God’s Creation

• CLC members and friends have participated in Clean-up Australia Day in March 2025 in Mc Callum Park.

• Reflective Walk at Tomato Lake in April 2025 – The reflective walk was designed to promote mindfulness and a deeper connection with God and nature. Psalms 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Here are some shared experiences from participants, majority have found the walk peaceful and enjoyed the solitude and silence. Someone had commented that “God’s creation coming alive!” and others were drawn to Praise God and the sense of gratitude for our Being!

Walking with the excluded – “responding to the immediate needs of people and working to transform causes of exclusion and injustice”.

• Participation in the Palm Sunday Prayer for Peace organised by the Anglican Social Responsibilities Commission.

On-going Formation of Leaders and Deepening our Understanding of CLC

Several CLC members are participating in the Keystones program – a series of 6 monthly sessions, attended nationally via Zoom, commenced on 5^th April 2025.

Snapshots from the participation of events as listed above:

Conclusion

We are profoundly saddened by the news of the passing away of His Holiness Pope Francis. His return to the house of the Father has led to an outpouring of grief worldwide, in which we have all experienced a moment of collective grief within the Catholic Community.

While we mourn the loss, we are also filled with Gratitude for the Person that he was a man of deep spirituality, simplicity and humility. His Holiness was a strong advocate for social justice and ecological stewardship, and leaves behind a legacy of compassion, reform of the Catholic church, and advocacy for the marginalized in society. Let us pray and hope that Pope Francis legacy remains alive in our lives.

Hope is a shared endeavour rooted in God’s love!

In the Spirit of the Jubilee Year of Hope

CLC State Exco