CLC
COMMUNIQUÉ
2009/11 – December 2009
The Communication of the South African Region
Western Cape – Eastern Cape - Gauteng
Dear Community
A Christmas message from the President of CLC SA
Kaye Henrick
As we draw near to the celebration of the birth of Christ into our human state and the fulfilment of God’s promise to be with us and establish His kingdom of justice, peace and love on earth my deepest wish is that each and every member of the CLC family, especially in SA may experience the birth of Christ into their lives in a meaningful way. I hope and pray that whether you are in joy or sadness at this time that you will receive the gift of real closeness with Jesus in the circumstances of your daily life.
Even now before the shut down of factories and builders we are already in the crazy time where we are bombarded with frenetic shopping despite economic problems and a double toll of tragedies, illnesses and accidents and we struggle to find that peaceful space. We can only pray that our gracious God will gift us that during this special time when we celebrate the wondrous gift of God becoming human and so invading our frail and tainted life we may find peace and joy.
We ask the loving thoughts and prayers of all for our members who are ill, bereaved, lonely and financially crippled at this time. We think also of those who are celebrating in the joy of beginnings of new life, family reunions, and reconciliations. As we look on the year since last Christmas we can reflect on the gifts of God in our lives this year and the difficult times we have endured. As we reflect on the awesome event of the birth of Christ as a human we can reflect on the various role players, The Angels, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Wise Men and ask:
Are we called?
To announce Glory to God and Peace to humanity? To say yes to the call of God, like Mary, when we have no idea how it will work out? To be like Joseph forgiving, trusting and caring? To bring, like the Shepherds, the gift of coming to worship just as we are with the fruits of our work, sheep and lambs? To use our gifts of intelligence and perseverance and like the Wise men offer Jesus our talents and wealth?
I pray that in our celebration of the birth of Christ we may become new shoots, new buds and fragrant flowers, helping to make the presence of Jesus a reality in our world. (See back cover of Jesuits and Friends Issue 74, Isaiah 11:1)
Wishing and praying for safe travelling and a happy and joyous time over Christmas for each and every CLC member.
Love
Kaye
NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR - CLC SOUTH AFRICA
Two reflections from Jane Hulley and Sabe Makgothi
after their sojourn in Nairobi for the Leadership Course
Learning in the CLC Way
Leadership Course for English-Speaking Africa, Nairobi 22–28 November 2009
The first time I was part of an international CLC encounter was at the All African Encounter in 2005 in Johannesburg. Since then I have been to Rome for a Leadership Course and to Fatima for the World Assembly and recently to Nairobi when I was invited to be part of the facilitation team. I am so grateful for these opportunities to engage with other CLCers and I am always struck by the fact that although we come from different backgrounds and cultures we have no difficulty in interacting. In Nairobi the sense of being one community was tangible as all participants were warmly welcomed by members of CLC in Kenya.
Sabie and I went to Nairobi to attend the Leadership Course, Sabie as a participant and I was both participant and one of the four facilitators.
There were seventeen participants from ten countries in English-Speaking Africa –ESA. Nigeria, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Madagascar, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa. The facilitating team was Lois Campbell from USA, Edel Churu and Levi Matseshe from Kenya and myself.
The need for leadership training was identified at the CLC World Assembly in Nairobi in 2004, and stated in the final document is the following;
“ … our community continues to need leaders who facilitate the communities’ processes of discerning, sending, supporting, and evaluating our personal and communal mission”
The rationale for this course is to help CLCers realize that there are skills that can be learnt to help us become more effective in our mission to becoming an apostolic lay community. The experience is that too often CLC members are not enthusiastic about taking responsibility for work that needs to be done. CLC leaders need to encourage members to become engaged.
During the course we were asked, “Are you power-hungry? “ This is not a question that CLCers would be expected to answer in the affirmative. If the definition of power is the ability to get things done your answer might be a resounding “Yes”. The topics chosen focused on helping participants become aware that to some extent we are all leaders and that with God’s grace we have the power to bring the goodness of God into our broken world. This course was much more than learning new insights about the dynamics of interpersonal relationships for effective leadership. . I believe that for every participant, (the facilitators were participants as well) it was a time for personal growth and encouragement.
The essence of the course was interactive and every participant was encouraged to engage in the discussions. We used the image of baking a cake to illustrate the importance of each person being fully involved. Just as the flavour and texture of the cake depends on the nature of the ingredients, so the success of the course depended on each person bringing their unique gifts into the mix. The sessions consisted of input, personal reflection and sharing in small groups and in the large group. In this way we got to know each other quickly. The course started on Sunday when the Salveberg Retreat Centre was abuzz with excitement as people were reacquainted and others were meeting for the first time. Image how happy Sabie and I were at the first Mass to have Mike Lewis celebrating! After the first day of introductions we were well on the way to becoming a community as people felt free to share deeply and engage whole-heartedly in the process.
One of the topics was Communal Ignatian Discernment (CID). This was put into practice near the end of the course when we discerned whether a structure was needed in order to keep alive the energy generated during the week. CID is a process which we covered over three days. The decision was made to have a Leadership Task Team for ESA (LETTESA) with specific terms of reference focused on sharing information and resources between national communities.
We had a short break in the workshop to visit the school started by CLC Kenya and to meet at their offices for coffee. The secondary school was founded in 2004 catering for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS, in Kibera, a slum of over a million people in Nairobi. Fr Terry Charlton sj , EA, has worked tirelessly to raise funds in the USA to build a new school for 280 pupils which will be ready next year. CLC Kenya is an inspiration for all of us. The school began from small beginnings when a few CLCers started paying school fees for some of the children. As the numbers of children increased it was decided to start a school in the Kibera slum. During our visit we were all touched by the horrendous conditions in which people are living. I wondered what happens to a person’s spirit who lives in such unspeakably degrading squalor. And yet there was life in the eyes and faces of many of the people we saw.
My hope is that there will be an opportunity for many CLCers not only in South Africa but in all the ESA countries to share information learnt at this Leadership Course so that we can be organized to become a strong force for good in Africa. I was asked again in Fatima to coordinate networking in Africa and treasured the moment when in Nairobi Makoela from Lesotho addressed me as “Mama Africa”. I treasure this as a positive proof of the infinite goodness and mercy of our Lord.
Jane
A Brief Report on Malesabe Makgothi’s experiences in Nairobi
It is rather difficult to put the feelings and experiences on paper; however I’ll do my best to share all the feelings in writing. As always I feel compelled to start with a note of gratitude. Thank you for sending me to Nairobi for a wonderful leadership course. The challenge lies in whether we will be able to transmit the essence of this course to all who might benefit from it. Thank you to Jane for taking on two roles to help me cope with the very practical aspects of the course, we were kept busy throughout the course thinking of how we would take the course forward in our countries!
The Course:
DAY1: We started with introductions of those present. Then looking into what is happening in our individual countries (there were 10 national communities represented) and how we come to the course, what we bring to it, what our fears are and what we need the others to help us with. These exercises highlighted the blessings we have and set the tone for the rest of the week. We all got to know each other, and then the serious work started! The model for presentation was given in a very tangible, graphic manner. It was clear that the course could only be as good as the contributions we make since we were all essential ingredient for the final product. Day one ended with a liturgy planned by South Africa and Fr. Mike Lewis presided. It was very good to see, Fr. Mike!
DAY2: Looking at the state of leadership in the World and defining Leadership in CLC. The ultimate aim of this exercise was to define a healthy leadership model which is always evolving. In true CLC fashion there was a lot of reference to the source of our leadership the scriptural reference here was Matt 20: 20 -28, Servant Leadership. The reflection time was very fruitful as it led to more insights of what the course is about and where we are to go with it. The “tools” for reflection were many and varied. The connections made between self awareness, emotional intelligence and Ignatian Spirituality were very useful for me personally.
DAY3: Personal discernment was next; Fr. Terry Charlton came to present this segment for us. The reminders we received were notable. The emphasis was on the need for ongoing discernment of the spirit and its importance for leaders. This was linked with the need for greater self awareness in the leader. A tool for analysing our reactions to situations was introduced and we all applied it to situations where we are leaders, had made certain decisions. We then went on to looking at how to communicate in the face of conflict. The exercise took the form of drawings which each participant made of their understanding of conflict and the gallery walk took us into a discussion of the many ways of dealing with conflict and this carried on into the next morning since there was a lot to learn from it and there were other modules that fitted into this one. The games that accompanied this module were a real eye opener! Communication is crucial especially in community.
DAY4:
The continuation of conflict management concluded with a description of the 3rd party in situations that need intervention. The rest of the morning was spent on looking at how CLC group formation provides tools for conflict resolution. A bell curve was used for this exercise. The afternoon was spent visiting St. Aloysius School in Kibera slum and the site of the new school building. After this rather mixed bag of a visit we met some CLCers from groups in Nairobi.
DAY5:
Communal Discernment was the main module and this was done so practically that I am personally convinced that it is an essential aspect of group decision especially when new mission is being considered. It is essential because it leads to a well thought-out and selected outcome. This was then followed by the module on social analysis, linking it very well with the visit to Kibera. The practical nature of the course once again gave excellent results.
DAY6:
This day had a lot of consolidation of the communal discernment module, we were aiming for a final decision to be reached. This meant that we had to rearrange the programme.
Conclusion :
The best report for this course is this: avail yourself for when the training starts. Please note that this is for all of us, we may not be in positions of leadership in our CLC community, but we are all leaders at different levels. If you are at all curious, come and see what the course can do for you.
God bless!
Sabie Makgothi
News from Veronica Wellburn
Dear Friends
As you all know at the Assembly the big discussion was becoming an Apostolic community with Universal, Urgent and greatest need: these three words were thrown around, thoroughly hashed and debated at Kolbe Group’s Tuesday evening, egged on by Graham’s wise words. Eventually we came up with the idea of a Holiday Club and it was all systems go.
Various items like paper, paint, paint brushes etc were sourced, a big donation of children’s books given to me and eventually with a stop off at The Elms to deliver these and imposing on the goodness of Fr. Matsepane to get them out to Nyanga on the Sunday in time for start up!
Tuesday and Wednesday were the days chosen by Maria as the best days to do a trial and see what the outcome would be. Hugh, Pam, Steve from the Kolbe Group with Caitlin Pam’s daughter set off to meet Maria and Nxolo at St. Mary’s School. I unfortunately had to work and sat at my desk praying that all would be well. I was delighted to receive an sms from Pam in the afternoon saying “it was a lovely morning and we had great fun”. Whew! day one over and on Wednesday morning Anni and I (also Kolbe) joined Steven, Caitlin and Maria to run the next morning. Now I could witness firsthand the result of our venture. The day before Maria had walked with the children from where she lives but this morning one of the fathers had arranged a bakkie to take and fetch the children as he felt it was too hot for them to walk and being a holiday he was home – drawing in the community as well.
We are fortunate that most of those helping out are teachers and the ideas for games simply flowed – everyone stood on one leg and had to catch a ball – took all my skill and concentration but the laughter and joy on their faces was wonderful to see. Caitlin had brought along some Frisbees and taught the children how to throw them (including us too!!) Then it was painting time and this is definitely something they all enjoy and obviously do not get much of at school or home. We did not waste the opportunity to bring in the spiritual as well and Caitlin had all of us become “Angels” with a special message for the children. Maria was kept busy translating so all understood. The children just loved the painting and drawing session – definitely a lack in their lives and were happy to take home their cards for their family. There was just jubilation when we said we would be back next year and the warmth and love from these children was inspiring.
We as the Kolbe Group received as much as we gave and hope to grow this venture with the students in the next vac.
Veronica
And Kaye: mentions that their Nazareth group, the real baby group, in PE are each giving a small Christmas gift to residents of the Nazareth Sisters frail care centre who have no family support.
From Mandy: who had the great joy of meeting again the Superior General of the Jesuits, Fr Adolfo Nicolás, in mid December. CLC was invited to attend the blessing of the new Jesuit House in Auckland Park where the General blessed the dedication stone and turned a sod of earth. He also celebrated Mass at Holy Trinity on Saturday evening and joined parishioners and guests afterwards in Trinity Hall for snacks and drinks. He arrived from Paris on Friday morning and departed on Sunday morning for Nairobi. Such a short visit accompanied by a wonderful smile.
Fr General arrives at Julius Jeppe House. He is standing just to the right of Fr Graham. CLC is evident to the left with Gisela Knox, Anne Dormehl and Iris Howes standing facing the General. Granny Sabe with Keabetswe, Sammy and Tsolo are to the right.
Blessing of the dedication stone. All the Jesuits from around SA were called to Johannesburg and some are seen here. Fr Graham took over as Fr David Smolira’s deputy. Fr David’s mum is seriously ill so he was called back to England by the family. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
We extend our condolences to Maryeen and the Tuson / Nourse clan, Maryeen’s Dad died in November. We also remember Hanna Trinkl who died in Johannesburg in October and hold her family in our prayers as well.
God our Lord we pray for the grace to become aware of your desires for us,
We pray that CLC may grow into an apostolic Community
and we ask that you help us, the Community,
to find our particular apostolic charism here in South Africa.
Best wishes for Christmas and 2010 – Mandy Jones for National Exco