The Assembly will take place over ten days, the dynamics of which have been prepared well in advance so that the choices and votes that will take place can be the fruit of community discernment. In this way, the spiritual process of “looking and discerning” will be matched by concrete action on a daily basis. Here’s a short table to help you get your bearings.

Date	Spiritual approach: Look – Discern		Choices and actions
August 3	Opening of the Assembly	To recognize the Breath of the Spirit	Welcoming, Eucharist, launch of the various community discernment modalities
August 4	Opening to our realities
August 5			World Executive Committee reports and proposed amendments
August 6	Opening up to one another	What are we called to do?	Open Day
August 7			Welcoming new national communities
August 8	Opening to God		Silent Meditation Day
August 9			Continuing community discernment
August 10	Looking to the future	How are we going to answer this call?
August 11			Vote on reports and amendments
August 12			Elections to the World Executive Committee Validation of orientations

Entering into the Assembly: “The Risen Lord is the Friend who goes before us”.

The Assembly opened with a Eucharist in the rain-soaked courtyard. It was an opportunity to rediscover the Friend who goes before us, to respond to His invitation. A gentle song drew the participants, who gradually settled in. The first journey is over. At last, everyone is together again, and the reason for which they came is now upon us. Resonates timidly, then more and more firmly, the voice of the group resounds in a song that is very difficult to say and sing in today’s world. Yet a certain gentleness sets in, a certain curiosity, which gradually becomes a thirst for God.

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 “Que rien ne te trouble, que rien ne t’effraie, qui a Dieu ne manque de rien. Nada te turbe, nada te espante, quien a Dios tiene nada le falta. Nothing troubles you, nothing scares you, who God has nothing is missing. 

The national assistant of CLC France presided over the Assembly, encouraging us to “open up paths of hope in the footsteps of the Risen Lord”. Throughout the Mass, several languages will be written, spoken and listened to by companions who are very different, but united by a deep, personal and common faith. How can we believe in such a miracle? There’s no need to ask yourself this question, just let yourself be carried along: “Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you, he who has God lacks nothing…”. 

The welcoming of communities whose delegates were unable to attend in person was a special moment: the various flags were presented as offerings, and joined in the prayer. The texts of the day were proclaimed in several unexpected languages, opening up new horizons. Hong Kong and Kenya, Taizé, “Ubi Caritas, Deus ibi est”. The litany of saints from every continent draws us in: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Chiquinquira, San Pedro Calungsod, Saint Makarius. Please pray for us. The Risen Lord is the friend who goes before us, and that’s a blessing.

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 There are those who welcome all the questions at the “info point” and move heaven and earth to find answers, and those who sing, and those who make their cello vibrate, the architects of the application and the website dedicated to the Assembly, and all those who are not seen but work in silence in the morning, or even late at night. A bouquet appears on a table, a room is transformed, trilingual slideshows light up, and in the smallest gestures, exchanges in several languages, laughter, or even a few worries and tired faces. The concrete choices are always guided by a concern for the delegates. 

In this improvised dance that is gradually finding its rhythm, the steps of the cooks have an essential place: the team of catering professionals are not volunteers and do not know CLC. They have to serve nearly four hundred meals three times a day. Sébastien is the head chef, and volunteered to work for the two weeks in August. He likes that his job serves others. Since he has been hosting the Assembly, he has agreed to answer our questions, which he finds a little surprising and laughs about: “Oh, the language barrier, you don’t expect that, but it’s funny because we communicate easily using gestures, and there’s always someone to translate if necessary. The people are older than our usual students, they’re calm and respectful. We adapt our menus, of course, and make sure that we replace the wheat flour in the sauces with other ingredients so that people with gluten intolerance can eat well. We also offer cheese and cold cuts in the morning. No, I don’t know why you’re getting together, and I’m not Catholic. But it’s nice to know that you’re happy to eat what our team prepares for you.” Sébastien returns to his kitchen with a smile. 

Français/francés/french

Yves (France) nous parle de la commission liturgie :

Christine (France) assure l’accompagnement des nombreux bénévoles :

Hedley, responsable de la communauté de l’Ile Maurice, indique comment il s’est préparé pour l’Assemblée :

Virginie (France) nous explique son implication dans la préparation des temps de prière et des messes. Elle a souhaité que le maximum de langues maternelles soient entendues au cours de cette Assemblée mondiale :

Angelika, membre de l’Euroteam et bénévole à l’Assemblée, nous explique ce qu’est l’Euroteam, sa composition et comment s’y déroulent les élections

Melienne (Haïti) demande la prière de la CVX mondiale pour soutenir son pays. Jean, jésuite en Haïti, prononce une parole de bénédiction en créole

Bernard nous parle de sa communauté locale si particulière au Canada

On ne soupçonne pas le travail préparatoire des membres de la CVX France pour assurer le meilleur accueil des délégués de l’assemblée mondiale. Catherine de l’équipe Philéas nous en parle:

Lisa (Liban) nous parle de la CVX Liban

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Español/espagnol/spanish

José de Pablo sj (Consejo Ejecutivo Mundial) habla de su trabajo y de sus expectativas :

Graciano, un delegado de Puerto Rico habla de su estado de espiritu :

Aimée, delegada observadora de Panamá, nos habla de la acogida que recibió :

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English/inglés/anglais

Mariano, Ecclesiastical Assistant of Uruguay, talks about one of the morning prayers:

Peter, Ecclesiastical Assistant of Austria, talks about one of the morning prayers:

Charthur from Mexico is deleguate for the North America region. He presents his region and his feelings at the end of this Assembly.

Hoan talks about CLC in Vietnam and the conclusion of the Assembly (questions in French but answers in English)

Yasushi (Japan) talks about the Asia-Pacific region (answers translated by a Japanese-English interpreter)