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Previous assemblies

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Le charisme de la CVX au fil des assemblées :
une mission apostolique ancrée dans la spiritualité ignatienne

La mission des délégués s’enracine dans une histoire de la CVX, que les différentes assemblées dessinent depuis 1954. La Communauté de Vie Chrétienne s’est structurée peu à peu autour du charisme de Saint Ignace de Loyola à partir des congrégations mariales. Tout en affirmant résolument son identité laïque, CVX entretient un lien fort avec la Compagnie de Jésus. Nous héritons aujourd’hui d’une longue histoire qui a permis de structurer peu à peu nos principes généraux, les fondements et les orientations de la Communauté.

Une première période d’une quinzaine d’années a abouti à la naissance « officielle » de la CVX et à la validation de ses principes généraux : de la première assemblée de la Fédération mondiale des congrégations mariales en 1952 jusqu’à la naissance d’une nouvelle Communauté Vie Chrétienne lors de la 4ème assemblée en 1967, à Rome en Italie. 

Puis, jusqu’à la 9ème assemblée mondiale en 1982, à Providence aux Etats-Unis, la CVX entre dans une période de construction de son identité mondiale et universelle, au service de la libération de tous les hommes, dans la simplicité et la pauvreté. 

Dans un troisième temps, entre 1986 et 1998 (13ème assemblée mondiale à Itaici au Brésil), se dessine le charisme particulier d’une communauté appelée à vivre sa mission au service de la justice et de la paix dans le monde, en prenant appui sur l’expérience des exercices spirituels ignaciens. Compagnons, disciples et serviteurs du Christ, les membres d’une communauté résolument apostolique, œuvrent ensemble dans un monde qu’ils savent marqué par des réalités sociales de plus en plus complexes. 

Enfin, entre 2003 à Nairobi et 2018 (17ème assemblée mondiale à Buenos Aires en Argentine) sont identifiés quatre actions par lesquelles cette mission apostolique peut se réaliser dans le monde avec une perspective ignatienne : la dynamique du DESE pour Discerner, Envoyer, Soutenir, Évaluer. C’est aussi la confirmation de quatre lieux privilégiés de mission, aussi appelés « frontières », choisis lors de l’assemblée au Liban en 2013 : pauvreté et mondialisation, écologie, familles, jeunes. En 2023, l’enjeu est d’affiner et d’approfondir cet appel pour qu’il se concrétise dans la vie de toutes les communautés.

A look back at the 17 assemblies held between 1954 and 2008

17th World Assembly of CLC

2018
Buenos Aires - Argentina

CVX, a gift for the church and for the world

“How many loaves have you?… Go and see”. (MK. 6,38)

“We desire greater depth and integration in the living out of our CLC charism in the world today” 

“CVX, a gift for the church and for the world”

We journeyed together desiring greater depth and integration in the living out of our CLC charism in the world today, and the Lord called us to DEEPEN, SHARE, and GO FORTH.

We feel called to DEEPEN our identity, through an inner conversion that allows us to be more faithful and caring about our charism in all its dimensions;

We feel called to SHARE humbly with others the gift of Ignatian spirituality as lived out in our lay vocation. We view Discernment and the Ignatian tools and methods as precious gifts we cannot keep for ourselves;

We feel called to GO FORTH to serve those most in need and sow the seeds of mercy, joy and hope in the world in order to follow Jesus more closely and work with him for the building of the Kingdom. 

17th World Assembly of CLC

16th World Assembly of CLC

2013
Beirut - Lebanon

From our Roots to the Frontiers

450th Anniversary of Lay Ignatian Communities. 

Coming to terms with our roots; honoring our identity, our foundational documents and the experiences of men and women who have given their life to the service of CLC

Recognizing Christ incarnate amongst us and continuing to commit ourselves to the Common Good.

Frontiers: Globalization & Poverty, Family, Ecology and Youth

16th World Assembly of CLC

15th World Assembly of CLC

2008
Fátima - Portugal

“Journeying as an Apostolic Body: Our response to this grace from God

Sharing our lives and the discernment of our experiences and challenges results in a clear confirmation of the call received in Nairobi.

DSSE is identified as the means by which to build an Apostolic Body. “United in diversity” as a characteristic of our community and charism and a potentially powerful instrument for mission.

Awareness of the fact that our way of life and vocation becomes a prophetic sign for others. 

Widening and deepening our networks for discernment and joint action at all levels, and especially encouraging our collaboration with the Society of Jesus.

15th World Assembly of CLC

14th World Assembly of CLC

2003
Nairobi - Kenya

Sent by Christ, members of one body

DSSE: Discerning, Sending, Supporting and Evaluating. In community we discern our calling, and it’s the community who sends us to live out our discerned apostolic service and who supports us. The community then evaluates the mission with those sent. In this way, an individual act of service becomes a “common mission.”

As a Community, “we felt confirmed in our call to become an apostolic body that shares responsibility for mission in the Church.”

13th World Assembly of CLC

1998
Itaici - Brazil

CLC, a letter from Christ, written by the Spirit and sent to today’s world

Three areas of mission:

to bring the freeing power of Christ to our social reality;

to find Christ in all our varied cultures and to let His grace illuminate all that needs transformation;

to live Christ so as to bring Him to every aspect of our daily life in the world.

“Our Common Mission”: The Spiritual Exercises which nourish and empower us for mission, formation for mission, so that our community might become a more effective instrument of service

12th World Assembly of CLC

1994
Hong Kong - China

An invitation for deeper reflection on being “at the service of the Lord” as a lay, Ignatian and missionary body in the Church, with a deep sense of and greater common involvement in mission.

General Principles reflecting the experiences and challenges of ONE Community since 1967 were presented and approved

“We have experienced a grace of knowing ourselves as moved by the desire to serve with Christ in the work of the Kingdom, and we have been confirmed in this call… at the same time, we have come to know ourselves as still in need of greater unity and spiritual freedom as a community of disciples.”

11th World Assembly of CLC

1990
Guadalajara - Mexico

An invitation for deeper reflection on being “at the service of the Lord” as a lay, Ignatian and missionary body in the Church, with a deep sense of and greater common involvement in mission.

General Principles reflecting the experiences and challenges of ONE Community since 1967 were presented and approved

“We have experienced a grace of knowing ourselves as moved by the desire to serve with Christ in the work of the Kingdom, and we have been confirmed in this call… at the same time, we have come to know ourselves as still in need of greater unity and spiritual freedom as a community of disciples.”

10th World Assembly of CLC

1986
Loyola - Spain

Following Mary’s model for our Mission: “Do whatever He tells you to do

The beginning of CLC as an Apostolic Community.

In the same location where Ignatius experienced his conversion, CLC received confirmation of its identity rooted in the Spiritual Exercises: sent on mission with Christ, poor and humble, and Mary, in liberty, poverty and solidarity

“Recognized that we are not able to be faithful to our mission without situating it in the context of our community, feeling that it is the entire community which is sent, united mind and heart.”

9th World Assembly of CLC

1982
Providence - United States of America

Experience lived within a global community that gave birth to a new sense of communion.

A greater sense of community and participation in common discernment for an answer to the emerging demands of extraordinary situations.

Clear confirmation to indeed become ONE global community.

8th World Assembly of the World Federation of Christian Life Communities

1979
Rome - Italy

Toward one world community at the service of one world

Our common belonging to or partnership with each other was much deeper than what is expressed by the word “federation.”

Should we work actively to become one worldwide community?

7th World Assembly of the World Federation of Christian life Communities

1976
Manille - Philippines

To be poor with Christ, to be better servants in Christ

To be grounded in concrete situations, open to being touched and confronted by the reality of the poor, to respond to the signs of the times, and to collaborate in the building of the Kingdom of God on earth.

6th World Assembly of the World Federation of Christian Life Communities

1973
Augsbourg - Germany

CLC, a community working toward the liberation of every man and woman and of all men and women. A response to the challenges, internal and external, to CLC

Lines of thinking and action:

A commitment to the transformation of political, economic, social, cultural, and religious structures;;

An opening to the world for action and collaboration with all people of goodwill; solidarity with the poorest and most oppressed;

A recognition of the primary importance of a formation rooted in the Spiritual Exercises.  The integration of the Exercises into all areas of our lives. .

A communal way of life that gives witness to a lifestyle of voluntary poverty and simplicity.

5th World Assembly of the World Federation of Christian Life Communities

1970
Santo Domingo - Domenican Republic

Time to accept, humbly, the need to make progress, step by step, in the human and spiritual development of both individuals and communities, to live out this CLC/CVX vocation.

The delegates experienced a “crisis” that, in a spiritual sense, turned out to be an invitation that both instigated and facilitated an enormous learning process.

4th World Assembly of the World Federation

1967
Rome - Italy

New General Principles moved by the Holy Spirit and influenced by the re-discovery of our Ignatian origins and by Vatican II.

Lifestyle characteristics: spirituality, community, unity with the Church, service for justice and peace, inspiration flowing from the gospel of Jesus, humble and poor, and union with Mary.

Three “pillars”: spirituality, apostolic service, and community.

Change our name: Federation of Christian Life Communities.

3rd World Assembly of the World Federation of Marian Congregations

1964
Bombay - India

In the middle of the Second Vatican Council.

Delegates decide to wait so that the approval of the new Statutes by the World Federation would fully correspond to the fruits of the 2nd Vatican Council for the renewal of the entire church.

2nd World Assembly of the World Federation of Marian Congregations

1959
Newark - United States of America

The first steps toward the development of the new “General Principles” are taken.

What does Ignatian spirituality, community life, and apostolic service mean in today’s world, not only for the individual but also for the group?

1st World Assembly of Marian Congregations

1954
Rome - Italy

Began a process of renewal. Rediscovering their original roots. 

The first World Executive Council is elected.Began a process of renewal. Rediscovering their original roots. 

The first World Executive Council is elected.