CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY

Christian Life Community involves living Ignatian spirituality in everyday life.  If one has made a Jesuit retreat or a retreat based on the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises but still hungers for spiritual nourishment, CLC may fulfill that yearning.  CLC is an international lay association of over 25,000 members that is both spiritual and apostolic.  The eight communities that meet in the St. Louis region usually meet twice a month.  There are two CLCs at the College Church, the Holy Spirit CLC and a new Virtual CLC.

Christian Life Community has been in the St. Louis area since 1967.  In the 1970s Jesuits guided individuals through the 19th Annotation retreat. As time went on the Jesuits trained lay people to give these retreats. This was the first step in being a Christian Life Community member.  However, there were so many people who hungered for this retreat, that the leadership of CLC formed Bridges, a retreat bridging the gap between one’s everyday life and one’s prayer life. It was spread over eight months and included daily prayer, a weekly meeting with a retreat guide, and a monthly gathering with the group participating in the retreat.  At the conclusion of Bridges, the members continued to meet in small groups, each group being a Christian Life Community. As time went on the two organizations separated.

For information on Christian Life Community, contact Ann Padberg, the Regional Director, at 314-696-9610, or annpadberg@charter.net, or 4232 Burnett Walk, St. Louis, MO 63125