Trung Pham: Leadership Assembly Recap

Thursday June 28th, 2012.
The Opening of Leaderships Assembly 5

The 5th Leadership Assembly of Christian Life Community - USA was held at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with and attendance of 68 leaders from 11 geographical regions and two cultural bodies; K-CLC and Dong Hanh-CLC.  One after another, one from different parts of the country flew in and were picked up at Pittsburgh Airport to then be dropped off at Gilmary Retreat Center.
 
Fr. Jim O’Brien, SJ presided the Thursday Mass at 5:00 PM which celebrated the Feast of St .Iraneaus. Although the St. Mary chapel was suffocating with the heat wave, the entire assembly joyfully celebrated Eucharist Sacrament with English and Vietnamese worshipping hymns.

After dining in the sauna-like dining room, at 7:30 PM Hang Nguyen, President of CLC-USA, convened members of the National Coordinating Council (NCC) and seated the new members; in which there 4 additional members from K-CLC and 4 additional members from Dong Hanh along with the Delegates. This is the 1st in-person meeting of the expended NCC.

In the same process, Mong Hang also retold the Miami Assembly experience in which Dong Hanh joined CLC-USA.  She also mentioned the growing presence of K-CLC communities and the vibrant energy of S. Florida communities in the CLC-USA that led to the drive and efforts on re-organize our community.   

Friday June 29th, 2010.
The morning prayer was led by the Working Group members.  Old, young, new Delegates joined their voice and body movement with the prayer: “I Surrender”.  It was so touching and inspirational to see people in silver hair,  with walker, young faces prayed together with their Heart, Body and Soul with the song: I Surrender – I step into the flow, and then I let it go, my mind, my heart, my soul, I surrender,  I surrender…” 

During the 4th exercise: Relationship among Members in the CLC-USA Community, Rick Kunkle, chairperson of the Working Group shared the vision for the new structure.

After the presentation, participants broke out into small affinity groups: DH, K-CLC, S. Florida,  and geographical regions to discern for disadvantages and advantages on the proposed vision of membership, community and clusters, and that took all day.

Liem Le led everyone back to memory lane way back to the very first community formed by Jean Leunis, SJ in 1548 .  The up and down of Marian Congregation along the suppression and revival of Society of Jesus.  God had protected CLC through out  the 450 years in order for Vietnamese Catholic in USA still have opportunity to experienced God’s love and live CLC vocation fully.     Yes, we were convinced that 

On Friday evening, the Feast of St Peter and St. Paul was presided by Fr. Tri Dinh.  During the Homily, he pointed out that CLC-USA not just a house but a home in which we all will come into loving relationship. Also we were surprised with the visit of Ms Daniela Frank, the World CLC president.  During the Mass, Henry Gonzales, Carol Gonzales and Sophie Nguyen made their commitment.  Daniela representing the World community was very happy to receive their commitments.    Many other Delegates also renewed their commitment.  To celebrate the occasion, Daniela gave all committed members each a new pin of the CLC-USA.  

Saturday June 30th, Evening.
The exercise 5a - Service Centers and National Offices led by Mong Hang and 5b – the Executive Council and the Delegate Assembly led by Maryanne Rouse touched so close rto what ACE DH  treasured so dearly.  They was in desolation, fear, tension, pain because the reality of losing Dong Hanh identity and leadership capacity to process and link all DH members into one family when the new structure being implemented.   Tears flew.  Faces whiten.  Eyes red.   Tension among ACE leaders were evident and imminent.  They took a long time to pray individually on these subjects and shared their graced experiences  before returning to big group session.  At last, peace and interior freedom filled their hearts.  

At 8:30 PM 24 members of National Coordinating Council and 5 Executive Council sit in a fishbowl circle to formulate statements for next day deliberation on 6 different areas: Membership, Community, Cluster, Service Centers, National Offices, Delegate Assembly and Executive Council.  The session was intensively participative and  ACE DH voiced concerns that they reached for DH Community.

At 9:00 PM, the CLC By Night started rolling out with a wonderful entertaining programs contributed and performed by almost all of the Leadership Assembly participants.  The Fashion show of various cultural costumes within CLC-USA was the most colorful and educational contribution.  ACE DH put on our traditional khăn đông and áo dài.  Please see pictures.   

Phóng Viên Đồng Hành