Chairman
Bp. Mar Joseph Pandarasseril

Archbishop of Kottayam, Catholic Metropolitan’s House, P. B. No. 71, Kottayam - 686 001, Kerala, India
Tel : +91 481 - 2563527, 2563812, 2300453, Fax : +91 481 - 2563327
E-mail: cbhktym@hotmail.com

Vice-Chairmen
Bp. Thomas Mar Anthonios

Major Archbishop's House, Pattom, Trivandrum, Kerala - 695 004, India.
Tel: +91 471 - 2541642, Fax: +91 471 - 2541635
 

Bp. Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kariyil

Bishop’s House, P.B. No. 11, Fort Cochin, Kochi – 682 00,  Kerala, India.
Tel: +91 484 – 2215403, Fax: + 91 484 2215404
Email: josephkariyil@sancharnet.in
 

CLC (Promoter)
Rev. Fr. Roy Joseph Nedumthanam
Promoter, CLC, St. Peter’s Church, Nileswar, Kasargode - 671 314, Kerala, India
Tel: +91 467- 2282572
E-mail – nedumthanam@yahoo.com
 

CLC (CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMUNITY) 

The Christian Life Community is a public world association whose executive centre is presently in Rome.  It is the continuation of the Marian Sodality, started by Rev. Fr. John Leunis S.J. in March 25, 1563, and first officially approved by Pope Gregory XIII’s bull, Omnipotentis Dei, in December 5, 1584.  In 1957 the organization had got a membership in UNO in its ICO section.  After the 2nd Vatican Council the name ‘Marian Sodality’ was charged into CLC in the 4th World Assembly in Rome in 1967.  First Sodality unit in India was established in Goa in 1607.  Its origin in Kerala was in 1644 in Vaippinkotta Seminary in Chendamangalam.

CLC is a group of lay Christian men and women who freely choose this way of life in response to God’s call.  They aim to become committed Christians in bearing witness to those human and Gospel values within the Church and society by means of following Jesus Christ more closely and work with him for the building of the Kingdom.  The spirituality of this Community is centered on Christ and on participation in the paschal Mystery.  CLC holds the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola as the specific source of its spirituality.  We honour Mary in a special way and rely on her intercession in fulfilling our vocation.  CLC functions in more than 60 countries as per the 17 General Principles approved by the World Assembly convened in Guadalajara in Mexico in 1990. 

Kerala CLC, a family of 14 Diocesan Communities, has been doing well this year with the active co-operation of dioceses.  State EXCO. presided over by the president, Mr. Dennis Antony, on January 25, 2007 at POC approved the annual plan.  ‘Morality-the way to Development’ is the subject taken for studies this year throughout Kerala CLC units.  My article on this topic was published in ‘Deepika’ daily on March 25, 2007 on the occasion of the celebration of World CLC Day.  Official celebration was conducted in Angamaly, Ernakulam, sponsored by Forane council.  An EXCO. meet on May 1, 2007 at POC discussed various social issues including the problems of ‘Divine retreat Centre’ at Muringoor.  Some of the Exco. members under the leadership of Eccl. Assistant visited retreat centre and made a thorough study on the allegations raised by various fundamental forces.  Later we took initiative to publish the find outs in various medias.  An attempt was made to conduct a public demonstration against the police atrocities at the centre but failed due to some difficulties.

State CLC has been giving active leadership throughout Kerala in conducting protest marches and campaigns against the oppressions of Minority educational institutions by Communist Government.  A section of ministries and various leftist organizations continue attacking Judiciary, one of the pillars of Democracy.  At this juncture Kerala CLC has conducted a symposium on ‘Judiciary and Democracy’ on June 23, 2007 at Ashirbhavan, hosted by Verapoly CLC.  Prominent personalities like Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil, Dr. K.S. Radakrishnan, Vice Chancellor, etc. participated in the programme.  An Exco. meet was also convened after the programme.

Annual commemoration programme on St. Ignatius Loyola, our inspiration, has been conducted on August 5, 2007 under the auspices of both Mattom unit and Thrissur Archdiocesan CLC community.  Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath inaugurated the function, attended by a large crowd including Rev. Fr Jose Thachil, National Consultant.  CLCrs took active participation in a Youth Convention conducted in POC on November 18, 2007 and all of them were nourished by the seminar on Democratic values.

I conclude the report by thanking God for His endless gifts on the Community and also expressing gratitude to venerable Bishops as well as Diocesan Communities.  A very special thanks is given to Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Samuel, our Youth Commission Chairman, for his timely guidance.  We also thank POC Director for his co-operation. 

Contact :

Secretary, Youth Commission
Secretariat, Pastoral Orientation Centre, P. B. No. 2251 , Palarivattom P.O, Kochi-682025, Kerala, India
E-mail:  kcymkerala@gmail.com