From April 30 to May 3, 2026, we gathered in Fatima for the National Assembly of the Christian Life Community in Portugal (CVXP) under the theme “A heart open to God’s newness.” Joining us were Chris Micallef, President of the ExCo, and Mirella Gaboli, from the EuroTeam.

Listening to the Spirit

We set out to listen to the Holy Spirit through a process of communal discernment based on the ESDAC methodology, in order to discover God’s will for CVXP over the next three years. This journey began with a time of prayer inspired by the parable of the sower. We were invited to recall the seeds sown by God in CLC in Portugal over the past three years, and what we have done with them.

The prevailing sentiment was one of gratitude for the journey we have taken and for all the positive reception we have received. We feel that the National Team sought to engage, listen to, and welcome members, delegating various tasks through a process of co-creation, which allowed members to feel more motivated and more involved in decision-making, thereby strengthening their sense of belonging to the community. We are grateful for the creation or strengthening of existing teams, such as the one preparing for the Permanent Commitment, or the various apostolic teams and services such as the organization of the pilgrimage to Fatima or the podcast “Há lugar à mesa” (There is a place at the table), as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of CLC in Portugal.

Of the “challenges” identified, the most frequently cited issue was the reluctance to accept appointments to serve the community on Service Teams. The fatigue evident among the members of these teams made us realize that we must prioritize the well-being of those who serve the community — in other words, it is urgent that we care for the caregivers.

Asking forgiveness for our infidelities and resistance, at Friday’s Mass we reconnected with God and with one another: from many loose ends, symbolically represented by pieces of rope, we wove a single thread, a metaphor for our unity. The “I” fell away; the “We” was reborn.

A Trusting and Open Heart

The next day, we continued with the desire to live with a trusting and open heart, asking for the grace to listen to the Spirit and to let ourselves be guided by Him so that, like the disciples of Emmaus, and as a community, we might find the way back to Jerusalem.

Each delegate, each group, and the Assembly allowed themselves to be moved by the Spirit. Thus, as the Christian Life Community in Portugal, it seems to us that God is calling us to welcome and care for one another, remaining faithful to our identity, so that we may go out and serve the world as the Church, just as we are.

Right from the first plenary session, several groups explicitly pointed to welcoming as an area where the community faces a certain difficulty, particularly in integrating difference. The verb “to welcome” thus sought to identify the fundamental attitude that should govern our relationships with those who wish to belong or have just arrived in the community — avoiding the risks of operating in a closed circle, a factor that alienates those outside our ecclesial and socio-economic circle. The verb “to care,” one of the most frequently used in the discussions of the second plenary session, aims to guide the relationship among us, members of the community. Care must be a cross-cutting priority throughout the entire community, with particular sensitivity to the members of the service teams. Co-responsibility refers both to the involvement of members outside the service teams in carrying out necessary tasks, and to the willingness to serve formally within them.

We feel called to care for our identity as well, deepening the distinctive features of our charism — in particular, the centrality of the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian spirituality, the communal dimension of our spiritual experience, and our common mission. The Assembly also expressed the desire for CLC to increasingly embrace the spirit of a “Church that goes forth,” guided by the Holy Spirit, bearing witness to the CLC way of life and sharing our gifts.

Returning with Hearts Ablaze

Like the disciples of Emmaus, we return to our small groups with hearts ablaze from what we have experienced here. May the Lord help us to deepen this call and, inspired by Mary’s “yes,” respond to Him with inner freedom.