Polish Christian Life Community

In 2008 a group of young adults began meeting at the Jesuit Millennial Center in Chicago to learn about Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the spirituality he developed. This first group experienced the Spiritual Exercises and began drawing other young adults to the community. After many years of growth, both spiritually and the number of members, the time came to join the official structures of Christian Life Community. After about a year of learning more about CLC, and a process of discernment, in October of 2017 Chicago Polish CLC affiliated with CLC of the United States.

At this moment (March 2022) there are 40 members in our community divided into five small groups. Each group meets once every two weeks and the whole community once a month to celebrate the Holy Eucharist together. Our monthly meetings are open to friends and families as well as anybody interested in joining us.

Our groups consist of single adults as well as families. Since with each passing year there are more and more children, we started to include the possibility of joining the meetings through ZOOM for those who would otherwise be unable to attend them.

The coordinating council of PCLC includes a chair: Anna Englert, the EA, Father Jurek Brzoska SJ, the NCC Rep and coordinators of five sharing groups.  Members of the council meet three times a year to discuss our current and future projects. Our formation year lasts from September to June. We take time off in the summer but try to meet in the informal way for hiking, picnics etc. Our September Mass is the time when we pledge and renew our Commitments.

Most of the members of PCLC attend the Sacred Heart Mission church in Chicago (5835 W. Irving Park Rd.) lead by Polish Jesuits. We are involved in ministries that are affiliated with the parish.  

Our ministries include:

- helping the homeless through monthly trips to Downtown Chicago to visit our homeless brothers and sisters and bring them necessary food and clothing and spend some time with them.

- Pro-Life initiatives: helping to raise funds for a local crisis pregnancy center and involvement in wider Pro-Life initiatives such as 40 Days for Life campaign.

- support for missions: organizing fundraisers to support the Jesuits missions in Africa and other parts of the world.

- weekend retreat for young adults: introducing Ignatian spirituality to a wider group of people and inviting them to join our community.

- helping in many of the parish initiatives: serving as lectors, working with altar boys, helping in the parish library and café.

-serving as spiritual companions.