CLCNW small groups are very spread out. We have members in Washington State, Oregon, Alaska, Illinois, and Philadelphia. It is over a 6 1⁄2 hour drive between groups in Seattle, WA, and Newport, Oregon. Even within one city, there is quite a long drive between our small groups. In Oregon, it is a 2 1⁄2 hour drive between groups in Portland and those in Newport and the vicinity. In Washington State, it is a good hour drive between those groups in north Seattle and those in Kent and the vicinity south of Seattle. One member lives on an Island and must take a ferry to visit groups in Seattle. Those that live in Alaska, Illinois, and Pennsylvania meet in a Zoom group with other members of CLCNW. You would think that with the distance between us we are not a close-knit CLC group, but you would be very wrong. We all know each other well and are close friends. Getting together once a year for a fall retreat has helped that immensely. Now that we are isolated due to the Pandemic we have not given up hopes of being together. In 2020 we met for two retreats completely on Zoom. In the fall of 2021, we had a split retreat of people going in-person to a retreat house in Oregon and others watching and contributing to that retreat via Zoom. That will happen once again in September 2022.  We know each other well and we care for each other so very much. Our groups have been together for many years. The oldest group started in 1988. Most of the groups have been together for more than 20 years. And we now have a brand new group that started last year—2021.

Our members of CLCNW have done many things as outreach in their communities, from helping get an emergency shelter for homeless women and children off the ground to doing social outreach. Some work with the elderly and homebound. All others work with RCIA and other youth ministers. Others are strong and outspoken activists on social justice issues. One couple takes homeless families into their home helping them find a place to live while they are kept safe within the couple's home. Others work in prison ministry. Many volunteers in committees at their parish doing social ministry, pastoral care, and circle of creation. One is a grant writer for social ministry. Some work with Peace Village. Some work with the Red Cross work, and Cabrini Ministry. One person volunteers at the Archdiocese Advocate Tribunal. Another is a published spiritual poet.

Our Regional Council meets every other month to help facilitate this closeness. The council has come up with the idea of having a newsletter to keep group members informed about what is happening throughout CLCNW. Between the Regional Council and a retreat committee, we make sure that all of us that want to, meet at least once a year as a whole group. If there is a problem in a group we have Guides that have been trained by CLC to guide us. When one of us is ill others reach out. We are a close-knit family that just happens to live far apart in many cases. CLCNW is a special giving loving example of what CLC is all about.

CLCNW members on a fall retreat in 2019 prior to the Pandemic.