Cardijn Community International (CCI) was formally launched in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh in India on 19 February 2012.

Hyderabad is the fourth most populous city in India with an area of 650 sq k.ms (250 sq miles). Hyderabad is also a major global centre for IT and bio-pharmaceutical industries.

Around 50 former leaders of YCS, YCW and CWM participated in the one day launch program which started with a mass by Fr. Thumma Arla, a former animator of YCS and the Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The Diocesan President of CWM and the Diocesan Youth Director, Fr. Fatima Reddy also attended.

Ms Elizabeth Martin, a former YCW welcomed the gathering and introduced the CCI National Leaders and the International Secretary General.

CCI was formally launched by lighting the lamp by Fr. Thumma Arla and other CCI leaders present.
James Sylvester, a former YCS leader and currently member of the CCI-India Volunteer Team steered the day’s program.

Fr. Thumma Arla assured his support in the efforts to promote Cardijn. He emphasized on the need to ‘See-Judge-Act’ in the light of the Gospel values. Fr. Thumma appealed to the CCI to help him re-activate the Pastoral Centre and put it to proper use and expressed that CCI is always welcome to make use of the Centre.

Xavier Anthony, CCI National President extended the greetings on behalf of the National Team.
Ms Glynis Joseph, National Secretary stressed on the need for clear financial perspectives and self-financing.

Clifford Bastian, Member of the CCI-India National Team, who is also a former YCW of Hyderabad recalled his days in the YCW here and wished the Hyderabad CCI all the best.

M. J. Ruben, CCI Secretary General congratulated the Hyderabad Chapter for the launch. In his brief intervention he covered on the origin and objective of CCI and gave a general view of the functioning of the movement at the international level.

All the former leaders were very excited to meet each other after 20 to 30 years and they were very jubilant that such an opportunity was created by CCI.

There was a feeling of emotion clubbed with gratitude to the Cardijn movements which formed them. In their personal testimony, all those who spoke acknowledged that ‘they are what they are today only because of the formation they received through the Cardijn movements’.

The forenoon session ended with lunch.

Thirty-five members enthusiastically attended the post lunch planning session in which the members continued their testimonies.

Two factors emerged very clearly from the testimonies, i.e. i) Cardijn is the binding factor among all of them; and ii) through the formation in Cardijn movements, they have a ‘special identity’ which is opposed to the ‘identity’ imposed by the consumer culture promoted by globalisation.

All of them felt that there is a need to continue to work to restore human dignity and that they should function as a group. All of them wanted to be part of the CCI.

At the concluding session, James Sylvester proposed formation of an ad-hoc team to work out modalities for regular meetings, activities, etc. and it was agreed.

After consultation in small groups, a seven member team was nominated as the Coordinating Team of CCI-Hyderabad with Ms Elizabeth Martin as the Coordinator; the members of the team are: James Sylvester, I. Prakasham, Martin Michael, Patrick Fernandez, Manasa Janaki and John.

An appeal was made to those who would like to be part of the team to contact the Coordinator and to take part in the next meeting.

The grand launch program followed hectic preparations and contact work done by James Sylvester, Martin Michael and Ms Elizabeth Martin.

The National leaders of CCI-India and the CCI Secretary-General appreciate and congratulate the efforts of the organising team in bringing Hyderabad into CCI fold.

Report: MJ Ruben, CCI Secretary-General

South African YCS leaders marched in a June 16 procession for Africa Child Day commemorating the beginnings of the Soweto Uprising against the former apartheid regime in 1976.

The students were attending a one-week annual conference in Mohale’s Hoek high school, Transformation Resource Centre reports.

The procession where the youth carried placards and sang different songs, began at Mohale’s Hoek high school via Likhutlong, Thoteng and Moeaneng villages, St Stephen’s high school to the main street and back to the starting point where speeches were made.

Speaking at the event, the District Administration Manager, Diteboho Monese, said the day calls on the youth to take initiative to effect changes in issues that concern them.

He said, now the country is heading towards Local Government elections, the youth are expected to fully participate in such activity, while at the same time ensure that their aspirations are incorporated in the national development plan.

YCS President, Ramothamo ‘Nyane, said South Africa gained freedom through influence by the youth learners, adding that youth learners in Lesotho can effect change as well in the country.

He said the day’s commemoration is held in support and cognisance to struggle acts against apartheid by South African youth in June 16 1976. ‘Nyane called on the youth to stand up in arms against corruption to eradicate poverty as a number one Millenium Development Goal (MDG), which he said when not addressed, it would be difficult to achieve other goals.

He commended the government for progress made towards achieving universal primary education though he expressed concern about what will happen beyond primary level. The President of Lesotho Youth Federation (LYFE), Nts’ekhe Tlaba, said there is still hope that the youth will influence the government to give education cognisance it deserves as a right to every person.

He urged the youth to work as a team to address problems they are faced with and influence that the MDG’s should be attained. The African Child Day is commemorated annually in several African countries on June 16.



SOURCE

Young Christian Students commemorate African Child Day (Transformation Resource Centre)

Father Charles Rue recalls the formative influence of the YCW and the See Judge Act method in this article from the Australian Columban magazine.

06.06.2011


I am grateful to the YCW for the insights it has given me and the courageous example of people systematically applying faith to their real life situations.

My first memory of the YCW (Young Christian Workers) was in the 1950s when the curate in our rural parish proposed to us young men who had just left school to establish a local branch. The YCW and the YCS (Students) was the alive Catholic action of the day that applied faith to life. We discussed the idea but decided that we would rather join the local Junior Farmers. That group was seen as Protestant (later proved to be wrong), but we saw it as more related to our lives as budding farmers.

My next encounter was a YCW information camp for seminarians run by Fr Frank Marriott in the 1960s. A vivid memory was hearing the story of a young worker who could not read well. Rather than give him some spiritual book, he was first given a ‘western’. We were informed that there had to be some immediate interest in reading for him. I thought this was a very practical approach.

In South Korea in the 1970’s I was assigned to be chaplain to a YCW group of girls working in a cloth factory. At each meeting they described their life as workers in the factory, reflected on it in the light of faith and then decided on an action to try. They reported back on the action at the next meeting.

See-Judge-Act Method

This is the tried and tested YCW method: See-Judge-Act. They described the lack of heaters in the factory leading to fights among the workers. Their action in ‘turning the other cheek’ was to stand back from the heaters. They reported that they were too cold; the fights continued.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

The strong influence of YCW (Australian Columbans)

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YCS Singapore Orientation Video 2011 (Jaheiro24/YouTube)

This video produced by YCS members from Ursula Frayne Catholic College in Perth, Western Australia looks at the difference that fair trade makes to chocolate producers from poor communities.

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YCS- Fair Trade- What's Really In Your Chocolate

South Asian YCS leaders have met in Sri Lanka to discuss building a regionwide culture of action to solve climate, food and rights issues.

Some 30 students from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka attended the 10th International Young Christian Students Movement (YCS) forum, organized by the YCS Sri Lanka branch, in Tewatta, ucanews.com reports.

During the week-long meeting that ended Sunday, students discussed ways to build a culture of action to control global problems of climate change, food crisis and human rights violations.

The YCS international members in over 85 countries are ready for the international challenges and contributions to manage the problems, Reyne Clemena, YCS Asian coordinator told ucanews.com.

“We (students) have a capability to achieve the goal,” said the Filipino girl, as their Church-run movement has 200 members in Pakistan, 4,000 in Sri Lanka, 166 in Nepal, 9,000 in Bangladesh and 175,000 in India, within the South Asian region.

The region has already experienced more fallout from climate change than other continents and it still continues to suffer from threats such as rising sea levels, forest degradation, floods, cyclone and tsunami and food shortage.

At the end of the conference, the YCS members outlined activities for their 2011-2013 action plans. They include tree-planting, poster campaigns, dry foods collection and distribution to the needy, food waste control, school fundraising, demonstrations and awareness programs through seminars, debate and workshops.

Meanwhile, Father Patrick Simon Gomes, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Youth in Bangladesh, said they have taken steps to promote the use of bags, wall mats and calendars made of textiles rather than plastic.

SOURCE

South Asian students take on world problems (ucanews.com)

Sudanese Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba presided at a Mass last month where he blessed the tomb of late YCS member Abraham Gajuk who was killed in 1992 during a peaceful protest against forcibly imposed Islamic indoctrination.

Archbishop Lukudu urged the Young Christian Student (YCS) to pray for peace in Sudan upon uncertainties surrounding the referendum process.

He told the 27 November gathering at a memorial prayer for YCS founders and members killed during the war to invoke the spirit of the decease members to bring peace to Sudan.

Archbishop Lukudu said Abraham Gajuk and Okela were killed in cold blood in Juba due to their YCS activities.

He prayed to the deceased members of the YCS to intercede for peace in the Sudan and called on the youth to register and vote for the referendum in order to honour the blood of their slain members.

YCS Sudan is currently celebrating its Silver Jubilee in Juba. The long week celebration concludes on Sunday.

There were young people present from most of the dioceses in Sudan, as well as from Uganda and Kenya, Father Herald Joseph Brock CFR noted on his blog.

“The event was organized by our friend, Fr. Martin Ochaya Lino, Secretary General of the Archdiocese of Juba and chaplain and former member of the YCS,” Father Brock wrote.

“I was asked to address the participants on the theme, ‘A Personal Relationship with God.’ The youth were very attentive and responsive.

“The YCS event was co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with the assistance of another good friend, Tom Purekal, CRS Peace Building Program Coordinator for South Sudan,” Father Brock noted.