Centre International Cardijn

October 2026 - Leo in Latin America - IYCW & ICYCW talk unity - IYCS in Rome

Stefan Gigacz — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:27:50 GMT

Friends,

We begin this issue with Claudio Remeseira’s introduction to Pope Leo’s first trip as pontiff to Latin America.

In Manila, the IYCW has elected a new International Team while the International Coordination of the YCW (ICYCW), which separated in 1986, has called for reunification of the two movement.

Todd Walatka explains the influence on Saint Oscar Romero of the see-judge-act method.

On his visit to France, Pope Leo recalled the life of another jocist martyr, Blessed Marcel Callo, while another disciple of Joseph Cardijn, Italian priest Don Luigi Di Liegro is now on the sainthood path.

We remember the life of Mauritian Fr Gerard de Fleuriot, who died last month.

Last but not least, the IYCS has announced that its alumni gathering will take place in Rome in May 2027 together with the Cardijn Pilgrimage to mark the 60th anniversary of the YCW founder’s death in 1967.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Pope Leo to visit Latin America

After the alarm and worldwide concern created by the unexpected news of Pope Leo’s lung cancer and the immediate surgery to remove part of the organ affected, the Vatican confirmed that the pontiff’s apostolic visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru — his first visit to Latin America as pope — will proceed as scheduled, writes Claudio Remeseira.

The highlight of this trip, which will extend from November 6 to 17, will be Leo’s return to Peru, the nation in which he spent almost two decades of his life, first as a missionary and seminary director in the 1980s and 1990s and later as bishop of Chiclayo, from 2014 to 2023.

Yet his visit to Argentina will have special significance too, not only because it is the birthplace of his predecessor, Francis, who never went back to it during his papacy, but also because it will provide the rare opportunity to witness the clash between Leo’s championing of the Church’s social teaching, along with his humanist and anti-war message, and Argentina’s current president, Javier Milei, the darling of the international right-wing populist and anti-woke movements, a brash advocate of unbridled markets, unquestioning alignment with Israel and its war against Hamas, and technological accelerationism.

Leo in the land of Francis (Where Peter Is)

“Where Is Your Brother?”

“As a deeply Latin American thinker working in the wake of Medellín, (Saint Oscar Romero) can best be understood in terms of the see-judge-act methodology, with its foundational emphasis on the challenge of perceiving the truth of reality,” writes Todd Walatka at Catholic Moral Theology.

It is clear—as it was in Romero’s time—that we live in a time that demands action. All around, human rights are violated, migrants are demonized, fear is stoked. We need resistance to repression, concrete works of mercy, participation in the struggle for justice, and laws that move toward a just peace.

As Romero says, appealing to Gaudium et Spes §43, one of the great errors of our time is the idea that “the Church should keep to the sacristy and not get involved in proclaiming the demands of justice and defending the human rights of all” (Homily from November 12, 1978). Romero is clear that a “committed” [comprometida] Church, a community actively involved in the struggle [la lucha] is the sign of true fidelity.

“Where Is Your Brother?” (Catholic Moral Theology)

Leo remembers Marcel Callo

Addressing 80,000 young people gathered at the Stade de France in Paris, Pope Leo cited Blessed Marcel Callo, a martyred French jocist leader, as an example of those who choose the path of virtue and holiness.

“Those who live with God strive for what is best,” Pope Leo said. “They are constantly growing.”

“And how many sons and daughters of this beloved land of France have allowed themselves to be led along this path!” Pope Leo continued. “Consider, for example, Blessed Marcel Callo, a young Frenchman, a boy scout and worker, who in the darkness of the concentration camp never ceased to strive toward the good, maintaining his interior freedom.”

Leo remembers Marcel Callo

Don Luigi Di Liegro on sainthood path

Pope Leo has announced that he has approved the launch of a diocesan inquiry into the life and holiness of Don Luigi Di Liegro, a Roman priest influenced by Cardijn and the YCW, who was dedicated to workers and the poor.

Born in Gaeta on 16 October 1928, Don Luigi was the eighth child of a fisherman who had emigrated several times to the United States but was eventually expelled.

In 1958, he left for France and Belgium where he visited mines. While in Belgium, he also took part in a YCW national training program of the YCW, where he met Cardijn in what became a decisive experience.

Don Luigi Di Liegro on sainthood path

A missionary experience in Malaysia

What began as a four-day missionary camp became an invitation for young adults to see people differently — not as refugees, migrants, the sick or the marginalised, but as brothers and sisters bearing the dignity and presence of Christ.

Organised by Caritas Penang in collaboration with the Islanders Tamil Youth Network (ITYN), the three-night programme brought young adults to Batu Arang, Gombak, to encounter refugees and people living with HIV/AIDS. Rather than simply exposing participants to unfamiliar realities, the camp taught them to reflect and respond through the See–Judge–Act method.

Using Three Days at Perch, a handbook published by Kumpulan A.C.T.S., Jesuit priest Fr Paul Dass, SJ guided participants through Catholic Social Teaching and the Pastoral Spiral. Gospel meditation, personal prayer and open conversations also helped them connect what they were learning with their own faith and experiences.

YOUM.A.D 3.0: A missionary experience at Batu Arang (Herald Malaysia)

Remembering Fr Gerard de Fleuriot

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Lord called Father Gérard de Fleuriot to Himself at the age of 92, the Diocese of Port Louis, Mauritius reports. Father de Fleuriot passed away peacefully in a clinic after a long illness.

Born on 1 May, 1934, in Saint-Pierre, Gérard de Fleuriot was ordained a priest on 24 February, 1958, in Croix-Valmer, France. During his 68 years of priesthood, he served in several parishes, notably in Beau-Bassin and Curepipe.

He also continued his pastoral mission in South Africa for over fifteen years during the apartheid era, where he was chaplain to the Young Christian Workers and responsible for vocations ministry. Upon returning to Mauritius, he served as parish priest in Vacoas and later as vocations director.

Remembering Fr Gerard de Fleuriot

Don Luigi Di Liegro on sainthood path

Born in Gaeta on 16 October 1928, Don Luigi was the eighth child of a fisherman who had emigrated several times to the United States but was eventually expelled.

Don Luigi Di Liegro on sainthood path

International YCW celebrates World Council in Manila

ICYCW calls for reunification with IYCW

IYCS joins Cardijn Pilgrimage to Rome in May 2027

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PILGRIMAGE

https://rome2027.josephcardijn.com/

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September 2026 - AI and data collection - Ecological sin - Gerard de Fleuriot

Stefan Gigacz — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:52:19 GMT

Friends,

Welcome to our September edition in which we begin by remembering French worker priest and YCW chaplain, Fr André Jarlan, killed by a police bullet while reading the Bible in his presbytery on 4 September 1984.

We share the World Movement of Christian Workers submission to the International Labor Conference on AI and data collection.

The Vatican has published a new document explaining the concept of “ecological sins” against the environment.

We remember Mauritian priest and YCW chaplain, Fr Gerard de Fleuriot, as well as “pastoral circle” promoter Fr Peter Henriot SJ.

From Slovakia we hear of forgotten jocist hereoes including Fr Kolakovic.

Stefan Gigacz analyses a new document from the Vatican Synodality Study Group 6 on ecclesial movements and groups.

From Pakistan, IYCW Asia-Pacific reports on child labor and bonded labor in the brick industry.

Finally, YCS students from Africa share their concerns over AI in the classroom.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Data collection has a cost

AI is not “intelligent.” It compiles and organizes millions of pieces of information but is not creative, World Movement of Christian Workers secretary Christine Isturiz told the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva.

How far should we accept that supposed intelligence decides for us? As a movement of education and action, we affirm the preeminent place of the human being to reflect, to produce free judgment, committed not only to guaranteeing decent work but dignified work.

Data collection has a cost. One example comes from a member of our movement in Madagascar, who, like many Malagasy workers, performs data entry tasks essential to the functioning of international algorithms: “My name is Elina and I work in an organic products store that uses artificial intelligence. My role is to record invoices. I process up to 1,500 invoices per day for a salary of 120 euros per month. I must train intensively to automate my tasks, acting almost like a machine.”

Digital technology offers new economic opportunities while creating significant constraints for workers. These jobs often remain low-skilled and poorly paid, revealing the unequal integration of developing countries into the global economy.

WMCW statement at the 114th International Labour Conference (WMCW)

Vatican targets “ecological sin”

In a sprawling document articulating the duty of Christians to care for the environment, a Vatican advisory body wrote that taking action to preserve the planet for future generations is “not only an ethical requirement, but also a theological one,” NCR Online reports.

“The historical moment we are living through demands urgent action from everyone, beginning with those responsible for public life, to ensure the sustainability of the planet and the habitability of our common home,” the Vatican’s International Theological Commission wrote in a more than 30,000-word document published in Italian Sept. 2, titled “Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God.”

Vatican body develops concept of ‘ecological sin’ in spiritual salvo on the environment (National Catholic Reporter)

YCW chaplain, Fr Gerard de Fleuriot

Remembering Fr Gerard de Fleuriot

Ecclesial associations and movements in a synodal Church

Synodality Study Group 6 has now released its final report (SG6) on “the relationship between bishops, consecrated life, and ecclesial associations.” In this post, I want to look closely at what the study group proposes in relation to those ecclesial associations, which comprise “associations of the faithful, movements, and new communities” and are bundled together under the rather unwieldy acronym AFMENC.

While these proposals outline a constructive pastoral strategy, a closer analysis of SG6 in conjunction with the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Letter Iuvenescit Ecclesia (2016) as well as the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium and Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem reveals significant ecclesiological omissions and unexamined tensions that warrant further examination.

Ecclesial associations and movements in a synodal Church (Synodal Reflections)

Remembering Peter Henriot SJ

The Southern Africa Province (SAP) of the Society of Jesus is mourning the passing of Fr Peter Henriot, SJ, former Director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), who died on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Centre in Los Gatos, California, USA. He was 90 years old.

Fr Leonard Chiti, SJ, Provincial of the Southern Africa Province, announced Fr. Henriot’s death and paid tribute to a Jesuit whose life and ministry were deeply rooted in faith, social justice, theological reflection and service to the poor, particularly in Zambia and Malawi.

Together with Joe Holland, he co-authored the influential book Social Analysis: Linking Faith and Justice, which developed the pastoral-circle approach to understanding social realities and connecting them with theological reflection and pastoral action.

Remembering Peter Henriot SJ, promoter of the pastoral circle (See Judge Act)

Forgotten Slovak heroes are writing a new story

After a long period of reconstruction of the building at Na križovatkách 8 in Bratislava, the Unobtrusive Heroes Association has opened a space with immense historical value to the public for the first time.

“Great people grew up here who, in secret, with great faith and enthusiasm, created values and helped others discover inner freedom,” she added. “We still draw on their sacrifice and legacy today. We want to bring their inconspicuous actions to light - to bring them closer to young people.”

“Today, as we commemorate 120 years since the birth of the man we know in Slovakia as Professor Kolakovič, we are opening a space associated with the creation and formation of the underground church,” commented historian František Neupauer, the founder of the Unobtrusive Heroes Association.

Forgotten Slovak heroes are writing a new story

Child labor and debt bondage in Punjab’s bricklin workers

In Nawa Pind, Punjab Province, Pakistan, brick kiln (bricklin) labor dominates community life, IYCW Asia Pacific reports. Families depend on this work for survival, while others turn to farming. Yet this type of work is marked by exploitation, hazardous conditions, and systemic poverty.

One of the most alarming realities is the widespread involvement of children. Children as young as four years old are compelled to work alongside their parents, enduring long hours of heavy labor. A typical family of five—often including two to three children—must produce 500 bricks daily to earn just 700 PKR (around 2.5 USD) for 8 to 10 hours of work. This practice not only robs children of their education and childhood but also perpetuates generational poverty.

Child labor and debt bondage in Punjab’s bricklin workers (IYCW Asia-Pacific)

La JEC et l’intelligence artificielle

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Remembering Fr Gerard de Fleuriot

Stefan Gigacz — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 03:01:13 GMT

“Father de Fleuriot was particularly appreciated for his humility, simplicity, and love of nature,” the diocesan statement notes. “In recent years, he had dedicated himself to the upkeep of the Thabor gardens.”

“We offer our sincere condolences to the clergy and the bereaved family.”

Fr de Fleuriot’s funeral took place on 17 September, 2026.

Joceline Minerve (Cardijn Community) and Stefan Gigacz with Fr Gerard de Fleuriot, July 2023

Fr Gerard’s Guide for YCW Chaplains

Download an updated copy of Fr de Fleuriot’s YCW Chaplains Guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHfpp3SglJGWjAYtJg4ivXpVlOkuIDMt/view?usp=sharing

Original French text

Ce mercredi 16 septembre 2026, le Seigneur a rappelé à Lui le père Gérard de Fleuriot, âgé de 92 ans. Le père de Fleuriot s’est éteint paisiblement en clinique, des suites d’une longue maladie.

Né le 01 mai 1934 à Saint-Pierre, Gérard de Fleuriot a été ordonné prêtre le 24 février 1958 à Croix-Valmer, en France. Au cours de ses 68 années de sacerdoce, il a exercé son ministère dans plusieurs paroisses, notamment à Beau-Bassin et Curepipe. Il a également poursuivi sa mission pastorale en Afrique du Sud pendant plus de quinze ans, durant les années de l’apartheid durant lesquelles il a été aumônier de la Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne et responsable de la pastorale des vocations. De retour à Maurice, il est curé à Vacoas et ensuite responsable des vocations.

Le père de Fleuriot était particulièrement apprécié pour son humilité, sa simplicité et son amour de la nature. Au cours des dernières années, il s’était notamment consacré à l’entretien des jardins du Thabor.

Au clergé et à la famille endeuillée, nous présentons nos sincères sympathies.

La dépouille du P. de Fleuriot sera exposée à la chapelle du Thabor à partir de 9h00 ce jeudi 17 septembre afin que ceux qui le souhaitent puissent venir se recueillir et lui rendre un dernier hommage. La messe des funérailles sera célébrée à 14h30 à l’église St Pierre-ès-Liens, suivie de l’inhumation dans le caveau familial au cimetière de Saint-Pierre.

SOURCE

https://dioceseportlouis.org/deces-du-pere-gerard-de-fleuriot/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1485427063762979&set=a.600798102225884

«Le Chrétien face au monde » : le père de Fleuriot invite à la compréhension de la vie chrétienne (L’Express)

Forgotten Slovak heroes are writing a new story

Stefan Gigacz — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:28:43 GMT

“We are grateful for the trust of the Fatima Community that we can bring the stories of the heroes of our path to freedom to young people at the place where the secret samizdat printing house was located,” said Dominika Semaňáková, chairwoman of the Unobtrusive Heroes Association.

Frantisek Neupauer (right)

The event began with Mass at 3:00 p.m. Principal celebrant was missionary and member of the Fatima Community Viktor Jakubov with Salesian missionary in Yakutsk concelebrating. The homily was delivered by Capuchin Fr Jozef Konc delivered the homily.

Other participants included Jesuit Jozef Bartkovjak; Sister Karola, Superior of the Slovak Vicariate of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Cyril and Methodius; Michal Krčméry, Director of the University of Health and Social Work of St Elizabeth; Miroslav Dzurech Jr., Director of ACN Slovakia – Aid to the Church in Need, as well as the monument owner Július Porubský, who purchased the object during the time of normalization for the needs of the Fatima Community. Guests and friends of the Unobtrusive Heroes Association from Italy, the Netherlands and Austria also joined the celebration.

A tour of the secret samizdat printing house followed. Viktor Jakubov described his experiences with printing in this house, where he lived with Jožek Roman and Peter Murdza.

This was followed by art therapy with Katka in which the participants were able to build and paint their own paper house. Afterwards, approximately 30 participants of the event spent a pleasant time together over agape. Also present were historian Juraj Kasarda and guide Zuzana Godárová, who are ready to provide interested parties with expert guidance on the topic of lack of freedom and the significance of this place of memory.

After the ceremony, several participants remained in prayer at the grave of Silvester Krčméry, who is buried in the nearby Martin Cemetery. One hundred people also took part in a prayer novena in his memory from 1-9 September. Archbishop Faustyn from Cameroon also joined the prayers, as well as people from Malaysia, the Czech Republic and France. The novena included Silvester Krčméry’s favorite songs and the thoughts of Prof. Kolakovič in English and Slovak.

Marking the 120th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Kolakovič, the Unobtrusive Heroes Association also prepared a challenge for pupils and students encouraging them to live an active life, to take an interest in others and what is happening around them.

The Unobtrusive Heroes Association thanks the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of St Elizabeth, the Benediktíni v Krásná Association, the Association for Life and Family, the Dobrá kniha Publishing House, Robowe.sk, the Umením Association, the Anton Neuwirth College and other partners and supporters who contributed to the renovation of the space and the implementation of the event.

“We would be happy if others would join us so that the Na križovatkách 8 facility can serve the public even better,” said Dominika Semaňáková, chairwoman of the Unobtrusive Heroes Association.

The association can be contacted by email at: info@november89.eu .

August 2026 - Vatican II & synodality - Asian theology - Just wages - Ivan Illich

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:05:27 GMT

Friends

This month we begin by congratulating the see-judge-act movement, Young People for Development (YPD) on 23 years of working with young people and refugees from remote areas in Thailand and Myanmar (image above).

We also share an important article by lay theologian Rafael Luciani on Vatican II and synodality.

We learn how the jocist-inspired Mondragon cooperatives in Spain are attracting new attention.

We hear of actions by the YCS in Burkina Faso and the YCW in Philippines.

From Australia, we share news of a webinar to commemorate the centenary of the birth of radical thinker and Catholic priest, Ivan Illich.

Plus we have a video from Indian priest Fr Charles Anthonyswamy on the role of the see judge act in Asian theology.

From a historical point of view, we share an article highlighting the role of jocist leaders in the World War II Resistance in Belgium.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Leo’s twin tasks: Vatican II and synodality

Pope Francis devoted his 12-year pontificate to recovering synodality as a constitutive dimension of the church, rooted in the church’s long historical tradition and matured by the reception of the Second Vatican Council’s ecclesiology of the people of God, writes Rafael Luciani.

Pope Leo XIV appears to be increasingly focused on translating that vision into permanent forms of governance, participation and shared discernment through collegial decision-making bodies, particularly through organisms of participation such as pastoral councils.

This approach is significant since the fundamental question the Catholic Church faces today is no longer whether synodality matters, but how it is received and implemented as a constitutive mark of the whole church’s life.

Why Vatican II and synodality are the twin tasks of Leo’s papacy (National Catholic Reporter)

La JEC de Burkina Faso s’organise

À l’occasion de ses journées atypiques organisées les 27 et 28 juin 2026, la cellule SEG de la Jeunesse étudiante catholique (JEC) de l’université Norbert Zongo de Koudougou a posé un geste en faveur de l’environnement. Avec l’appui de sa marraine, Maïmouna C. Marie-Ange Sabine Traoré épouse Yé, des plants fruitiers ont été mis en terre dans la cour de l’aumônerie de la paroisse universitaire, en écho au Mois de l’arbre institué par le gouvernement.

Dans le cadre de ses activités annuelles dénommées « Journées atypiques JEC », la cellule SEG de la Jeunesse étudiante catholique (JEC) de l’université Norbert Zongo de Koudougou a organisé, les 27 et 28 juin 2026, une série d’activités placées sous le signe de la fraternité, de la foi et de l’engagement citoyen.

Koudougou : La JEC-SEG clôt ses journées atypiques par une plantation d’arbres (Le Faso)

Mondragon model inspires Spanish government

Spain just told its biggest companies to hand workers a seat at the table, writes Jessica Friday.

This new blueprint, backed by constitutional law, developed by an international panel of experts, was delivered to the government in February.

Here’s what it calls for:

Firms with 50 to 1,000 employees give workers a third of board seats.

Firms with over 1,000 employees give workers half.

Worker share ownership becomes mandatory, starting at 2%.

A sovereign wealth fund helps workers buy out owners when they retire, solving a succession crisis that’s quietly putting 600,000 jobs a year at risk.

Spain’s fight to end corporate rule (Connectioning)

Labor backs co-op sector growth

Webinar: Ivan Illich Centenary

2026 marks 100 years since the birth on 4 September 1926 of Ivan Illich, one of the 20th century’s most provocative critics of modern institutions, from schooling to industrial healthcare.

To mark the occasion, the Australian Cardijn Institute is hosting a webinar on Tuesday 15 September at 11am CET, with Dr Rose Calabretta, who met Illich as a student participating in his Graduate Course at Fordham University, New York, in 1970.

She will reflect with us on his thought and teaching based on her personal and professional experience as a sociologist and theologian.

FULL DETAILS

Webinar: Remembering Ivan Illich: 1926-2026 (Australian Cardijn Institute)

Le voir juger agir et la théologie asiatique: Père Charles Anthonyswamy

L’Eglise du Christ, n’est pas seulement constituée de bâtiments et de dogmes, mais de tout le peuple de Dieu, dans chaque lieu et dans chaque culture. Le père Charles Anthonyswamy est prêtre du diocèse de de l’archidiocèse de Madras-Mylapore dans le Tamil Nadu au Sud de l’Inde.

Il nous explique comment le patrimoine religieux et culturel de l’Asie modèle la façon dont les fidèles vivent leur foi aujourd’hui sur ce continent.

A partir de 27:00 minutes il explique le rôle du cercle pastorale ou le voir juger agir.

WATCH IN ENGLISH

To listen in English open the video in Google Chrome browser.

Enrique Angelelli, Carlos Murias, Gabriel Longueville & Wenceslao Pedernera: 50 years

The Argentine Diocese of La Rioja is commemorating the 50th anniversary of its martyred bishop, Blessed Enrique Angelelli, who was killed on 5 August 1976, and his companions, Franciscan Carlos Murias, French worker priest Gabriel Longueville and lay catechist Wenceslao Pedernera.

As a young priest, Enrique Angelelli helped found the JOC (YCW) and (JUC) (University YCS) in the Diocese of Cordoba while Fr Longueville was chaplain to the JAC (rural YCW movement) as did Wenceslao Pedernera.

Blessed Enrique Angelelli, 50 years

Le rôle de la JOC belge dans la Résistance

En 1942, après les défaites allemandes de Bir Hakeim et Stalingrad, le Reich doit mobiliser toujours davantage de main-d’œuvre afin de soutenir son effort de guerre. L’Allemagne doit envoyer toujours plus d’hommes sur le front mais manque de force de travail sur son territoire. Elle se tourne alors vers les territoires occupés. La Belgique occupée, avec sa main-d’œuvre industrielle particulièrement qualifiée, devient une source importante de recrutement.

À la fin de l’année 1942, environ 375.000 travailleurs belges travaillent en Allemagne. Une partie de la population, jusque-là encore largement attentiste, se retrouver directement impactée par la guerre. Certains décident de contourner ce service de travail obligatoire et de se cacher.

En Belgique, des structures apparaissent. Parmi elles, la Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne, qui dispose d’un réseau très dense à travers le pays. Le Front de l’indépendance, d’inspiration communiste, joue lui aussi un rôle central dans cette aide. Le gouvernement britannique commence alors ses opérations de financement de la Résistance.

ÉCOUTEZ LE PODCAST

Seconde Guerre mondiale : comment des collabos ont financé la Résistance en Belgique (RTBF)

Les mouvements de jeunesse au Québec

À partir des années 1930, les membres des mouvements de jeunesse catholique pullulaient au Québec. Catherine Foisy, professeure en sciences des religions, explique comment ces mouvements ont milité en faveur de la dignité humaine, ont dénoncé les injustices économiques et ont participé activement à la Révolution tranquille.

Les mouvements de jeunesse catholique ont leurs origines en Belgique. “Ça s’inscrit dans tout le courant de la doctrine sociale de l’Église, explique Catherine Foisy. Par leur foi religieuse, ils étaient appelés aussi à transformer le monde.”

ÉCOUTEZ LE PODCAST

Les mouvements de jeunesse catholique : la foi pour changer la société (Radio Canada)

YCW Philippines defends just wages

The Young Christian Workers of the Philippines (YCWP) expresses its deep concern over the petition seeking to restrain the implementation of NCR Wage Order No. 27, which grants an ₱85 wage increase to minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region.

As a movement of young workers formed through the See–Judge–Act method and inspired by the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, we believe that this case is not merely about legal procedures or economic policy. It concerns the dignity of workers, the welfare of their families, and the right of every person to live and work with hope.

Defending Just Wage: Petition (IYCW Aspac)

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July 2026: Slavery's technology - La Rioja martyrs

Stefan Gigacz — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 11:57:26 GMT

Friends

In this issue, we announce a pilgrimage to Rome and seminar program at the Gregorian University in May 2027 to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of Joseph Cardijn (logo above).

International YCS secretary general Roshan Lobo reflects on the future of the movement as it celebrates the 80th anniversary of its foundation in Paris in 1946.

IYCW Asia-Pacific share the struggles of young platform workers in Thailand while Richard Pütz warns of new forms of technology-inspired slavery.

From Peru, we have news of a synodal assembly of lay movements. Stefan Gigacz recalls the importance of representation of lay movements in the Church.

And he presents his reflections on the loss of property by the YCW (and other movements) over the decades.

Pope Leo echoes Cardijn calling on us to act like a leaven or yeast in the world.

We remember Blessed Enrique Angelelli and the martyrs of La Rioja.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Cardijn Pilgrimage and Lay Apostolate Jubilee 2027

The year 2027 marks a historic convergence of anniversaries that shaped the modern Church’s understanding of the lay vocation. Most notably, it marks the 60th anniversary of the passing of Cardinal Joseph Cardijn—founder of the Young Christian Workers (YCW/JOC) and a foundational voice of Vatican II—and the centenary of Specialised Catholic Action.

To honour this legacy and propel it into the future, the Australian Cardijn Institute and international partners propose a 4-day Pilgrimage, Lecture, and Conference Program in Rome from 1-5 May 2027.

Cardijn pilgrimage and lay apostolate jubilee 2027

Platform workers face long hours and limited protection

Amid limited access to decent employment and growing economic pressures, an increasing number of young people in Thailand are turning to digital platform work as a way to earn a living, IYCW Asia Pacific reports.

In the industrial area of Bo Win, Chon Buri Province, ride-hailing and food delivery services such as Grab have become an important source of income for workers who struggle to secure stable employment or need additional earnings. While platform work offers flexibility, it also presents significant challenges, including unstable income, long working hours, and limited access to social protection.

These findings are based on discussions with members of the Grab Bo Win Riders community conducted during an International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) Asia-Pacific (ASPAC) field visit to Thailand.

Long Hours and Limited Protection: The Reality of Platform Workers in Bo Win, Thailand (IYCW Aspac)

Peru lay movements meet in synodal assembly

The lay movements of the Archdiocese of Lima, Peru joyfully celebrated their Synodal Assembly as a sign of commitment and renewal toward a Church that listens, engages in dialogue, and discerns the challenges of our time, according to a local report.

The gathering brought together lay people, young people, senior citizens, pastoral agents, and priests, who reaffirmed their commitment to a diverse and synodal Church.

The day began with a presentation by Silvia Cáceres, advisor to the Episcopal Commission for Youth and Laity and general secretary of Caritas Lima as well as Pax Romana ICMICA vice-president for Latin America, who reflected on the role of the laity in the life of the Church and their commitment to social reality.

Lima lay movements in synodal assembly

Train our vision to discern good and act like yeast: Leo

In his Angelus message on Sunday 19 July, Pope Leo encouraged Christians to train our vision to discern good from evil, and to learn God’s way of acting like yeast in flour.

“The Kingdom of God spreads even amidst the weeds, requiring us to train our vision,” Pope Leo said, “so we can discern the good that sprouts despite the darkness of evil, and avoiding rash judgments.

“It comes like the smallest of seeds and thus calls for patience in accompanying these processes, so that we can recognize it in the little things of daily life and in the simplicity of ordinary existence. It grows invisibly like yeast in flour, and so we are freed from discouragement and invited to have faith even when it seems that God is absent.”

Train vision to discern good and act like yeast: Leo

IYCS celebrates 80 years

Today, we gather to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the International Coordination of IYCS, Roshan Lobo, secretary general of the movement noted. As we commemorate this remarkable milestone, we also look forward to another historic celebration, the Centenary of the Young Catholic Students Movement in 2028, marking 100 years since its foundation.

The dream and vision of the early student leaders gave birth to this movement. The establishment of the International YCS Centre for Documentation and Information in Paris, the International Secretariat, and later, in the early 1970s, the Regional Coordinations strengthened the movement across the world. These developments have formed generations of leaders rooted in faith, values, commitment, and service.

We are here to build the future of YCS (Cardijn Associates USA)

What slavery’s technology teaches us today

There is a temptation, when we study history, to place ourselves safely on the correct side of it, writes Richard Pütz. We read about slavery and think: I would never have done that. I would have known better. But history does not offer us that comfort so easily.

The dynamics that shaped American slavery — the way technology concentrated wealth while multiplying the vulnerability of the most powerless — are not buried in the past. They are running on our phones. They are embedded in the algorithm that rates your delivery driver. They are built into the supply chain that made the shirt on your back. That is the thesis of this reflection: the same patterns that enabled slavery still shape how technology distributes power today.

This is not an argument that today’s injustices are identical to slavery. They are not, and the distinction matters. But the pattern — the way technology is wielded to extract maximum value from the bodies of the most marginalized — demands our attention. That is the question this reflection asks us to face.

The machine and the margin: What slavery’s technology teaches us about today (Cardijn Reflections)

Remembering the martyrs of La Rioja

This year, 2026, the Church of La Rioja commemorates the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of YCW and YCS chaplain Blessed Enrique Angelelli, Carlos de Dios Murias, Gabriel Longueville, and Wenceslao Pedernera, four witnesses of the faith murdered in 1976 during the Argentine military dictatorship, Vatican News reports.

The diocese has declared this year a Diocesan Jubilee Year, under the motto “Easter in La Rioja, joy of the people,” as a time of grateful remembrance, prayer, pilgrimage, and renewal of Christian commitment.

In this context, Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja shared a reflection on the meaning of this commemoration and on the legacy that the martyrs continue to offer to the Church and society.

Remembering the martyrs of La Rioja

Serving, educating and representing lay people in the Church

“Educate, serve and represent” was one of Cardijn’s most famous trilogies. It was based on what theologians have labeled the “tria munera,” namely Christ’s “three roles” as prophet, king and priest, in which Christians share by virtue of their baptism.

He often drew on this trilogy to characterise the role of the YCW and young workers in educating, serving and representing their fellow young workers.

As the famous YCW pilgrimage to Rome in August 1957 by 32,000 young workers illustrated, this included the need for the movement to “represent” young workers not just outside but also within the Church.

Serving, educating and representing lay people in the Church (Synodal Reflections)

Lost properties of the YCW

Working for the Young Christian Workers (YCW) in Australia and internationally during the 1980s and 1990s gave me the opportunity to visit twenty countries across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, writes Stefan Gigacz.

In many of those places, YCW leaders and alumni told me the same troubling story: properties – offices, campsites, training centers – that had once belonged to the movement had simply disappeared from their hands.

Stefan Gigacz, Lost properties of the YCW (Cardijn Research)

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June 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:52:07 GMT

Friends,

In this issue, International YCW leaders address the ILO on the effects of AI on young workers and dialogue with labor researchers in the Philippines.

We present more resources on Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, including video from a research webinar on the subject featuring AI entrepreneur Premesh Chandran, Catholic Social Teaching expert, Br Bruce Duncan CSsR, and biblical scholar, Stuart Moran.

Natalia Núñez-Bargueño shares her research on the role of women in diplomacy, particularly Catholic women, during the 20th century while Sam Young shares the story of the emergence of the French YCW.

Stefan Gigacz argues for more synodal encounters between Church leaders and the leaders of international lay movements.

Finally, we recall that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of the YCS as an international movement.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

PS Following the terrible earthquakes that have struck Venezuela this week, we send our condolences to all those who have lost friends and family members. We pray that you will find the strength and resilience to rebuild your homes and communities. Credit to the Venezuelan Observatory for the Dignity of Work for the above image.

Effects of AI on young workers

The report reminds us that AI is not neutral, we are reminded that the impact it has will depend on the choices we make as societies. Technology is deepening the inequality and insecurity, but it should contribute to decent work and human dignity.

As a movement of young workers from all over the world, we are deeply concerned that many young people are already entering a labour market marked by precarity, informality and uncertainty. We see AI and digitalization worsening this situation while workers are excluded from decision-making.

ILO Conference 2026: IYCW’s Statement on the Effects of AI on Young Workers & their Lives (IYCW)

Video & podcast: AI in light of Magnifica Humanitas

The June ACI webinar focused on Pope Leo’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.

Malaysian entrepreneur, Premesh Chandran, co-founder of the online news site, Malaysiakini, and of Asia Mobiliti, a tech company working on transport solutions, and Catholic Social Teaching specialist, Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR, addressed a special webinar introducing Pope Leo’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.

WATCH THE VIDEO

EDITED VERSION

https://www.commonhome.tv/2026/06/24/ai-in-the-light-of-magnifica-humanitas/

PODCAST VERSION

https://www.commonhome.tv/podcasts/

Thanks to Matthew Howard and our partners at CommonHome.tv for the edited video and podcast.

IYCW ASPAC in labor research dialogue

On 8 June, 2026, the International YCW-ASPAC participated in a research dialogue organized by the Institute of Labor Studies (ILS) of the Department of Labor and Employment in Manila, Philippines.

The dialogue was part of a research project entitled “Workers’ Associations and Non-Traditional Labor Organizations: Exploring Avenues as Entry Points for Representation.” The study aims to understand how workers’ associations and other forms of worker organizations help workers represent their concerns and assert their rights.

During the discussion, the Institute of Labor Studies shared that union membership in the Philippines has continued to decline in recent years. This is mainly due to contractualization, outsourcing, and the growing number of workers in digital and platform-based jobs.

IYCW ASPAC participates in labor research dialogue on workers organizations (IYCW Aspac)

Women and diplomacy

On June 24, the United Nations marks the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. The occasion invites us to celebrate the slow but visible increase of women in foreign ministries, embassies, and international negotiations, writes Natalia Núñez-Bargueño. Yet it also prompts a deeper question: what counts as diplomacy, and who gets recognised as a diplomatic actor?

That question lies at the heart of the European funded research project TheoFem which explores the international engagements of Catholic laywomen in the decades following the Second World War.

Where do women feature in the history of diplomacy? (The Conversation)

History: God’s artisans

Life was hard for young workers in interwar France, writes Sam Young. Most left school at fourteen, beginning a life of exhausting, insecure and poorly paid industrial labour.

Things weren’t much better at home: working-class housing was overcrowded, public services were scarce, and alcohol abuse was rife. Poverty bred disaffection, and disaffection bred radicalism. In 1925, an insurgent Communist Party performed startlingly well in municipal elections, surrounding Paris with a ‘red belt’ of industrialised suburbs. To many political observers, social upheaval seemed inevitable.

To the Catholic Church, this was an unmissable opportunity. Catholicism had long been on the defensive in France, its power chipped away by secular republican governments. In 1905, the Church was formally split from the state, triggering a dramatic loss of funding and influence.

The renewal of religious faith during the First World War, however, allowed the Church to rebuild its standing in society, starting with the increasingly desperate working classes. In 1925, a Belgian priest named Joseph Cardijn established the Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne (JOC, or Young Christian Workers), a movement aimed at converting working-class men and women aged fourteen to twenty-five.

Sam Young, God’s artisans (History Workshop)

Shaking hands with the pope

On Thursday 21 May 2026, Pope Leo addressed 200 leaders of international Catholic lay movements, associations and communities in the Vatican’s Synod Hall, writes Stefan Gigacz. It was an excellent speech in which he addressed issues of governance that affect lay organisations.

What struck me, however, was the contrast between photographs of this event and so many photos of the Synod on Synodality that took place at the Vatican only a couple of years ago.

Shaking hands with the pope

IYCS celebrates 80 years

https://www.facebook.com/IYCSJECI/posts/pfbid02Q8nDw6XvUem8LLYFor7kcGr86MBAWhUgaV4uEgE8kUP6HE6UCGXYcPrmKatgXS2il

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May 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:40:21 GMT

Welcome to our May newsletter in which we feature Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.

Significantly, he chose to sign the document on 15 May, the anniversary of his predecessor Pope Leo XIII’s landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which so influenced Cardijn and the first generation of Specialised Catholic Action and lay apostolate leaders.

In this spirit, Stefan Gigacz recalls Cardijn’s own reflections on the importance of Catholic Social Doctrine.

We also highlight the International YCW’s statement on May Day, calling for attention to the issues facing so many young workers today while in the above photo YCW leaders from Japan and the Philippines held an exchange earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Belgian researcher Sam Kuijken has successfully defended the first doctoral thesis that deals with the rise of the International YCW from 1945-57.

And we report that Palestine YCS chaplain, Fr Louis Salman, a Jordanian priest, has been expelled from Israel, and express our solidarity with him.

Sadly, we note also the death of Polish bishop, Mgr Jozef Michalik, who played a key role in the founding of World Youth Day.

We conclude with a Pentecost Gospel reflection by Paul Lentern and a series of social media posts in which we remember a young YCW leader from Haiti tragically killed by in a robbery.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Humanitas Magnifica: Pope Leo’s new encyclical

On 25 May 2026, Pope Leo released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addressing issues facing the world “in the time of artificial intelligence.”

“Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together,” he wrote, warning of the risks of untamed AI.

“Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed” in order to serve humanity Pope Leo wrote, contrasting the positive benefits AI can bring with the dangers it also entails.

READ AND STUDY THE ENCYCLICAL

Magnifica Humanitas (Australian Cardijn Institute website)

May Day: Young people raise their voices

“On this May 1st, International Workers’ Day, we, the young people of the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW/JOCI), raise our voices together across the world,” an IYCW statement says.

We speak from our concrete realities — from factories and homes, from streets and digital platforms, from rural communities and urban neighbourhoods. We are part of a living history of more than a century of struggle, where generations of young workers have organized not only to defend the dignity of work, but to transform society through solidarity, collective action, and hope.

Today, we face a global system that continues to place profit before people. Wars, economic instability, forced migration, and the climate crisis are not abstract issues — they are daily realities shaping our lives. Millions of young people are trapped in unemployment, informal work, and exploitation.

Young Workers Rise: A Global Call for Dignity, Justice, and Dignified Work (IYCW)

Palestine YCS chaplain expelled by Israel

Father Louis Salman, a Jordanian priest who served as parish priest in Beit Sahour, a majority Palestinian Christian town near Bethlehem and was also chaplain for the Palestinian Christian youth movement, including the Young Catholic Students (YCS), has been forced to leave the country, Independent Catholic News reports.

Following an unusually long and intensive security interrogation by Israeli authorities, Israel refused to renew his visa and ordered him to leave before 11 May.

In a poignant farewell, Father Louis presided over his final Mass in Beit Sahour - the ‘Shepherd’s Field’ - on Sunday.

Father Louis is considered one of the most influential figures among Palestinian Christian youth.

Israel forces much-loved Catholic priest to leave Palestine (Independent Catholic News)

Louis Salman (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)

PhD: The International YCW and the rise of International Catholic Organizations

Sam Kuijken’s dissertation at KU Leuven reconstructs the history of Catholic internationalism through one of its most dynamic and contentious embodiments: the Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne internationale.

It builds on existing scholarship while challenging prevailing assumptions about the motivations, geography, and chronology of Catholic international engagement. Rather than treating Catholic internationalism as a derivative of anti‑communism or Cold War politics, the study uses it as a lens to reassess these familiar narratives.

The dissertation also advances a deliberately decentered approach, counterbalancing the European focus of institutional histories by integrating Asian, African, and Latin American experiences.

Crafting Catholic Internationalism: The Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne and the Rise of International Catholic Organizations (1920-1960) (KU Leuven, Research)

PHOTO

Natalia Núñez-Bargueño (Facebook)

Cardijn and Catholic Social Doctrine

As he often recalled, Cardijn’s first encounter with what we now call Catholic Social Teaching came when, as a nine year old boy, he was asked by his illiterate father to read him Pope Leo XIII’s foundational 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, writes Stefan Gigacz.

When, after being ordained in 1906, he was finally posted to the parish of Notre Dame at Laeken in 1912, Cardijn encouraged the study of Catholic Social Teaching by leaders from the very beginning.

Cardijn and Catholic Social Doctrine (Cardijn Research)

Formation in Catholic Social Doctrine (Cardijn Research)

Jozef Michalik, architect of World Youth Day

As the first head of the Youth Section of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) during the mid-1980s, Jozef Michalik, the future archbishop of Przemsyl in south-western Poland, became one of the main architects of the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day events, writes Stefan Gigacz.

Archbishop Michalik, who died on 3 May 2026, is best known in recent times for his significant role in the Polish Catholic Church as the vice-president and president of that country’s Bishops Conference.

Jozef Michalik, architect of World Youth Day (Cardijn Research)

Gospel: Fear and joy

The appearance of the risen Jesus among them is a transformative moment for the disciples. The text tells us that they ‘were filled with joy’ (Jn 20:20). Immediately after, following his second greeting of peace, Jesus bestows the Spirit on the disciples and commissions them with the gift of forgiveness.

The transformation from a state of fear to one of joy and from a disposition of paralysis to one of mission are profound indicators of the Spirit at work in the lives of the disciples. It is a very pertinent reminder, to today’s disciples, on this Feast of Pentecost, that the Holy Spirit can transform human experience from fear to joy and can impel individuals and communities to act, in the name of God’s Kingdom.

Gospel Enquiry: Fear and Joy (Cardijn Reflections)

Social media

Remembering Jidelson Tidé, JOC Haiti, killed in a robbery

JOC France presents the review of life

Burundi JOC celebrate Feast of St Joseph the Worker

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April 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:22:21 GMT

Friends

Welcome to our April edition in which we hear Pope Leo’s strong condemnation of imperialism.

We share a story from the Philippines YCW of their work with young women while the International YCS is launching an ecological project in Tanzania.

The Quebec JOC film Voir Juger Agir is continuing to attract attention in Canada.

We look ahead at what Pope Leo’s forthcoming encyclical on artificial intelligence might say.

We note that the YCS will also be celebrating its centenary in 2028 while Stefan Gigacz reminds us of the least read document from the Second Vatican Council, the Decree on Lay Apostolate, the one to which Cardijn contributed most directly.

We remember Fr Henri Caffarel, the French JOC chaplain, who has been declared Venerable.

And we share a new website of Cardijn Resources plus this week’s Gospel Reflection.

The Centre Cardijn International Team

Cross disrupts ‘imperialist occupation of world’: Pope Leo

The Cross disrupts “imperialist occupation of the world from within,” Pope Leo said in a pointed comment during his homily for the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday 2 April 2026.

“The violence that until now has been the law is unmasked,” he added. “The poor, imprisoned, rejected Messiah descends into the darkness of death, yet in so doing he brings a new creation to light.”

Cross disrupts ‘imperialist occupation of world’: Pope Leo

Women Rise Together in Community Empowerment Activity On 29 March, 2026, a group of young women and young mothers gathered in Barangay 6, Mercedes, Camarines Norte, Philippines, for a meaningful Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality activity organized by the Philippine Young Christian Workers (PYCW).

The event brought together 25 participants with a shared goal of strengthening awareness, dignity, and unity among women in the community.

Through open discussions, participants shared real-life challenges they face—such as financial struggles due to insufficient family income, difficulties in raising children, and experiences of bullying that affect confidence and self-worth. These realities highlighted the need for stronger support systems and equal opportunities for women.

United Women, Empowered Futures: Advancing Gender Equality in the Community (IYCW Aspac)

IYCS partners with SJS EOA Farm Kilimanjaro Tanzania

The International Young Catholic Students IYCS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with St Joseph Sustainable SJS Ecological Organic Agriculture EOA Farm Kilimanjaro Tanzania to promote ecological awareness and sustainable development among young people.

The agreement was represented by Roshan Melwyn Lobo Secretary General of IYCS and Fr Alwyn D Souza Director of SJS EOA Farm.

Inspired by Laudato Si, this partnership encourages young people to embrace care for creation by engaging in sustainable agriculture and agripreneurship while building a better future

SOURCE

IYCS-JECI (Facebook)

Changer les choses avec la méthode voir-juger-agir

What will Pope Leo’s expected encyclical say?

Commentators are expecting Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, probably on artificial intelligence, in the coming weeks, perhaps on 15 May, the anniversary of his predecessor Leo XIII’s landmark 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum.

But how will he address the issue, asks Sally Scholz at Church Life Journal. “And what sort of message will he give to the world?”

“Since the mid-twentieth century, social encyclicals have employed a framing mechanism that often functions as a mantra among Catholics seeking to put CST into action: See, Judge, Act,” Scholz observes.

What will Pope Leo’s expected encyclical say? (See Judge Act)

YCS-JEC Centenary 1928-2028

On Thursday 17 May 1928, which was Ascension Day that year, leaders of the emerging Jeunesse Estudiantine Catholique (JEC) met to adopt their draft statutes. The same month, the Belgian bishops appointed Fr André Mignolet as national chaplain.

From 3-5 September that year, the new JEC held its first national study day at Bellevue College in the city of Dinant. At the same time, the Belgian bishops formally recognised the JEC and mandated it as an official Catholic Action movement.

The following year in 1929, a parallel movement for girls was launched called the Jeunesse Estudiantine Catholique Féminine or JECF – the Girls YCS.

YCS-JEC History (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Apostolicam Actuositatem: Vatican II’s least read document

The final reports from the various Synodal Study Groups have now started to appear. So perhaps it’s time to look again at various issues that have been raised.

Thus, reading the final report of the Study Group on “To hear the cry of the poor and the earth,” I was struck – and heartened – to see the number of references – 92, in fact – to the need for “formation,” a theme that has recurred throughout the whole process of the Synod on Synodality as well as during the Australian Plenary Council.

Apostolicam Actuositatem: Vatican II’s least read document (Synodal Reflections)

Henri Caffarel’s new spirituality of marriage

Pope Leo has approved a decree declaring venerable Henri Caffarel, a French YCW chaplain, who later founded the Teams of Our Lady movement, writes Stefan Gigacz.

During an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, on 23 March 2026, Pope Leo authorised the promulgation of a decree recognising “the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Henri Caffarel, diocesan priest, founder of the ‘Equipes Notre Dame’ (Teams of Our Lady) and the ‘Fraternité Notre-Dame de la Résurrection’ (Our Lady of the Resurrection Fraternity),” Vatican News reports.

He also began his priestly ministry as a YCW chaplain.

Venerable Henri Caffarel, YCW chaplain and founder of the Teams of Our Lady (Cardijn Research)

YCW chaplain Henri Caffarel declared venerable

Website: Cardijn study guide

Cardijn Resources is a newly revamped website presenting several key Cardijn resources for leaders animators of YCW-inspired groups.

But if there’s one document above all to read, it’s surely his famous 1935 Three Truths article, which concisely summarises the whole Cardijn methodology under the headings of Truths of Faith, Experience and Pastoral Method.

The site also includes study guides for those who wish to go deeper.

Cardijn Resources

Gospel: Life to the Full

The references to shepherds and sheep in this week’s Sunday text is a continuation of a long used metaphor among the people of Israel that they are God’s flock and, most famously expressed in Psalm 23, that God is their shepherd. It was also common, in the Hebrew scriptures, for those exercising leadership in the community to be referred to as shepherds.

The burden of the shepherd’s responsibility is immense as the very life of the sheep is in their hands. The vitriol expressed towards the ‘false’ shepherds (thieves, brigands, strangers) is probably a carry-over from the conflict of the previous chapter where the Pharisees sought to undermine the miracle (sign) of the man whose sight had been restored.

This conflict is an important backdrop to this text as is contrasts the liberating, life giving action of Jesus with the restrictive, oppressive interjection of the Pharisees. Jesus’ has come so that humanity might live ‘life to the full’, an image presented in the metaphor of the sheep finding certain pasture and restated in the famous final verse of this text. ‘I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’ (John 10:10).

Gospel Enquiry: Life to the Full (Cardijn Reflections)

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March 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:59:07 GMT

Friends

This month we begin with Pope Leo’s appeal for a ceasefire in the Middle East and his condemnation of aerial bombing.

We have a story on the work of former Slovak YCW leader Marta Košíková plus another story on Fr Joseph Wresinski, the former French JOC leader who founded ATD Quart Monde.

We share the news that French JOC chaplain Henri Caffarel, who later founded the Equipes de Notre Dame (Teams of Our Lady), has been declared venerable by Pope Leo, who has also called a special meeting to discuss families in October.

We have a story on the new film documentary on the history of the Quebec JOC as well as a Gospel reflection on the life of St Oscar Romero.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that our Lenten Compassion fundraising appeal for Baby Eliana has been successful. We will keep you posted on the progress of her treatment.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Ban aerial bombing: Pope Leo

“Airplanes should always be carriers of peace, never of war!” Pope Leo has said. “No one should be afraid that threats of death and destruction might come from the sky.”

Pope Leo recalled the aerial bombardments of the World Wars and other conflicts, which still continue today.

“After the tragic experiences of the twentieth century, aerial bombings should have been banned forever!” he said. “Instead, they still exist, and technological development, positive in itself, is being placed at the service of war. This is not progress; it is regression!”

Pope Leo XIV: Planes should bring peace, not war and destruction (Vatican News)

Pope Leo appeals for peace

Marta Košíková carries on legacy of Fr Anton Srholec

The Resota resocialization community was founded in 1991 by Salesian and Roman Catholic priest Anton Srholec (†86). A man who went through communist prisons and uranium mines to decide to serve the most vulnerable after the revolution. Ten years after his death, his legacy is still alive in a house on the outskirts of Bratislava.

He called his community a “strange order” with a smile . It was made up of men tested by life. He loved them. And they loved him. For many years he kept a chronicle about them. And when they died, he added an entry to it, which remained perhaps the only memory of the men whose existence no one else missed.

Today, the facility is run by Srholc’s niece, former Slovak YCW leader, Marta Bariak Košíková.

Bol som v pekle! Toto je nebo s anjelmi, hovorí zlomený muž o Srholcovom útulku Resoty (I was in hell! This is heaven with angels, says broken man about Srholc’s shelter Resota) (Plus7DNI)

L’histoire de la JOC au Québec

Ils s’appellent Ghislaine Patry, Yvon Lemay, Marie-Claire Nadeau... Ils avaient 15, 17, parfois 18 ans lorsqu’ils ont franchi les portes d’un sous-sol d’église pour rejoindre la Jeunesse ouvrière catholique (JOC). Ce qu’ils y ont trouvé n’était pas seulement un lieu de rassemblement, mais une école de vie, de conscience et d’action.

Le documentaire Voir – Juger – Agir : L’histoire de la JOC au Québec, réalisé par Annie Deniel et produit par André Vanasse de la coopérative Funambules Médias, redonne voix à cette génération de jeunes travailleurs et travailleuses qui ont contribué, dans l’ombre, à transformer le Québec.

Voir, juger, agir : L’histoire de la JOC au Québec (L’Aut’journal)

Era of change affects families: Pope Leo

“Our era is marked by rapid changes which make it necessary, even more than ten years ago, to give particular pastoral attention to families,” Pope Leo observed, announcing a meeting of presidents the world’s bishops conferences to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia.

“There are, in fact, places and circumstances in which the Church “can become the salt of the earth” only through the lay faithful and, in particular, through families,” he added. “For this reason, the Church’s commitment in this area must be renewed and deepened, so that those whom the Lord calls to marriage and family life can, in Christ, fully live out their conjugal love, and that young people may feel attracted, within the Church, to the beauty of the vocation to marriage.”

Pope Leo’s own parents were active members of the Christian Family Movement in Chicago.

Tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia (Vatican)

Christian Family Movement

Families will shape the Church’s future

Pope Leo XIV’s framing for October 2026 is striking. He notes that in many places, “the Church can become the salt of the earth only through the lay faithful and, in particular, through families,” writes Richard Pütz That is not a throw-away line. It is an acknowledgment that institutional structures and clergy alone cannot reach where families live. The future of the Church’s mission depends on forming laypeople who know how to carry it out.

Amoris Laetitia called for new forms of “missionary creativity.” It urged the Church to move beyond simply repeating doctrine and to actively strengthen marital love “under the impulse of grace.” Cardijn’s See–Judge–Act offers a tested, grassroots method for doing that. CFM provides over eighty years of practical experience using this method with real couples in real circumstances.

If the summit is to be more than bishops talking about families, it needs families talking to bishops. That means the work starts locally, now.

ACT NOW

Kitchen Tables and Cathedrals: How Ordinary Families Could Shape the Church’s Future at the 2026 Bishops Summit (Cardijn Reflections)

Venerable Henri Caffarel, YCW chaplain and Teams of Our Lady founder

Pope Leo has approved a decree declaring venerable Henri Caffarel, a French YCW chaplain, who later founded the Teams of Our Lady movement.

Venerable Henri Caffarel, YCW chaplain and founder of the Teams of Our Lady (Cardijn Research)

Joseph Wresinski, ancien jociste et fondateur d’ATD Quart Monde

L’enfance de Joseph Wresinski, fondateur d’ATD Quart Monde, se déroule dans le quartier de la Doutre, à Angers, dans des conditions très précaires. Sa famille d’origine polonaise et espagnole vit dans une grande pauvreté.

Très tôt confronté aux difficultés matérielles et aux humiliations liées à la misère, Joseph Wresinski restera marqué toute sa vie par cette expérience.

Sa vocation sacerdotale se révèle progressivement au contact de l’Église. Enfant, il fréquente les sœurs du Bon Pasteur à Angers et commence à servir la messe dans leur chapelle. Plus tard, sa rencontre avec la Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne (JOC) confirme son désir de devenir prêtre.

Joseph Wresinski, un prêtre angevin qui fit de la lutte contre la misère un combat spirituel (RCF)

Cardijn: Re-imagining the movement

Sometimes you hear people say: “The YCW is outdated, it’s had its day.” Others go further and say: “The YCW has gone bankrupt,” wrote Cardijn in 1950.

It’s only when you constantly rethink the movement, its purpose, its raison d’être, that you see it must continually surpass itself, must always renew itself in order to remain the YCW, the movement that responds to the needs, problems, and difficulties of young workers today.

We must rethink the very essence of the movement, its essential reason for being. And this is what I ask you to do: to simply, openly, and frankly rethink some essential, fundamental aspects of the movement.

The YCW, a movement that constantly needs to be re-imagined (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Gospel: Our responsibility to see clearly

In the Gospel of March 24, Jesus is speaking to people who are questioning him, pushing back on him, not sure they believe him, writes Fr Chris Malano. And he says to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man… then you will realize…” He is speaking to the very people in front of him: people who are listening, but not recognizing who he is. The truth is already there: that no authority can require what is against God’s law, and that conscience does not disappear when orders are given. But the people listening to him do not recognize it.

And that is not only about them. It is about us, too.

On March 23, 1980, in a homily at the Cathedral in San Salvador, the day before he was killed, Archbishop Oscar Romero spoke to soldiers in his country. He said:

“ No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin.”¹

The responsibility to see clearly: Memorial of Saint Oscar Romero (Bridging our worlds)

Social Media

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February 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:51:11 GMT

Friends,

As Lent begins we commence this issue with an urgent call for compassion and solidarity to assist Eliana Kira, the daughter of former Philippines YCW national president, Jho Letada, and her husband, Marwin. Eliana needs hole in the heart surgery that is becoming urgent. This is the first time we’ve launched an appeal like this and we look forward to your generous support.

In Brussels, the International YCW has issued a statement warning against the rise of the right.

From Peru, we have a note recalling how, as a bishop in Peru, Robert Prevost now Pope Leo worked to reconcile and integrate the lay (Cardijn-inspired) movements into the work of his diocese. Meanwhile, in Colombia, the grave of the revolutionary priest, Camilo Torres has finally been identified.

In Rome, Cardinal Kevin Farrell from the Dicastery for Laity has called for “whole of life” formation. We present a new website that compiles Cardijn’s own autobiographical notes. And finally, Paul Lentern shares a Lenten Gospel reflection.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Resisting the rise of the far right

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) stands alarmed by the global rise of far-right ideologies. These movements threaten democracy, attack the rights of marginalized communities, and undermine decades of hard-won social progress.

In response, the IYCW reaffirms its commitment to solidarity, justice, and internationalism. We call on governments and institutions to protect social rights, defend vulnerable groups, regulate digital platforms, and uphold democratic space for social movements. At the same time, we commit ourselves to grassroots organizing, political education, international advocacy, and building alliances to resist this threat.

Far-right ideologies do not go away on their own. They must be confronted—through collective awareness, organized resistance, and the unwavering belief that a just and equal world is possible.

Resisting the Rise of the Far Right: A Perspective from the International Young Christian Workers’ Movement (IYCW)

Let’s open our hearts for Eliana Kira

Here is a really tough situation that we’ve learnt about recently, namely the medical problems facing Eliana Kira, the tiny daughter of Jho Letada, a former full time worker and national president of the Philippines YCW, and her husband, Marwin, also a YCW leader.

In short, Eliana has a hole in the heart and needs an urgent operation as the hole is already enlarging. Aged eleven months, she weighs only 4.8kg, which places her below the 3% mark for babies her age, another major concern.

The cost for surgery comes to up to €15,000, which is completely beyond the family’s means.

As Lent begins, we are asking for your support for Eliana and her family. Please give generously.

DONATION LINKS

EUR: https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-eur

USD: https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-usd

MORE DETAILS

Ecoutez la réalisatrice du documentaire Voir Juger Agir

Annie Desrochers, qui anime l’émission Le 15-18 sur Radio Canada, parle avec Annie Deniel, la réalisatrice du film sur la JOC du Québec, Voir Juger Agir.

ECOUTEZ

Le film Voir – Juger – Agir : L’histoire de la JOC au Québec : Annie Deniel (Radio Canada)

Body of Camilo Torres identified

The identification of the remains of guerrilla priest Camilo Torres Restrepo , sixty years after his death, closes one of the most symbolic mysteries of the Colombian conflict and opens a new chapter in the country's historical memory. The discovery, confirmed by the Search Unit for Missing Persons (UBPD) and a team of forensic anthropologists, puts an end to decades of contradictory accounts and institutional silence regarding the whereabouts of the priest who embodied the union between Christian faith and revolution.

Hallado el cuerpo del cura guerrillero Camilo Torres, icono de la izquierda colombiana (Religion Digital)

As bishop, Pope Leo reconciled lay movements with his diocese

As bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Robert Prevost, the future Pope Leo XIII, reconciled the diocese with lay movements, which had become estranged under previous bishops, writes Justin McLellan.

Several lay-led organisations had emerged outside formal church structures, carrying out education, youth formation, family support and nutrition programs in poor neighborhoods across the region, while remaining outside of the diocese and parish structures.

However, in his first year as bishop, Prevost accepted an invitation to meet with lay movements active in Chiclayo. Following that initial contact, the Chiclayo Diocese recognised several lay-led organizations under Prevost’s direction, signing agreements to facilitate their collaboration.

Leo reconciled lay movements & his Peruvian diocese

Whole of life formation needed: Cardinal Farrell

Opening the third plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Cardinal Kevin Farrell emphasised the need for “basic formation” in the Christian life among lay people. The assembly took place at the Jesuit General Curia in Rome from 4-6 February 2026.

Noting what he characterised as “the alarming increase in the number of people who do not know Jesus Christ at all,” Cardinal Farrell called for a “formation of the heart”, which involves the whole life: at the origin of Christian life there is an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ, who first changes the heart, then our mindset, and eventually transforms daily conduct and all of life.

Whole of life formation needed: Cardinal Farrell (Vatican News)

Cardijn’s life: In his own words

Strictly speaking, YCW founder Joseph Cardijn never wrote an autobiography. At least not in the form of a complete book. Nevertheless, he often told the story of his life in various talks and speeches around the world.

Towards the end of his life, he also wrote a series of notes and gave several interviews describing various incidents in his life and the development of his work, which are compiled in this new website.

VISIT THE WEBSITE

Joseph Cardijn – My life (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Gospel: Jesus tempted in the wildnerness

With the commemoration of Ash Wednesday a few days ago, the liturgy now moves to the first of the Sundays of Lent, leading to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, writes Paul Lentern. The Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent (22 February) shares the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.

The fast of forty days and forty nights is an echo of the forty years that the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, prior to entering the promised land. An echo highlighting the author’s theme of Jesus as the new Moses.

The forty days of the text is also a foreshadowing, for Christians, of the six weeks of Lent where fasting, abstinence and almsgiving are central themes.

Jesus tempted in the wilderness (Cardijn Reflections)

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Lenten campaign: Baby Eliana Kira

Stefan Gigacz — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:32:18 GMT

Friends,

Here is a really tough situation that we’ve learnt about recently, namely the medical problems facing Eliana Kira, the 11 month old daughter of Jho Letada, a former full time worker and national president of the Philippines YCW, and her husband, Marwin, also a YCW leader.

In short, Eliana has a hole in the heart and other related ailments and needs an urgent operation as the hole is already enlarging. Aged eleven months, she weighs only 4.8kg, which places her below the 3% mark for babies her age, evidently another major concern.

The cost for heart in hole surgery in Filipino pesos is around 800,000 to one million pesos which is roughly between $19,500 and $25000 in AUD.

This is completely beyond the family’s means.

A group of former YCWs, including former international leaders Evelyn Victorino Lumiwan and Baltazar “Boy” Pascual are assisting the family and working on local fundraising. See their letter of support below.

But the financial cost of an operation like this is also way beyond their local fundraising capacity.

This is why we’re asking you to help as generously and as quickly as you can.

We all know it shouldn’t be like this and in Australia it wouldn’t be.

But right now we have no time to waste.

Let’s make this happen for Lent.

Others are also starting to get organised in Europe and elsewhere.

DONATION LINKS – PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY

EURO

https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-eur

or if you are in Europe, make a bank transfer directly to the International Cardijn Association with reference Eliana:

Name: Association Internationale Cardijn

IBAN: BE92777596156723

Swift: GKCCBEBB

USD

https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-usd

AUD

https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/eliana

Statement of Support for Eliana Ayucocho’s Fundraising Campaign

Jhoan Letada Ayucocho is a young mother, parent, and a strong militant Leader of the Philippine Young Christian Workers. She was the former YCW President and had served and helped the young workers organize them for their just and equal rights. We feel what they felt when their 10-month-old baby, so young and already fighting a battle no baby should ever face. Eliana has Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) — specifically a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).

With broken but hopeful hearts, we support this campaign to raise funds for their daughter, Baby Eliana Kira Letada Ayucocho. We are currently supporting Elliana, but not enough. If we could help them save their baby, any amount, big or small, will be a great help for the baby’s open-heart surgery in Manila. We also humbly ask for your prayers and support by sharing their daughter’s story and her plight. Thank you, and God bless Eliana!

AdultYCW PHILIPPINES

Evelyn Victorino Lumiwan

Liberato Lumiwan

Baltazar Pascual Jr.

Vilma Tohay Paghubasan

Marcelino Ambalneg

Ricardo Carpeso

Luningning Halili

Martha Jurado

Cora Demate

Alladin Diega

Rico Pascua

Carmen Pascua

Nita Torres

Maria Elsa Getigan

Rev Fr. Guido Everaert

Virgie Villanueva

Rebecca Sayson

Message from Jho Letada

January 2026

Stefan Gigacz — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 07:29:20 GMT

Friends,

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2026.

We begin with the disturbing story of US intervention in Venezuela and share the response of the Venezuelan YCW.

In this context, it’s significant that Pope Leo has declared 2026 to be the Year of St Francis, the peacemaker. Pope Leo has also announced an important series of weekly talks on the teaching of Vatican II, where Cardijn and his colleagues played such an important role.

Stefan Gigacz reminds us of the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of Argentinian jocist chaplain Blessed Enrique Angelelli in 1976, the 140th anniversary of the birht of Cardijn’s early collaborator Victoire Cappe (above) and the 75th anniversary of the First World Congress on Lay Apostolate in 1951, where Cardijn played such a vital role.

We share a reflection on the ongoing relevance of liberation theologian and YCS chaplain, Fr Gustavo Gutierrez and a reflection by former IYCW leader, Ezequiel Ávila Curiel, reminds us of the struggles that Cardijn also faced.

And we have the trailer for the forthcoming documentary on the history of the YCW in Quebec.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

IYCW condemns US intervention in Venezuela

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) has released a statement strongly condemning “the military aggression, foreign intervention, and the reported kidnapping of the Head of the state of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, carried out by the government of the United States of America on 3 January 2026.”

“These actions constitute a grave violation of international law and of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and the right of peoples to self-determination,” the statement says.

“As a global movement of young workers inspired by Christian values and committed to justice, peace, and human dignity, IYCW categorically rejects militarism, imperialism, political abductions, and foreign intervention that harm civilian populations or violate the right of peoples to self-determination.

“We affirm that conflicts between nations must be resolved through peaceful means—dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law.”

IYCW Statement Condemning Military Aggression of United States of America and Expressing Solidarity with Venezuelan people (IYCW)

Leo proclaims Year of Francis

Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee Year coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree published by the Franciscan Friars Jan. 10, declaring a yearlong celebration in honor of the Poverello, or the Little Poor One.

According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”

Pope sets Jubilee to mark 800th year since St. Francis’ death; saint’s body to be displayed (OSV News)

Pope Leo begins catechesis on Vatican II

Pope Leo has launched a new series of weekly catecheses “dedicated to the Second Vatican Council and to reflecting on its documents.”

“The work of the Council Fathers paved the way for a new ecclesial season, placing at its center the mystery of salvation and the unity between God and his people,” he nonted. “At the same time, it opened the Church to seek dialogue with the people of good will for a more just and fraternal world.

“We see that the documents have lost none of their relevance and are pertinent to the demands and challenges of today. Closely studying the Council documents will help us to be attentive interpreters of the signs of the times, and to proclaim the Gospel to all.

“As we make our journey of rediscovering the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, let us welcome the past with its rich tradition; let us consider the present with its joys and sorrows; and let’s look towards the future with an urgent appeal for greater justice, love and peace.”

General Audience, 7 January 2026 (Vatican)

General Audience, 14 January 2026 (Vatican)

2026 anniversaries

Once again, I’m beginning the new year with a short overview of anniversaries connected with Cardijn and the various jocist-inspired movements, writes Stefan Gigacz. In particular, we remember the martyred Blessed Enrique Angelelli and his companions, who died fifty years ago this year in 1976.

Also important is the 75th anniversary of the First World Congress on Lay Apostolate held in Rome in October 1951 with Cardijn as one of the keynote speakers.

Sadly, we note that this year will mark the fortieth anniversary of the division at international level of the YCW in 1986.

2026 anniversaries (Cardijn Research)

What would Gustavo Gutierrez tell us today?

When Dominican Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez, the late beloved “father” of Latin American liberation theology, wrote in We Drink From Our Own Wells that “poverty means death,” he was not writing metaphorically. His lifework powerfully conveyed that any spirituality must be communal, contextual and connected to the material conditions of the people one is in community with.

In the same text, Gutiérrez further clarifies his understanding of poverty:

It means death due to hunger and sickness, or to the repressive methods used by those who see their privileged positions being endangered by any effort to liberate the oppressed. It means physical death, to which is added cultural death, inasmuch as those in power seek to do away with everything that gives unity and strength to the dispossessed of the world.

Gutiérrez clearly communicates the Gospel call for the church to care for the poor, and compels us to all join in these efforts. But I must read Gutiérrez with a different lens than those experiencing poverty in Peru, his original audience. Rather, it is essential for myself — and all of us living in the Global North — to understand his theology within our context.

Take off your headphones: What would Gustavo Gutiérrez tell us today? (National Catholic Reporter)

Voir-juger-agir: L’histoire de la JOC au Québec

The official trailer for the film “Voir-juger-agir: L’histoire de la JOC au Québec.”

To be released in cinemas across Quebec on 3 April 2026.

Cien años de la Juventud Obrera Cristiana

Former IYCW leader, Ezequiel Ávila Curiel, shares his reflections for the centenary of the YCW.

“You will need to be strong lay people” he begins, quoting Cardijn. “You must seek alliances to continue your mission in the working-class environment of young people and adults. It will be necessary to maintain the struggle to preserve in the Church what we have painstakingly built and organized, which has allowed thousands of YCW activists throughout the world to become skilled leaders in unions, political parties, development associations, and especially in the renewal of our Church. I know well that this will be a difficult battle, but you must carry it out in my place. Only you, the laity, can win it. I will be with you from above… Pray for me.”

This was Cardijn’s will Ezequiel writes. So, what is being celebrated on the centenary of the YCW?

The warnings weren’t fabricated; the cardinal knew what he was getting into. Cardijn had experienced firsthand the stark differences in social conditions of existence: the difference between the social conditions of his comrades, the primary school children who attended the same school with him, and then between his own as a priest and those of his comrades in the working world.

Cardijn: Re-imagining the movement

The title of this lesson is relevant to the whole Study Week, to each lesson, discussion and every exercise, as well as to all publications and all activities of the YCW, said Cardijn in 1947. All these aspects must assist us to constantly “re-imagine” the movement, to rethink it for each of ourselves and all together.

This is indeed a fundamental, essential, and fundamental attitude for every person, every priest, and especially for every leader of the movement. Even more than everyone else, the priest must constantly rethink his life, his ideal, and his apostolate. Without such reflection or meditation, which compels us to return to the sources, to synthesise, to review the goal and the means, there is no way to develop one’s personality and perfect one’s priestly apostolate.

It is the only way to constantly renew ourselves, to constantly surpass ourselves, to prevent ageing, routine, deviation, and their fatal consequence, namely discouragement if not scepticism.

Joseph Cardijn, The YCW, a movement that always needs be re-imagined! (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

News Briefs and Social Media

Togo and Benin YCS celebrate 70th anniversaries

Blessed Rutilio Grande anniversary 22 January

Belgian YCW World War II peace prayer card

@auscardinst Belgian Girls YCW (JOC) Peace postcard 1940s. #peace #paix #YCW #JOC #catholic

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December 2025

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:23:03 GMT

Friends

Welcome to our Christmas edition!

This issue we begin sadly with the news of the death of our friend and former IYCW president, Juanito Penequito, who died in the Philippines after a short illness.

We share news from the JOC in Venezuela of their action with dependent workers.

Pope Leo warns on workplace accidents.

We remember the Argentine Cardijn apostle, Enrique Ernesto Shaw, who is to be beatified soon.

The International YCS is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Asian secretariat . We we also highlight the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II document, Gaudium et Spes, and of the Pact of the Catacombs.

Pax Romana ICMICA has a new leadership team with Catalan writer Carles Torner as president.

Plus more news in our social media updates.

The Centre International Team

Remembering Juanito Penequito

Former International YCW president, Juanito Penequito, died in Manila, Philippines on 15 December 2025 after a short illness.

“He lived his life completely devoted to what he believed in, as part of his commitment to building a new society,” wrote Felix Ollarves, who succeeded Juanito as IYCW president.

Juanito and his late wife Wenilou Pradel (above) both played a huge role in the Philippines YCW and the International YCW for many years.

We remember their commitment to the movement and to young workers. And we express our condolences to their son, Vincent, and all other family members and friends.

Remembering Juanito Penequito

Pope Leo warns on workplace accidents

Addressing a gathering of the Professional Register of the Association of Labour Consultants, Pope Leo warned that there are still too many workplace accidents.

In his talk, he highlighted three particularly important: the protection of human dignity, mediation, and the promotion of safety.

Too many workplace accidents: Pope Leo

JOC Venezuela organises dependent workers

In 2023-2024, JOC Venezuela conducted a national survey that revealed young people in dependent employment were unaware of their rights.

Several of the JOC Guayana activists are dependent workers (cleaners, vendors, teachers, apprentices) and they decided to initiate training workshops on labor rights in order to acquire the tools to defend those rights and take organized action with other young people.

They mapped out their relationships to identify which of their friends were dependent workers so they could invite them to participate in this process.

JOC Guayana: Action Against Precarious Work to Make Young People Aware of Their Labor Rights (JOCI)

Argentine Cardijn apostle to be beatified

Pope Leo XIV has authorised the promulgation of a decree for the beatification of Argentine Cardijn apostle and entrepreneur, Enrique Ernesto Shaw.

Visiting Chicago in 1945, Shaw met with US YCW chaplain, Msgr. Reynold Hillenbrand, who convinced him that he would never be “just another worker,” but could make a difference as a businessman, OSV News reports.

Under Hillenbrand’s guidance, Shaw left the Navy and entered the business world, convinced that economic life was not separate from the Gospel, but one of its most demanding arenas.

That connection has drawn the attention of Pope Leo XIV, himself from Chicago. In a message to Argentina’s XXXI Industrial Conference, the pope wrote that Shaw’s life demonstrates it is “possible to be both a businessman and a saint, that economic efficiency and fidelity to the Gospel are not mutually exclusive, and that charity can penetrate even industrial and financial structures.”

He married Cecilia Bunge, with whom he had nine children; he joined Catholic Action and the Christian Family Movement, promoting various other associations related to the world of work and publishing conferences, articles and essays. In 1961, he was appointed president of Hombres de Acción Católica. He died of cancer on 27 August 1961.

With Enrique Shaw on path to sainthood, Vatican confirms you can be a holy businessman (OSV News)

Argentine Cardijn apostle to be beatified

Enrique Ernesto Shaw (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

IYCS Asia marks 50 years

The International Young Catholic Students (IYCS) marked fifty years of Asian coordination with a week-long exchange in Bengaluru, bringing together chaplains, animators, alumni, and student leaders from seven countries, writes CM Paul in Matters India.

The YCS movement traces its roots to the aftermath of the Second World War. Founded in 1946, the International YCS set itself the mission of forming students committed to building peace through justice, freedom, and respect for human dignity. Using the “see–judge–act” methodology, generations of young Catholics have been encouraged to critically engage with social realities, discern them in the light of faith, and take transformative action.

IYCS Asia marks 50 years

Pax Romana ICMICA elects new leadership

Pax Romana ICMICA, an international lay movement of Catholic academics and professionals, has elected Catalan poet and human rights activist, Dr Carles Torner, (above photo) as its new president.

The election took place at the movement’s quadrennial General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal on 15-16 November 2025.

“This is a very special moment for Pax Romana in which we are engaged in a practical exercise of synodality that defines our way of being a Church,” Dr Torner commented while presenting his candidacy.

“I am convinced that Pax Romana’s international dimension is essential for the life of our federations,” he continued. “We are resisting a world that is suffering under a variety of authoritarian powers that aim to undermine this conception of the world,” he noted.

Pax Romana professionals elect new team

Pact of the Catacombs 1965-2025

A small group of pilgrims from the Dorothy Day Guild in the USA commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Pact of the Catacombs at the Domitilla Catacombs near Rome on Saturday 29 November 2025.

Participants include two of Dorothy Day’s granddaughters, Kate Hennessy and Martha Hennessy. Dorothy Day Guild chair, Professor Kevin Ahern and vice-chair Deirdre Connell also joined the special prayer service.

During the event, Stefan Gigacz represented the Centre International Cardijn and the Australian Cardijn Institute at the event, explaining the history of the Pact which originated with Helder Camara’s proposal for two masses for the poor and for workers and that participating bishops take a vow inspired by Cardijn’s own personal consecration of his life to young workers and the working class.

Pact of the Catacombs Memorial III

Social media

Jacques Delors 100 years

Jacques Delors was a French YCW leader, who later became the president of the European Commission. He often credited the role of the YCW in his formation.

Young People for Development see-judge-act in Myanmar

JEC Burkina Faso celebrate independence

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Remembering Juanito Penequito

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:53:30 GMT

We are sad to report the death of former International YCW president, Juanito Penequito, who died in Manila, Philippines after a short illness on 15 December 2025.

Juanito Penequito and his late wife Wenilou Pradel played a huge role in the Philippines YCW and the International YCW for many years.

We remember their commitment to the movement and to young workers. And we express our condolences to their son, Vincent, and all other family members and friends.

“I first met Juanito at the IYCW World Council in Madrid in 1983,” wrote Felix Ollarves, who succeeded Juanito as IYCW president in 1987.

“His name and his personality were very appealing; his commitment was beyond question and inspiring.

“We chose him as our most visible leader, marking the beginning of a new era for the International YCW after a very turbulent period.

“We shared four years of teamwork, during which he always gave his utmost effort and remained cheerful even in the most difficult moments, which were unprecedented.

“He lived his life completely devoted to what he believed in, as part of his commitment to building a new society. That was my perception, perhaps a fleeting one, of a life of activism that intertwined with my own.

“I remember when, symbolically, he passed on his commitment to me, when I succeeded him in the leadership role at the Brazil World Council in 1987. He pretended to transfer a burden; he didn’t speak Spanish. And yes, he entrusted me with a responsibility he was already taking on, to move on to others, and that’s how it always is when we make commitments; in a way, we take on a burden and carry it personally when it’s an integral part of who we are.

“That commitment and commitment is lifelong. And that’s how I feel Juanito lived it; he inspired us forever. A hug in eternity, Comrade.”

Original Spanish

Conocí a Juanito en 1983, durante el Consejo Mundial de la JOCI, en Madrid. Su nombre ya era muy simpático y, su personalidad, por su puesto; su compromiso incuestionable y motivador.
Lo elegimos como nuestro referente más visible, en lo que significaba el comienzo de una nueva etapa en la JOCI, después de un periodo tan turbulento. Compartimos cuatro años de Trabajo en equipo, donde siempre estuvo presente su esfuerzo al máximo, su jovialidad aún en los momentos más difíciles, que lo fueron, como nunca antes, los vivió como toda una vida que se entregaba integralmente a lo que creía, como parte de su compromiso por la construcción de una nueva sociedad. Así fue mi percepción, quizá muy efímera de una vida militante, que interactuó con la mía.
Recuerdo cuando, simbólicamente, me entregó su compromiso, cuando lo sucedi en la responsabilidad, en el consejo de Brasil (1987), simuló traspasar una carga, no hablaba español. Y, sí, me entregó una responsabilidad que asumía, para pasar a otras, y así es siempre que asumimos compromisos, de alguna manera tomamos una carga y la llevamos siempre de manera personal cuando es parte integral de lo que somos; esa militancia y compromiso es para toda la vida.
Y así siento que Juanito la vivió, nos inspiró por siempre. Un abrazo en la eternidad Compañero
Félix Ollarves.

Special edition: YCW and YCS martyrs beatified

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:54:29 GMT

Friends

This is a special issue of our newsletter to remember the French YCW and YCS martyrs of World War II who were beatified at Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday 13 December 2025.

In a twist of fate, Saturday was also the 50th anniversary to the day of the death of Argentinian YCW and worker leader, José Serapio “Pepe” Palacio, who was killed on 13 December 1975 as part of Operation Condor, which targeted worker and community leaders in South America.

In this special issue, we also remember other martyrs of our movements, including YCW lay co-founders, Fernand Tonnet and Paul Garcet, as well as Blessed Sara Salkahazi, executed for her role in saving Jewish refugees in Hungary during World War II.

Let us remember them all.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Beatification ceremony from Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

Homily by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

Papal legate Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg presided over the beatification ceremony and delivered the homily. Recalling the heroic sacrifices of the French martyrs, Cardinal Hollerich said “faith is never private; it must find expression in the concrete service of our sisters and brothers”.

“Let me make an appeal to the young people of France,” he continued. “You who call yourselves young Catholics, you are devoted to the adoration of Our Lord, and that is as it should be: may this love of Christ impel you to become missionary apostles.

“And all of you young people, perhaps not attending church, from France and Europe, you who no longer see meaning in your lives, you are searching for an identity that gives you purpose, look to Christ, Prince of Peace, Prince of love and not of hate, learn from him as your elder brothers, martyrs, beatified today, learn from him to commit yourselves to the good of your brothers and sisters! Your life can be so beautiful, and you will see this beauty in your life by following Christ.”

Cardinal Hollerich’s homily (English)

Homélie du Cardinal Hollerich (Français)

The list of YCW and YCS martyrs

Here is a list of YCW and YCS leaders, chaplains and seminarians beatified on Saturday with links to their biographies.

YCW leaders

Jean Lépicier (1921-1945), died at Buchenwald;

Bernard Lemaire (1920-1944), died of typhus at Buchenwald;

Maurice Grandet (1920-1944), died of typhus at Buchenwald;

René Ponsin (1923-1945), died at Buchenwald;

Claude-Colbert Lebeau (1922-1945), died at Zöschen;

Jean Chavet (1922-1945), died of typhus at Mauthausen;

André Parsy (1922-1944), interned at Zöschen, died at Trebitz;

André Vallée (1919-1945), died at Flossenbürg;

Henri Marrannes (1923-1945), died in Zwickau;

Louis Pourtois (1919-1945), died in Mauthausen; Camille Millet (1922-1945), died in Flossenbürg;

Marcel Carrier (1922-1945), died in Neustadt during the “death march”;

Alfredo Dall’Oglio (1921-1944), Italian naturalised French, died in Wuhlheide;

Marcel Touquet (1914-1945), died in Ravensbrück;

Lucien Croci (1919-1945), died in Barth;

Jean Mestre (1924-1944), died shortly after his arrest;

Jean Perriolat (1920-1945), died in Mauthausen;

René Rouzé (1922-1945), died in Dora-Mittelbau;

Henri Euzenat (1920-1945), who died at Dachau;

Eugène Lemoine (1920-1945) (also a Scout), died at Zöschen;

Bernard Morizot (1924-1945) (also a Scout), interned at Buchenwald and shot.

YCS leaders

Jean Préhu (1920-1945), YCS lay leader (and Scout), died at Dachau.

So too did YCS leader, Jean Chavet, who was also a YCW leader (see above)

Priests

René Giraudet (1907-1945), interned at Bergen-Belsen, sick with typhus, died in Paris;

Victor Dillard (1897-1945), who died at the Dachau concentration camp;

Louis Doumain (1920-1944), died at the Zöschen concentration camp;

Pierre de Porcaro (1904-1945), who died at the Dachau concentration camp.

Jocist seminarians

Roger Vallée (1920-1944), who died at Mauthausen;

Jean Tinturier (1921-1945), who died at Mauthausen.

Martyrs of the YCW and YCS (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Pepe and Amalia Palacio

Born on 25 October 1923, José Serapio “Pepe” Palacio co-founded the YCW in the Argentinian Diocese of Corboda together with (Blessed) Enrique Angelelli.

During the 1950s, Pepe was a member of the International YCW’s embryonic Executive Committee. Later, he became a trade union leader and a leader of the Christian Worker Movement.

In April 1975, he was appointed as the first lay collaborator of the IYCW. His first assignment was to take part in an IYCW Workers Meeting in Bogota, Colombia in September-October 1975.

Shortly after his return he was abducted from outside his office, becoming one of the many “desaparecidos” of that time. Twenty five years later, research by his son, José Luis, found that he was killed on 13 December 1975 as part of the Pinochet-led CIA-backed Operation Condor to eliminate labour and community leaders and activists in South America.

Let us also remember the living martyrdom of Pepe’s wife, Amalia, who was left alone to struggle and raise their three sons.

Pepe and Amalia Palacio (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Enrique Angelelli (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

JOC Argentina remembers Pepe Palacio

Blessed Sara Salkahazi

Blessed Sara Salkahazi was a Slovak-born Hungarian nun, who helped launch the Girls YCW movement in Hungary during the 1930s.

During the war, she and her colleagues hid many Jewish refugees trying to avoid capture and deportation by Nazi forces.

On 27 December 1944, she was executed for this work.

Sara Salkahazi (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Fernand Tonnet and Paul Garcet

Fernand Tonnet and Paul Garcet were two of the lay co-founders of the Belgian YCW. They both died in Nazi concentration camps in early 1945.

In 1965, there were moves in Belgium to launch their canonisation processes. Cardijn himself spoke in support of this. However, no further progress has been made.

Fernand Tonnet (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Paul Garcet (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Blessed Miguel Pro

Miguel Pro was a Jesuit student who participated in the founding Belgian JOC National Congress in April 1925 before returning to Mexico where he was executed on trumped up charges two years later.

Miguel Pro (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

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Homily of Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:49:51 GMT

This is the homily of Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, himself a former chaplain of the JEC and the JOC, at the beatification of the JOC martyrs, JEC members and scouts at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday, 13 December, 2025.

Dear colleagues,
Dear sisters,
Dear brothers,

The first half of the 20th century will go down in European history as the dark century of terrible carnage. To the soldiers of the two world wars were added the victims of the Nazi dictatorship. But within this darkness, there were points of light, and even now we can identify names and faces with some of these points of light. They had an immense love for God, for Christ. This love compelled them to serve their brothers who had been sent to Germany for forced labour. Indeed, there can be no love of God without love of neighbour.

A few weeks before the conclusion of our Jubilee Year, and on this eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, our Pope Leo XIV offers us the joy of celebrating the “birth into Heaven” of these fifty Martyrs of the Catholic Apostolate in Germany, who volunteered to assist their fellow workers requisitioned by the State.

These young Catholics—priests, religious, seminarians, Catholic Action activists, scouts—all responded to the call of Cardinal Suhard and Father Jean Rodhain. Most of them were between twenty and thirty-five years old, and understood, along with so many other anonymous apostles, the spiritual and moral distress of one million five hundred thousand young French workers deported to Germany, now without religious guidance, since German priests were forbidden to minister to them.

Claude-Colbert Lebeau

Without the slightest hesitation, Claude-Colbert Lebeau, a JOC leader, declared: “I did not come to work for Nazi Germany, but I came to bring my brothers and sisters the help of faith in Jesus Christ.” They were truly “Martyrs of the Apostolate.” Their lives and their work in service to their brothers and sisters were an ordeal crowned by the sacrifice of martyrdom, as the Book of Wisdom reminds us: “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God. Like gold in the crucible, he has tested them; like a perfect offering, he accepts them.”

The Second Vatican Council teaches us this: “Martyrdom, in which the disciple is made like his master […] and made like him in the shedding of his blood, is regarded by the Church as an eminent grace and the supreme proof of charity. Although this is given only to a small number, all must nevertheless be ready to confess Christ before men and to follow him on the way of the cross, through the persecutions which never fail to befall the Church” (LG. 42).

By contemplating the testimony of love of these young men from some thirty dioceses, several institutes of consecrated life, Catholic Action, and scouting, by getting to know them, sharing their enthusiasm but also their fears, their bursts of generosity, and their sufferings, we realize how deeply they have lived these words of Saint Paul in their Letter to the Romans “We boast in the hope of sharing in the glory of God. Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.”

Pièrre de Porcaro

Father Pierre de Porcaro, a priest of the Diocese of Versailles, wrote to a seminarian: “I must become a saint. It is the only way to ensure a fruitful ministry later on. It is the only way to save souls. And since this is my desire, my only passion, I must become a saint.” Later, when his bishop invited him to join the young men conscripted for the STO (Service du Travail Obligatoire – Compulsory Work Service), he replied: “Yes, my God, I accept with all possible generosity, everything, including dying for it, dying in a foreign land, far from everything, far from everyone.”

All of them, without exception, made their lives, their work, their imprisonment, and their martyrdom a service—and what a service it was! They followed Jesus as true disciples, placing their steps in the footsteps of their Master. This call of Jesus, echoed in the Gospel of Saint John: “If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him,” they fulfilled in the sacrifice of their lives, in a generous offering. Thus, Father Antoine Charmet, a priest of the diocese of Lyon, now Saint-Étienne, wrote in his will: “I abandon myself to the will of God, asking Him to remain faithful to it as a priest.”

In the midst of the maelstrom of war and the inhuman atrocities of which we are now all too familiar, these Martyrs and all those who shared their ideals, their generosity, and their fate, demonstrated to their brothers and sisters the unwavering presence of God’s love and mercy. In this way, they succeeded in creating, within the hell of the camps, islands of paradise where love managed to restore courage, heal wounds of the heart, shake off indifference, and transmit serenity and peace. This was borne witness to the young scout Joël Anglès d’Auriac, beheaded at the age of twenty-two on 6 December, 1944, after having confessed, received communion, and prayed the rosary, when he declared to the prison chaplain: “I am completely at peace… for I am going to Jesus Christ.”

Our Martyrs carry a message that can never grow old: “Love will never pass away!” Young Jean Mestre gave up requesting exemption from the STO and announced it to his mother thus: “I love you with all my heart, but I love Jesus Christ even more than you, and I feel that he is calling me to be his witness to my comrades who are going to experience difficult times. Forgive me if I cause you pain.”

The celebration of this beatification, by placing these Blessed Ones before us, reminds us of the demands of our baptism: our faith in Christ is first and foremost, and essentially, a communion of love with his Person. In this sense, baptism commits us to nourish our lives and our many activities with this faith, this communion with Christ. The Jesuit Victor Dillard, the eldest of the Martyrs, an intellectual and apostle to young people, understood this well. He wrote at the time of his arrest: “I had long expected this arrest; it is natural. It happened to me on Good Shepherd Sunday, when it is said that the Good Shepherd must lay down his life for his sheep. It was perfectly timed. I would like this to make you understand how seriously our religion must be taken and how much it must be nurtured and lived ».

But to live it is to go all the way, as Raymond Cayré, a priest of the diocese of Albi, consumed by zeal, who died in Buchenwald, testifies: “There are souls here who need as much and even more than elsewhere the help of Heaven. The prospect of staying until the end does not frighten me and is familiar to me.”

This beatification invites us to look at the present and prepare for the future. In the aftermath of the Second World War, many Christians dedicated their lives to establishing peace and reconciliation, as evidenced by Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi, Konrad Adenauer, and so many others, whose lives were devoted to serving the common good. For eighty years, we have been living through the longest period of peace that Western Europe has experienced in its long history, and yet we are not immune to war or violence.

Whatever our vocation, our profession, our responsibility, we are committed, as disciples of Christ, to the service of our brothers, wherever in His Providence, God has placed us.

Robert Schuman could write: “Christianity taught the equality of nature of all men, children of the same God, redeemed by the same Christ, without distinction of race, colour, class or profession. It established the dignity of work and the obligation for all to submit to it. It recognized the primacy of inner values which alone ennoble man. The universal law of love and charity made every man our neighbour, and social relations in the Christian world have since been based on it.”
We are living through, we have lived through, a reconciliation of peoples. It is a task that is never finished and that every generation must continue. And we are doing it together: you, French people, who can be proud of your martyrs, and peoples like the Luxembourgers, the Belgians, the Dutch, the Swiss, and the Germans, who are no longer enemies, but who work with us for the common good.

And that is why I am pleased that German bishops are also present today. Together we can build a Europe that does not exclude, does not persecute, and stands for peace and justice.

(That is why I am delighted by the presence of German bishops today. Together, we can build an inclusive Europe that persecutes no one and defends peace and justice.)

The Nazis, for their part, despised religious freedom. Forced to respect it in Germany, they revealed their true colors in the occupied territories. The love of our martyrs for Christ and for the people they rescued made them martyrs for religious freedom.

Perhaps this point will be an important witness for us regarding the future of the Church in Europe. Faith is never private; it must find expression in the concrete service of our sisters and brothers. But let me make an appeal to the young people of France. You who call yourselves young Catholics, you are devoted to the adoration of Our Lord, and that is as it should be: may this love of Christ impel you to become missionary apostles.

And all of you young people, perhaps not attending church, from France and Europe, you who no longer see meaning in your lives, you are searching for an identity that gives you purpose, look to Christ, Prince of Peace, Prince of love and not of hate, learn from Him as your elder brothers, martyrs, beatified today, learn from Him to commit yourselves to the good of your brothers and sisters! Your life can be so beautiful, and you will see this beauty in your life by following Christ.

Following the example of our Martyrs, let us strive to be faithful disciples of Christ, Prince of Peace, and let us ask those we celebrate today to obtain for us the grace to live our faith. Pope Francis always said that conversion begins in the head and passes into the heart, but that is not enough; it must also pass into the hands and feet. Let us ask for the grace to live our faith, and thus to work in service to his Kingdom. Amen!

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

SOURCE

Homily of Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (Diocese of Paris)

Homélie du Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

Stefan Gigacz — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:46:04 GMT

Voici la homélie du Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, lui-même ancien aumônier de la JEC et de la JOC, à la béatification des martyres jocistes, jécistes et scouts à la cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris samedi le 13 décembre 2025.

Chers confrères,
Chères sœurs,
Chers frères,

La première moitié du XXe siècle entrera dans l’histoire de l’Europe comme le siècle obscur des terribles carnages. Aux victimes des deux guerres mondiales, les soldats, s’ajoutent les victimes de la dictature nazie. Mais dans cette obscurité se trouvent des points de lumière, et dès à présent nous pouvons identifier des noms et des visages à quelques-uns de ces points de lumière. Ils avaient un amour immense pour Dieu, pour le Christ. Cet amour les poussa à servir leurs frères partis pour le travail forcé en Allemagne. Oui, il ne peut y avoir d’amour de Dieu sans l’amour du prochain.

Quelques semaines avant la conclusion de notre année jubilaire, et en ce quatre-vingtième anniversaire de la fin de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, tandis que nous nous préparons à célébrer Noël, notre Pape Léon XIV nous offre la joie de célébrer la « naissance au Ciel » de ces cinquante Martyrs de l’Apostolat Catholique en Allemagne, qui se sont portés volontaires afin d’assister leurs frères ouvriers réquisitionnés par l’État.

Ces jeunes catholiques, prêtres, religieux, séminaristes, militants d’Action catholique, scouts, ont tous répondu à l’appel du Cardinal Suhard et de l’abbé Jean Rodhain. Ils avaient pour la plupart entre vingt et trente-cinq ans, et comprirent, avec tant d’autres apôtres anonymes, la détresse spirituelle, la détresse morale d’un million cinq-cent-mille jeunes ouvriers français déportés en Allemagne, désormais sans repère religieux, puisque les prêtres allemands avaient l’interdiction d’exercer leur ministère en leur faveur.

Claude-Colbert Lebeau

Sans la moindre hésitation, Claude-Colbert Lebeau, responsable JOC, affirmait : « Je ne suis pas venu travailler pour l’Allemagne nazie, mais je suis venu apporter à mes frères le secours de la foi en Jésus-Christ ». Ils furent vraiment des « Martyrs de l’Apostolat ». Leur vie et leur activité au service de leurs frères furent une épreuve couronnée par le sacrifice du martyre, ainsi que nous le rappelait le Livre de la Sagesse : « Les âmes des justes sont dans la main de Dieu. Comme l’or au creuset, il les a éprouvés ; comme une offrande parfaite, il les accueille ».

Le Concile Vatican II nous l’enseigne : « Le martyre dans lequel le disciple est assimilé à son maître […] et rendu semblable à lui dans l’effusion de son sang, est considéré par l’Église comme une grâce éminente et la preuve suprême de la charité. Que si cela n’est donné qu’à un petit nombre, tous cependant doivent être prêts à confesser le Christ devant les hommes et à le suivre sur le chemin de la croix, à travers les persécutions qui ne manquent jamais à l’Église » (LG. 42).

En contemplant le témoignage d’amour de ces jeunes hommes provenant d’une trentaine de diocèses, de plusieurs instituts de vie consacrée, de l’Action catholique et du scoutisme, en apprenant à les connaître, à partager leur enthousiasme mais aussi leurs craintes, leurs élans de générosité et leurs souffrances, nous mesurons combien ils ont vécu ces mots de saint Paul dans sa Lettre aux Romains : « Nous mettons notre fierté dans l’espérance d’avoir part à la gloire de Dieu. L’espérance ne déçoit pas, puisque l’amour de Dieu a été répandu dans nos cœurs ».

Pierre de Porcaro

L’abbé Pierre de Porcaro, prêtre du diocèse de Versailles, écrivait encore à un séminariste : « Il faut que je devienne un saint. C’est le seul moyen de m’assurer plus tard un ministère fécond. C’est le seul moyen de sauver les âmes. Et puisque tel est mon désir, ma seule passion, il faut que je devienne un saint ». Invité, plus tard, par son évêque à rejoindre les jeunes réquisitionnés du STO, il répondit : « Oui, mon Dieu, j’accepte avec toute la générosité possible, tout, y compris d’en mourir, de mourir sur une terre étrangère, loin de tout, loin de tous ».

Tous, sans exception, ont fait de leur vie, de leur activité, de leur emprisonnement et de leur martyre un service, et quel service ! Ils ont suivi Jésus, en authentiques disciples, mettant leurs pas dans les pas de leur Maître. Cet appel de Jésus dont l’Évangile de saint Jean nous apporte l’écho : « Si quelqu’un veut me servir, qu’il me suive ; et là où moi je suis, là aussi sera mon serviteur. Si quelqu’un me sert, mon Père l’honorera », ils l’ont réalisé dans le sacrifice de leur vie, dans une offrande généreuse. Ainsi, l’abbé Antoine Charmet, prêtre du diocèse de Lyon, aujourd’hui Saint-Étienne, notait dans son testament : « Je m’abandonne à la volonté de Dieu en lui demandant d’y demeurer fidèle en prêtre ».

Au milieu du tourbillon de la guerre et des atrocités inhumaines dont nous avons aujourd’hui une connaissance certaine, ces Martyrs et tous ceux qui ont partagé leur idéal, leur générosité et leur destin, ont manifesté auprès de leurs frères la présence indéfectible de l’amour et de la miséricorde de Dieu. Ils ont ainsi réussi à créer, dans l’enfer des camps, des ilots de paradis, où l’amour parvenait à redonner courage, à panser les plaies du coeur, à secouer l’indifférence, à transmettre sérénité et paix. En témoignait le jeune scout Joël Anglès d’Auriac, décapité à 22 ans, le 6 décembre 1944, après s’être confessé, avoir communié, prié le rosaire, lorsqu’il déclara à l’aumônier de la prison : « Je suis tout tranquille… car je vais à Jésus-Christ ».

Nos Martyrs sont porteurs d’un message qui ne peut vieillir : « L’amour ne passera jamais ! » Le jeune Jean Mestre renonça à demander l’exemption du STO et l’annonça ainsi à sa mère : « Je t’aime de tout mon cœur, mais j’aime Jésus Christ encore plus que toi, et je sens qu’il m’appelle pour être son témoin auprès de mes camarades qui vont vivre des moments difficiles. Pardonne-moi si je te fais de la peine ».

La célébration de cette béatification, en plaçant devant nous ces Bienheureux, vient nous rappeler l’exigence de notre baptême : notre foi au Christ est avant tout et est essentiellement communion d’amour à sa Personne. En ce sens, le baptême nous engage à nourrir notre existence et nos multiples activités de cette foi, communion au Christ. Le Jésuite Victor Dillard, le plus âgé des Martyrs, intellectuel, apôtre des jeunes, l’avait bien compris. Il écrivait au moment de son arrestation : « Je m’attendais depuis longtemps à cette arrestation, elle est naturelle. Elle m’est arrivée le dimanche du Bon Pasteur, où il est dit que le Bon Pasteur doit donner sa vie pour ses brebis. Cela tombait à pic. Je voudrais bien que cela vous fasse comprendre combien notre religion doit être prise au sérieux et combien il faut la vivre ».

Or, la vivre, c’est aller jusqu’au bout, ainsi qu’en témoigne Raymond Cayré, prêtre du diocèse d’Albi, dévoré de zèle, mort à Buchenwald : « Il y a des âmes ici qui ont besoin autant et même plus qu’ailleurs du secours d’En-Haut. La perspective de rester jusqu’au bout ne m’effraie pas et m’est familière ».

Cette béatification nous invite à regarder le présent et à préparer l’avenir. Au lendemain la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, de nombreux chrétiens ont consacré leur vie à l’établissement de la paix, à la réconciliation, comme en témoignent Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi, Konrad Adenauer, et tant d’autres, dont la vie a été vouée au service du bien commun. Nous vivons depuis quatre-vingts ans la période de paix la plus longue que l’Europe occidentale ait vécu dans sa longue histoire, et pourtant nous ne sommes à l’abri ni de la guerre, ni de la violence.

Quelles que soient notre vocation, notre profession, notre responsabilité, nous sommes engagés, disciples du Christ, au service de nos frères, là où dans sa Providence, Dieu nous a placés.

Robert Schuman pouvait écrire : « Le christianisme a enseigné l’égalité de nature de tous les hommes, fils d’un même Dieu, rachetés par le même Christ, sans distinction de race, couleur, classe ou profession. Il a fait reconnaître la dignité du travail et l’obligation pour tous de s’y soumettre. Il a reconnu le primat des valeurs intérieures qui, seules, ennoblissent l’homme. La loi universelle de l’amour et de la charité a fait de chaque homme notre prochain, et sur elle reposent depuis lors les rapports sociaux dans le monde chrétien ».
Nous vivons, nous avons vécu, une réconciliation des peuples. C’est un travail qui n’est jamais terminé et que toute génération doit continuer. Et nous le faisons ensemble : vous, Français, qui pouvez être fiers de vos martyrs, les peuples comme les Luxembourgeois, les Belges, les Néerlandais, les Suisses, les Allemands, qui dorénavant ne sont plus des ennemis, mais qui travaillent avec nous pour le bien commun.

Und deshalb freue ich mich, dass auch deutsche Bischöfe heute präsent sind. Zusammen können wir ein Europa aufbauen, das nicht ausschließt, nicht verfolgt, das einsteht für Frieden und Gerechtigkeit.

(C’est pourquoi je me réjouis de la présence aujourd’hui d’évêques allemands. Ensemble, nous pouvons bâtir une Europe inclusive, qui ne persécute personne et qui défend la paix et la justice.)

Les nazis, eux, méprisaient la liberté religieuse. Contraints à la respecter en Allemagne, ils montraient leur vraie identité dans les territoires occupés. L’amour de nos martyrs pour le Christ et pour les hommes qu’ils ont secourus a fait d’eux des martyrs pour la liberté religieuse.

Peut-être que ce point sera pour nous un témoignage important pour l’avenir de l’Eglise en Europe. La foi n’est jamais privée, elle doit trouver une expression dans le service concret de nos sœurs et de nos frères. Mais laissez-moi faire un appel aux jeunes de France. Vous qui vous appelez jeunes cathos, vous êtes des dévots de l’adoration de Notre Seigneur, et c’est bien ainsi : que cet amour du Christ vous pousse à devenir des apôtres missionnaires.

Et vous tous, les jeunes, qui peut-être n’allez pas à l’église, de France et d’Europe, vous qui ne voyez plus de sens dans votre vie, vous êtes à la recherche d’une identité qui vous fasse vivre, regardez le Christ, Prince de la paix, Prince de l’amour et non de la haine, apprenez de Lui comme vos frères ainés martyrs, béatifiés aujourd’hui, apprenez de Lui à vous engager pour le bien de vos frères et sœurs ! Votre vie peut être tellement belle, et vous verrez cette beauté de votre vie en suivant le Christ.

À la suite de nos Martyrs, ayons à cœur d’être de fidèles disciples du Christ, Prince de la Paix, et demandons à ceux que nous célébrons aujourd’hui, de nous obtenir la grâce de vivre notre foi. Le pape François disait toujours que la conversion part de la tête et passe au cœur, mais ce n’est pas assez, elle doit passer aux mains et aux pieds. Demandons la grâce de vivre notre foi, et ainsi de travailler au service de son Royaume. Amen !

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich

SOURCE

Homélie du cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich (Diocèse de Paris)

IYCS Asia marks 50 years

Stefan Gigacz — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:36:00 GMT

In Asia, the movement took root in the 1970s, when student leaders and chaplains began coordinating across national boundaries to respond to the continent’s diverse challenges—poverty, political upheaval, and inter-religious tensions. Over the decades, YCS Asia became a platform for dialogue and solidarity, nurturing young leaders who bridged cultures and faith traditions. The 2025 exchange in Bengaluru thus celebrated not only fifty years of coordination but also the enduring legacy of a movement that has shaped generations of Asian youth into agents of peace and justice.

Hosted at St John’s Medical College Hospital in collaboration with St Joseph’s University, the gathering drew more than 40 participants from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and India.

The program opened on November 28 with an inaugural Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Arokiaraj Satish Kumar of Bangalore. Over the following days, participants reflected on pressing realities facing young people in Asia—ranging from student well-being and storytelling as critical thinking to spirituality of action and inter-faith dialogue. The intersection of technology and faith emerged as a recurring theme, with discussions on artificial intelligence, media, and the challenges of student life in a digitizing world.

At St Joseph’s University, Dr Chandra Mohan IAS, Principal Secretary for School Education in Tamil Nadu, delivered the keynote address, situating students within the influence of artificial intelligence and the role of education today.

Liturgical celebrations punctuated the week, with thanksgiving Masses led by Bishop Prakash Sagili of Khammam and Bishop Jay Rao Polimera of Eluru. The exchange culminated on December 2 with a gratitude ceremony and the announcement of plans to launch the IYCS Global Training Academy in Asia.

Ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao, former Foreign Secretary of India, added a diplomatic perspective with her reflection on peace building, underscoring the role of dialogue in fostering understanding.

Looking ahead, the gathering set the stage for reimagining IYCS coordination in Asia, with plans for the 2026 Asian Study Session and Council, as well as chaplains’ training in Sri Lanka.

50 years of IYCS Asia: Youth, chaplains and alumni gather in Bengaluru (Matters India)

November 2025

Stefan Gigacz — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 08:35:25 GMT

Friends,

Welcome to the November edition of our newsletter!

The COP30 conference is taking place in Belem, Brazil this month. We feature Pope Leo’s message to the Churches of the Global South meeting there. Plus we share a post from IYCW Aspac on climate action by the Philippines YCW.

We also share the very sad news from the International YCW of the death of our friend and colleague, José Calayatud, who died earlier this month in Malaga, Spain. All of us who knew and worked with José send our condolences to his family and friends.

The Pax Romana ICMICA movement has just elected a new international council at its General Asssembly in Lisbon.

This month is also a time of more significant anniversaries, including the Pact of the Catacombs inspired by Cardijn’s vow to devote his life to the working class. It’s also the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II document, Apostolicam Actuositatem, to which Cardijn and the YCW leadership of that time contributed greatly.

We have a video (in French) of an interview with the “last worker priest” from the Belgian Diocese of Liège.

And we share another of Cardijn’s classic articles, namely “The YCW and the parish”,” published in 1925. This is available in English and the original French on the Joseph Cardijn Digital Library website.

Thanks for your support.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Pope’s message to COP30: Creation crying out in floods, storms, heat

“Creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat,” Pope Leo said in a video message to churches of the Global South gathered at Belem, Brazil for the COP30 climate talks.

“I greet the particular Churches of the Global South gathered at the Amazonian Museum of Belém, joining the prophetic voice of my brother Cardinals who have taken part in COP 30, telling the world with words and gestures that the Amazon region remains a living symbol of creation with an urgent need for care,” Pope Leo began.

Creation crying out in floods, storms, heat

Protecting people, protecting the planet

The Young Christian Workers of the Philippines (YCW-Phil) continues to raise the voice of young workers for justice and dignity. On its latest initiative, YCW-Phil organized a forum on “Social Protection Responsive to Climate Change,” bringing together 25 participants from different base groups across the country.

The activity was part of a synergy program between YCW Philippines, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), and IYCW-ASPAC, with support from the World Solidarity Movement (WSM). The forum became a space to connect two urgent struggles — the fight for social protection and the fight for climate justice — highlighting that a just society is also a livable planet for all.

Protecting People, Protecting the Planet: Workers Pushes for Social Protection Responsive to Climate (IYCW Aspac)

Pax Romana professionals elect new team

Pax Romana ICMICA, an international lay movement of Catholic academics and professionals, elected Catalan poet and human rights activist, Dr Carles Torner, as its new president, and Italian lawyer, Gabriella Serra, as secretary-general (photo above). Vice-president for Asia and the Pacific is Korean human rights specialist, Anselmo Lee.

The election took place at the movement’s quadrennial General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal on 15-16 November 2025.

Pax Romana professionals elect new team

Pax Romana ICMICA-MIIC

60th anniversary of the Pact of the Catacombs

This year we will again celebrate a special commemorative ceremony at the Domitilla Catacombs on Saturday 29 November 2025 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Pact of the Catacombs.

For more information, please contact Stefan Gigacz: aci@australiancardijninstitute.org

MORE DETAILS

60th Anniversary Celebration

Remembering Jose Calayatud

Dear José, just a few weeks ago, you were at the IYCW office, with many stories to share as always, … a true living archive of our movement. After five hours of training for the team and the new secretary general, the shy and sincere smile remained on your face! We were tired but you seemed full of energy and motivation!

“Well, I’m retired... if you need me, I’m here to support you,” you said.

Indeed, retirement and the cancer you had been fighting so bravely over the last years did not prevent you from continuing to assist us. Nor did they prevent you from devoting yourself to your passion, photography. You were so excited to show us some of your beautiful pictures.

You have been a vital part of the IYCW, helping us understand one another across our different languages and cultures. For almost 40 years, you devoted yourself to interpretation and communication, building friendships with countless leaders and comrades around the world.

Goodbye José, our friend, our colleague, our comrade! (International YCW)

Restarting the clock on the role of lay people & lay movements

Writing to Cardinal Marc Ouellet in 2016, Pope Francis recalled “the famous phrase: ‘the hour of the laity has arrived’.”

This was a sentiment often expressed in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, the first ecumenical council to dedicate a chapter of a document, Lumen Gentium, to the laity in 1964, and a year later the first to devote a whole decree to the apostolate of the laity, namely Apostolicam Actuositatem in 1965.

Since then, however, as Pope Francis lamented, “it seems the clock has stopped” on that hoped for hour of the laity. So much so that the 60^th anniversary of Apostolicam Actuositatem, which falls this month – 18 November 2025 – is passing almost unremarked.

Stefan Gigacz, Restarting the clock on the role of lay people & lay movements (Cardijn Research)

The last worker priest from Liège

This is a video interview in French with Fr André Antoine, the last worker priest from the Diocese of Liège in Belgium. His father was a leader of the Walloon JOC. Watch Part 2 on YouTube.

Reading: Cardijn on the YCW in the parish

One hundred years ago in August 1925, Cardijn published one of his most seminal articles entitled “The YCW in the parish.”

In this remarkable article, he presents his vision of the parish as a centre of formation for social and community action.

Joseph Cardijn, The YCW and the parish (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

News briefs and social media

YCS France hold formation session in Metz

Companies have a responsibility for protecting human rights: KAB Germany

Commemorating the YCW centenary & the 90th anniversary of YCW Portugal

Join the Centre International Cardijn

Membership form here:

https://centreinternationalcardijn.org/join/