April 2025

Pope Francis - YCW Centenary - May Day - Remembering Samydorai

Apr 15, 2025

Easter with Pope Francis

Dear Friends,

We begin this Easter edition of our newsletter with the sad news that Pope Francis has died.

Although never a Cardijn movement chaplain, he was involved in a Catholic Action youth group in Argentina, the nature of which is unclear.

Nevertheless, it is certain that he was greatly influenced by many movement chaplains, including the pioneers of Argentina's Theology of the People, including Lucio Gera, who wrote in the YCW chaplains' magazine, and Rafael Tello, a JUC chaplain.

Here we present the tribute - in French and English - from Belgian Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville, who called in 2016 for Cardijn's canonisation, and who explains how much Pope Francis drew on the Cardijn method, including for his encyclical, Laudato Si'.

We also share the video of the online opening (screenshot above) of the YCW Centenary Celebrations now taking place around the world.

Watch the replay here on YouTube:

We also share a May Day statement from the Christian Worker movement condemning growing social inequality.

We have an important statement from Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja in Argentina, the successor of the martyred YCW chaplain and bishop, Blessed Enrique Angelelli.

We remember Sinapan Samydorai from Singapore, a strong advocate for workers in Asia and a former worker for the International YCW in Asia-Pacific.

On a historical note, we present a video from the IYCW World Council in Adelaide in 1911, with extracts from IYCW founding secretary, Marguerite Fiévez, and from IYCW Asia-Pacific chaplain, Hugh O'Sullivan.

Stefan Gigacz also presents a report from the 1965 IYCW World Council which sets out the movement's still unfulfilled dream of a "lay senate" in Rome.

As usual, we have a Gospel enquiry from Pat Branson and a reflection from Richard Pütz.

Finally, we share a brief audio extract from Joseph Cardijn who recalls in his inimitable French that "La JOC est internationale."

The Centre International Cardijn Team

La méthode Cardijn était ‘une ligne de force’ de François

“La question est rhétorique, mais l’Église en Belgique a été marquée par la figure du cardinal Joseph Cardijn (1882-1967), fondateur de la Joc, la Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne,” observe Bosco d’Otreppe, journaliste à La Libre.

“La méthode de Joseph Cardijn était le ‘voir-juger-agir’,” d’Otreppe continue.

“Or, cette méthode était une ligne de force de François, note Mgr Jean-Pierre Delville, l’évêque de Liège.

La méthode Cardijn était ‘une ligne de force’ de François: Mgr Jean-Pierre Delville

See judge act ‘key for Pope Francis’: Belgian bishop

“The Church in Belgium was marked by the figure of Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, founder of the Young Christian Workers,” observed Bosco d’Otreppe, journalist at La Libre.

“Joseph Cardijn’s method was ‘see-judge-act,’” d’Otreppe continued.

“Now, this method was a key point for Francis,” noted Mgr Jean-Pierre Delville, Bishop of Liège.

See judge act ‘key for Pope Francis’: Belgian bishop (Australian Cardijn Institute)

Christian Worker movement condemns growing inequality

The appropriation of half of the world’s wealth by 1% of the global population creates inequalities that harm the poorest, the World Movement of Christian Workers says in a statement for 1 May.

The statement says:

Since 1890, May Day has been known as a day to demonstrate and demand workers’ rights. It is also a day to celebrate the gains and achievements of the working class. On this occasion, the World Movement of Christian Workers invites its members to join with other workers around the world to “always call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which this dignity and these rights are violated, and to help bring about changes that will ensure authentic progress for man and society” (Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Laborem Exercens). In 2025, the call is made through this message written by the Reunion Island Movement.

Christian Worker movement condemns growing inequality (Cardijn.info)

Social pastoral care fundamental: Argentinian bishop

“Social pastoral care is a fundamental dimension of the church’s mission, which seeks to make the Kingdom of God present amidst the difficulties and challenges of daily life,” said Bishop Dante Braida La Rioja, president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care.

“This action promotes a church close to its citizens, concerned with the problems of its community and committed to justice and solidarity,” he said, according to Fides news service.

Bishop Braida, who concelebrated the Mass at the Catacombs organised by the Australian Cardijn Institute and Cardijn Community International during the first session of the Synod on Synodality in 2023, said he remained hopeful despite social challenges.

Social pastoral care fundamental: Argentinian bishop (Cardijn.info)

Advocating for workers: Sinapan Samydorai

Friends and human rights colleagues are remembering former IYCW Asia-Pacific leader Sinapan Samydorai, a founding member of the Cardijn Community International, who died on 27 March 2025.

We send our condolences to his wife, Yun Shan Shum, their sons, and all family, friends and colleagues.

Advocating for workers: Sinapan Samydorai

Gospel: Copy what I have done to you

Fr Juan Luis Segundo (1925-1996), a Jesuit priest from Uruguay, describes John’s Gospel as an attempt to explore more deeply than the other gospel writings, what it means to be a Christian.

Some scholars refer to the Gospel as a “book of new beginnings” and Segundo directs his readers to the first four chapters of the Gospel as evidence of this different and unique approach to giving an account of the life and teachings of Jesus.

We will find the same deeply reflective approach used throughout the entire Gospel. For example, the Last Supper account begins in Chapter 13 and ends with Jesus and his disciples leaving the upper room at the beginning of Chapter 18.

Copy what I have done to you (Gospel Enquiries)

Reflection: The Merton-Cardijn option

I am proposing what I will call the “Merton-Cardijn Option,” based on Louis Monden, S.J.'s foundational work of Christian ethics, writes Richard Pütz in the first of a several part series.

The Merton-Cardijn Option refers to a moral proposition in which each person gradually develops a fundamental orientation toward becoming a Contemplative Activist. It represents the central, fundamental choice that shapes individual actions, seamlessly woven into a quilted understanding of the gospels.

The Merton-Cardijn Option offers a transformative approach to life, integrating spiritual depth with active engagement in the world. It emphasizes personal wholeness and social justice, inspiring hope for a better, more just society.

Merton-Cardijn Option (Cardijn Reflections)

History: IYCW World Council, Adelaide, Australia, 1991

In November-December 1991, the Australian YCW hosted young worker leaders from 40 countries for the 6th World Council of the International YCW.

So, thanks to Fr John Jegorow from Mary Mackillop Catholic Community, Ballajura, and Ben from Custom Video and DVD Solutions in Perth, we have had it digitised.

You can watch it now in full on YouTube along with several clips from IYCW founding secretary, Marguerite Fiévez, and late Australian YCW chaplain, Fr Hugh O'Sullivan.

WATCH THE VIDEO AND CLIPS

IYCW World Council, Adelaide 1991

Synodality: The fight for a lay senate… in Rome

In this article, Stefan Gigacz presents a video is extracted from a recording of a report by Australian delegates from the International YCW World Council in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 1965.

It illustrates that lay leaders were already battling to build a church based on fraternal not paternal dialogue between clergy and laity, or, as Pope has characterised it, a synodal church.

The fight for a lay senate… in Rome (Synodal Reflections)