February 2026
Resisting the right - Eliana Kira campaign - Camilo Torres - Leo reconciled lay movements - Whole of life formation - Cardijn's life in his own words
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
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.
READ MORE
Jesus tempted in the wilderness (Cardijn Reflections)
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