IYCS Asia marks 50 years
1975-2025
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.
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.
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50 years of IYCS Asia: Youth, chaplains and alumni gather in Bengaluru (Matters India)