June 2025

Vale Angelina - YCW Centenary - Pope Leo on lay apostolate

Jun 15, 2025

Vale Maria Angelina

Dear Friends,

This month we are sad to report that Brazilian YCW leader, Maria Angelina De Oliveira, (photo above) has left us. We share the tribute from the Brazilian YCW and from other former movement leaders. RIP Angelina.

In major news, the Vatican has announced that Pope Leo has approved a decree recognising the martyrdom of more than 20 French YCW leaders, seminarians and chaplains (and one YCS leader) during World War II.

Meanwhile, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem, has posthumously honoured another former YCW chaplain, Fr Robert Crespin as "righteous among the nations."

We note that the Belgian Christian Worker movement, now known as beweging.net, has elected its first woman chairperson, Julie Hendrickx Devos.

We share a newly digitised video on the history of the YCW, originally produced for the 75th anniversary of the movement in 2000. We also present the talks given by IYCW president, Basma Louis, and Belgian Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville at the YCW Centenary celebrations in Laeken in May.

We highlight Pope Leo's emphasis on the promotion of the lay apostolate during his meeting with Catholic lay movements and communities early in June.

As usual, Pat Branson and Richard Pütz share their latest reflections.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

French jocist martyrs to be beatified

The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has recognised the martyrdom of more than twenty French jocist lay leaders as well as chaplains and seminarians linked to the YCW.

Pope Leo XIV approved the decree, which also recognised the martyrdom of many more French lay leaders and priests from other movements including the Scouts, and the Young Christian Students (YCS).

French jocist martyrs to be beatified

Vatican II emphasised lay apostolate: Pope Leo

Vatican II and particularly the decree Apostolicam Actuositatem strongly encouraged the lay apostolate and apostolic associations, Pope Leo told leaders of Catholic international movements and organisations on 6 June 2025.

He was addressing moderators of Associations of the faithful, ecclesial movements and new communities who travelled to Rome for the Jubilee.

Vatican II emphasised lay apostolate: Pope

Video: JOC Internationale - 75 ans d'éducation et d'action

This is a video - in French - produced by the International Cardijn Foundation and the archive centre, CARHOP, in 2000 to mark the 75th anniversary of the birth of the movement.

It has now been digitised and is available to watch on YouTube:

WATCH THE VIDEO

Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne Internationale - 75 ans d'éducation et d'action

YCW transforms lives, workplaces: IYCW president, Basma Louis

Our founder Joseph Cardijn, a “son of the working class” and a priest of the Catholic Church, began organising young workers in 1912: that was the year the first grassroots group was set up, IYCW president, Basma Louis, said opening the YCW Centenary celebrations in Brussels on 1 May.

But 1925 was the year the YCW was officially recognised in Belgium, both by the local Church and by the universal Church in the person of the Pope, who listened and responded to Cardijn’s wish to “save young workers”. So this year marks the 100th anniversary of the YCW!

YCW transforms lives, workplaces

Cardijn & the social conscience of young people

“What was written and what you have just heard is happening today,” said Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:14-21). He was reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah announcing good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed, Bishop Jean-Pierre told participants at the YCW Centenary celebration in Brussels on 1 May.

Joseph Cardijn, too, a hundred years ago, could say: “What was written and what you have just heard is happening today,” because Cardijn announced good news to young workers: he was founding the YCW, the Young Christian Workers, with them and opening up a new future for workers.

And in 2025, we can say once again: “What was written and what you have just heard is happening today,” because the YCW has become a global movement and the good news has spread across the whole world.

Jean-Pierre Delville, Joseph Cardijn and the social conscience of young people (IYCW)

Remembering Angelina De Oliveira

Maria Angelina de Oliveira, one of the most significant leaders of the Young Christian Workers (JOC) movement in Brazil and the world, has passed away, Radio Peao Brasil reports.

Her trajectory was marked by a lifetime dedicated to the struggle of the working class, popular movements and the solidarity economy. Her departure fills with sadness family members, friends, activists and social organizations that lived and learned from her example.

Solidariedade à família e amigas (os) de Maria Angelina de Oliveira

First woman chair for Belgian Christian worker movement

Julie Hendrickx Devos has been appointed as the first female chairperson of beweging.net, a major Belgian network of Christian worker and social organisations.

Devos was officially chosen to lead the Christian workers’ association at a general members’ meeting, where she received unanimous support from the 77 participants, including leaders from partner organisations including the KAJ (Flemish YCW movement), Pax Christi, ACV (Christian trade unions), and the Christian Mutuality.

With her appointment, Devos becomes the first female chairperson in the century-long history of the organisation.

First woman chair for Belgian Christian worker movement

French YCW chaplain named ‘Righteous among the nations’

French YCW chaplain, Fr Robert Crespin (1895-1961) was posthumously named “Righteous among the nations” for his role in saving several Jewish families from deportation during World War II.

More than sixty years after his death, Fr Crespin was awarded this medal on Thursday 12 June 2025 for his dedication and courage.

It is the highest civilian distinction in the State of Israel and has been awarded to approximately 4,300 French citizens since 1963.

French YCW chaplain named ‘Righteous among the nations’

History: The Argentine YCW and politics

This article by Jessica Blanco analyses the political positioning of the JOC in Argentina from 1943 to 1955, particularly its struggle between loyalty to the Peronist government and to its Catholic identity.

READ THE ARTICLE

Blanco, Jessica Estela. “La Juventud Obrera Católica y La Política: Entre La Lealtad Peronista y La Identidad Católica.” Prohistoria, 2012. (Academia)

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Gospel: Beware! This road leads to …

In 1989, British rock musician Chris Rea released an album of his songs, the title track being Road to Hell. The song is about a man who has strayed onto the motorway to Hell. This Gospel passage reminded me of Rea’s composition and its scriptural allusions:

On your journey cross the wilderness / From the desert to the well / You have strayed upon the motorway to hell:

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. People find themselves on that road when (with the best of intentions) they choose to ignore the plea for forgiveness in Jesus’ prayer (Luke 11:4):

Beware! This road leads to … (Cardijn Reflections)

Reflection: Contemplation stimulates action

Contemplation stimulates action through the See/Observe, Judge/Discern, and ACT methods.

Observing and discerning are intrinsic to contemplation. It serves as a powerful catalyst for meaningful action by deepening self-understanding, clarifying values, and connecting individuals to a sense of purpose and compassion.

The relationship between contemplation and action is not one-sided but dynamic and reciprocal, with each informing and enriching the other. Contemplation serves as a powerful catalyst for meaningful action by fostering self-understanding, clarifying values, and instilling a sense of purpose and compassion in individuals.

This dynamic relationship encourages continuous self-improvement, with each cycle of contemplation and action leading to deeper understanding and more meaningful engagement.

Contemplation stimulates action