Editor, Author at Cardijn.info

Remembering Bernie Docherty, extension worker in India

Former YCW India leader, Joseph Arokyasamy, has penned this tribute to the late Bernard James Docherty, an extension worker from Australia, who helped launch the YCW in several Indian dioceses.

Greetings in the Name of Jesus our Lord.

I am sending a very short background, my experiences with Mr Bernie Docherty and Miss Betty King and their hard work to organising the YCW in Bangalore and Madras Archdiocese, Poona and Allepey Dioceses. I travelled with him to three Diocesan meetings.

Bernie and Betty came to India at the end of 1960 and stayed till end of 1963.

Bernie use to cycle to contact workers in various areas in the city and he used to walk to places close by. He was so simple, honest and humble person, very hard working, very sincere in his work and his words. His behaviour attracted many including myself.
I first joined the group during Christmas 1960, learning to know all about YCW. In 1961 I formally joined the group due to Bernie’s persuasion.

I was not good in English and he encouraged me every time I made mistakes. In Sacred Heart Parish there were seven members in the YCW.

Bernie used to visit my simple home and have black coffee from my mother. She was very much fond of him. He encouraged me to study and I joined a tutorial college for Matriculation in 1961.

Bernie organised a central committee with Fr Rajekaiar as Diocesan chaplain from St Francis Xavier church, St Joseph church, St Mary’s, St Patrick’s and Sacred Heart Church. Mr Joe Bastian was President.

In the middle of July 191 along with Fr Thomas Joseph of Madras, he organised three days study at Coimbatore. Forty members from Madras, Mangalore, Bangalore, Allepy, Trichy along with seven priests also participated. Fr Thomas Joseph explained the methodology of YCW, what it stands for etc. All the workers were very happy to learn See, Judge and Act technique.

In 1962 he and Fr Thomas organised a seminar for seminarians at the Bishop’s House in Allepey.

I was invited to give a talk on contacts. It was my first experience on stage and I was very nervous but Fr Thomas helped me to complete my talk.

After a year and half Helen and Peter visited India and Peter found that there were many Joseph in the group. So they called Joe Bastian Big Joe and me Little Joe. Till today everyone calls me Little Joe.

Bernie and Betty organised three working women’s group with help of Cynthia Joneson. I was the one who introduced Cynthia to Betty when she was in my office.

Bernie organized five groups.

In the year 1963 Bernie married Philomena Dubiar from the Madras YCW girls. I was his best man. He left India in 1963.
Today there are more than 15000 men and women involved in YCW, CWM and CCI in more than 65 Dioceses in India.

Joseph Arokyasamy

Bernie Docherty, YCW extension worker in India (Australian Cardijn Institute)

Betty King (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Responding to the cry of the earth

Webinar on Ecology, Environment and Climate Crisis with the theme “Responding to the cry of the earth” organised by Cardijn Community India (CCI) on 16th October 2021.

One of the core concerns of CCI is to promote Ecological education and Climate justice.

Rev. Dr. Rayappa Kasi, renowned Environmentalist was the speaker. Fr Rayappa Kasi is a Catholic Priest who has dedicated himself full time to work towards building awareness about climate crisis and the need to protect the environment.

CCI 20th anniversary

This month marks the 20th anniversary of a Networking for Development conference sponsored by the French Catholic development agency, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, in Bangkok from 21-23 July 2001, which led to the foundation of the Cardijn Community International.

A particularity of CCFD is that it was founded in 1961 by a group of Catholic lay movements, including the French YCW, YCS and other Specialised Catholic Action movements. These movements continue to be members to this day, along with a range of other Catholic lay organisations and services of the Church.

A gathering of several CCFD partners from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar together with several other NGO workers, the aim was to develop cooperation between people and groups involved in development, who followed a similar approach, in particular the Cardijn see-judge-act method of formation.

The conference was hosted by Rungrote Tangsurakit, a Thailand YCW collaborator and Rungtip “Jim” Imrungruang, a former YCS leader, who worked with the Thailand Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

Juanito Penequito and Baltazar Pascual, both former YCW leaders, who had launched the Cardijn Development Centre in Manila, represented the Philippines.

Nguyen Tri Dung, a former YCS leader, who had created a textile cooperative providing training and Nguyen Anh Dung, who worked for another silk production cooperative founded by former YCW leaders in Ho Chi Minh City, represented Vietnam

Gregory Mahn Htun, a former IMCS leader from Myanmar, who worked with refugees on the Thai-Burma border, also attended along with a local Karen leader, the late William Aung Win Shwe.

S. Samydorai, a former YCW leader and human rights worker, represented Singapore while Stefan Gigacz, also a former YCW leader from Australia, represented CCFD.

At the end of the conference, a concrete resolution was adopted to create the “Cardijn Liaison Committee” with the objective of further developing the cooperation. Rungrote was elected as convenor.

Young People for Development

One of the first projects adopted was to develop training programs for the many young people from Myanmar living in refugee camps near Maesot on the Thai-Burma border with several workshops organised by Rungrote

In 2002, a group of young leaders from the French Catholic rural youth movement, MRJC, asked CCFD to help arrange an immersion program in Vietnam. Since it was difficult to organise the program in Vietnam, it was decided to organise an immersion and training program for young people in Thailand, that would bring together young people from South East Asian countries.

With the assistance of Fr Niphote, the founder of the Regional Training and Research Centre (RTRC) in Chiang Mai, a three week program was developed with the title “Young People for Development 2003.”

It began with immersion programs in Bangkok, Maesot, Chiang Mai and other areas of northern Thailand. This was followed by a week long “see-judge-act” program at the RTRC Centre.

Sixty-five young people from Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Cambodia and France joined the program, which also led to the formation of the “Young People for Development” (YPD) network.

Since then YPD international training programs continued nearly every year until the outbreak of Covid halted the program in 2020. Meanwhile, a strong Karenland YPD network has developed on both sides of the Thai-Burma border in the area near Maesot.

Vatican II

A second major initiative was the organising of another conference in Bangkok in 2002 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Vatican II with the title “Vatican II in the Age of Globalisation.” With sponsorship from Missio in Germany and the Italian Bishops Conference, this conference also drew over 60 participants from a dozen Asian countries.

Ten years later, CCI held a similar conference in Manila to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vatican II. Resolutions adopted at this conference included a call for the launch of the process of canonisation for Cardijn. Thanks to the work of Fr Felix Van Meerbergen this led to the creation of a Cardijn Canonisation Tribunal by the Archdiocese of Brussels in 2014.

New Pentecost

A concrete outcome of the Vatican II conferences was the launch of an annual “New Pentecost” program based on Pope John XXIII’s wish for Vatican II to give rise to a “New Pentecost” in the Church and the world.

The first New Pentecost program took place in 2005, with Chico Whitaker, the co-founder of the World Social Forum, who visited Thailand, Australia and New Zealand as part of the program.

Other countries also organised similar programs in subsequent years.

Cardijn Community International

Meanwhile, the original Cardijn Liaison Committee has evolved first into the “Cardijn Lay Community.” In 2006, we adopted the name “Cardijn Community International.”

Since CCI groups, chapters and networks have developed in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region (Thailand, Philippines, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Australia) and also in Africa (Zambia, Ivory Coast and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean region).

Cardijn Community International

Vatican II in the Age of Globalisation Conference (Vatican 2+40)

Vatican 2 + 50: A Cardijn Perspective

New Pentecost

Young People for Development

Remembering Malaysia’s ‘barefoot’ cooperator

Paul Sinnappan, a former YCS, YCW and Cardijn Community leader and mentor, who played a huge role in developing credit unions and social enterprises, particularly among plantation workers of Indian descent, died aged 71 on 24 May 2021.

“With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved father, Paul Sinnappan. He was a well-known social activist, defender of human rights, community builder and pioneer of ‘the’ micro-credit system for the poor,” said his son Arul Prakkash, announcing his father’s passing on social media.

“His work spread across the globe. He’s my inspiration to continuing the struggle for the poor, marginalised and to fight oppression everywhere. I believe he touched and inspired many others, too.”

Another significant detail about Sinnappan comes from Lawrence John, former director of Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese Catholic Social Communications Centre and present Signis International vice-president.

“Sinnappan earned his moniker Barefoot Cooperator for discarding his footwear whenever he walked to the kampung, plantations and Orang Asli settlements on his missions. It was a symbolic gesture of his, to be in solidarity with the poor, who accompanied him without sandals on their feet,” says John.

Paul’s influence was felt across many communities as well as within the Malaysian Catholic Church.

On many occasions, he shared his yet-to-be realised dream of a training centre that would continue the formation work that he had pioneered.

CCI convenor, MJ Ruben recalled Paul Sinnappan’s contribution to the Cardijn Community.

“You were part of CCI initiative right from 2006 when we met you to ask for your cooperation to build CCI. Your simplicity, analytical skills, expertise in cooperatives and micro credit and deep attachment to your roots in India are some of your outstanding characteristics.

“You were part of CCI international events in 2009 Malaysia, 2011 Bangkok, 2012 Manila; 2014 Malaysia; 2016 India and many other times we met as a team in Malaysia. You also attended the CC India meet at Nagercoil in 2010 and encouraged the leaders. We still cherish your stay in my place alone and with Rebecca Sinnappan and
Nithy Sinnappan.

“Your contribution to the Cardijn movements will never be forgotten Paul. You were an inspiration to me and more than anything a personal friend.

“You have done your part Paul as a great leader from the grass roots.

In December 2020 in what was probably his last published article, Paul told the story of his origins in a Dalit plantation family and his lifelong commitment to the cause of people of low castes or even none, many of whom were Christians. He passed away on 24 May, Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

Condolences to Rebecca, his wife, who shared his journey and commitment, and to their children and families.

Paul Sinnappan, In search of social justice, human rights of Dalits (Dalit Christian News)

Paul Sinnappan: Community organiser, reservoir of knowledge (Aliran)

Multi-ethnic communities saddened by ‘Barefoot Cooperator’ Paul Sinnappan’s passing (The Vibes)

Community Service Leader, Paul Sinnappan Passes Away At 71 (Varnam Malaysia)

Bringing God’s Perspective into the Domain of Businesses: HISTEAM Kingdom Economy for Social Change Workshop (Christianity Malaysia)

SJA helps people ‘find real answers’

“Much of the negative attitude among Malaysians today can be understood through the ‘broken windows’ effect – where the sense that no one cares perpetuates further indifference and negativity. This is visible when looking at the social condition and facilities around low-cost housing.”

Raymund Jagan, in his intervention during the Pastoral Spiral session, gave a comprehensive overview of the various social issues affecting children, youth, families and the poor, and talked about their root causes and challenges across diverse age groups within Malaysian society. He was the first speaker at the Pastoral Spiral session organised online by Caritas Malaysia on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Raymund is an accredited counsellor and lecturer in the Diploma in Social Work course at Methodist College, Kuala Lumpur, and used to work with the Welfare Service Department for 30 years.

The next speaker, Alex Arokiam, introduced the 45 participants from Sabah, Sarawak, Semenanjung and Brunei, to the See-Judge-Act methodology developed by Cardinal Joseph Cardijn. He explained how, through everyday contacts in one’s ‘milieu’ or world of life and work we can enter into the lives of people, create awareness and journey with them.

Alex has worked as an organiser and trainer for the National Young Christian Students movement, accompanied Young Christian Workers movement, and organised squatter communities. He has been running a shelter for homeless men living with HIV/AIDS in Batu Arang for many years. He emphasised the importance of finding out the real answers and not giving imaginative ones. He shared how he applied the See-Judge-Act method and responded to a truant student and a father who gambled, and stressed the life-giving outcomes of his actions.

Then Veronica Retnam, a PhD candidate who is currently conducting research on community kindergarten initiatives spoke. She began as a university Catholic student leader responding to the Church’s call to social justice. She shared her research findings on marginalised children and single mothers from the micro to the macro view and explained how they created a network to advocate for the needs of these mothers. Veronica shared about her personal faith journey in serving the poor.

After an active and refreshing panel discussion, the overall synthesis was presented by Charles Bertille, executive secretary to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Caritas Malaysia. He reflected on how all the speakers and participants who had shared during the panel exchange had actually been ‘doing theology’ in daily life through their faith reflections and responses.

These two poles, of faith and tradition and life experiences, are vital in living out our Christian life – while faith gives roots, human experiences challenge our faith to grow in understanding and action. He linked this to the vision of Pope Francis for a missionary, merciful and synodal Church – where all are called, by virtue of their baptism, to animate every space, every activity, every human relation according to the spirit of the Gospel.

Following the Pastoral Spiral talk, Caritas Malaysia, with the help of the resource persons, is ready to support small groups of people who wish to journey together in practicing the See-Judge-Act in their daily lives in a structured manner. To participate in the small groups or the CD course, contact admin@caritasmalaysia.net.

Caritas Malaysia is the official arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) and its goal is to promote the social mission of the Malaysian Church. It consists of the nine diocesan offices and the national office. Caritas promotes the social mission of the Church through its works of charity and relief, integral human development, care for creation, advocacy and social services.

SOURCE

Putting faith into action: a call to bear witness (Herald Malaysia)

Farewell human rights defender Aegile Fernandez

Former Malaysian YCW leader, Aegile Fernandez, who was also the co-founder of the human rights NGO, Tenaganita, died on 9 March at the age of 72, Herald Malaysia reports.

“Aegile has been a warm glow of comfort in so many lives and a bright and enduring light in the fight for justice and equality. We ask that if you are comfortable, please light a candle for her today,” her family said in an announcement.

“Importantly, she’d want you to keep up her mission for justice, her practice of kindness, her open heart to all who have the least.

“In the words of Aegile, her reminder to us of her mission in life: Ask me not what’s my race or creed, just take me in my hour of need,” the announcement read.

Aegile hailed from the rubber plantations of Sungai Petani, Kedah, and was the younger sister of Tenaganita’s founder Irene Fernandez who died in 2014.

She joined the YCW at the age of sixteen, beginning a social commitment that led to her lifetime of work with prisoners, sex workers, drug addicts, HIV/Aids patients, domestic abuse victims, refugees, human trafficking victims, and abused children.

She joined Tenaganita in 1993 as her sister was setting up a migrant and human trafficking desk.

She vowed that she could never stop her work because there is so much to be done.

“We have one fewer human rights defender of migrants, women and the poor,” commented federal parliamentarian, Charles Santiago, another former YCW leader. “But her legacy will carry on in the work of Tenaganita and many more. Farewell, my friend. Rest in peace.”

University of Nottingham Malaysia’s Bridget Welsh described Fernandez as a warrior for justice, adding that her spirit would live on despite her passing.

“For decades she fought for the rights of migrants and Malaysians selflessly and worked towards a more tolerant, kind and inclusive world,” she said.

Social and political activist Ambiga Sreenevasan also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the Tenaganita co-founder, saying she spent her life “fighting the good fight”.

SOURCE

Tenaganita co-founder Aegile Fernandez dies (Herald Malaysia)

PHOTO

Lim Huey Teng / Malaysiakini

Cardinal Farrell praises MIACS Covid response

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the president of the Holy See Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has praised a statement on responding to Covid by the International Movements of Specialised Catholic Action (MIACS).

The letter, which addressed the theme “From crisis to conversion,” aims “to identify shared objectives and priority action areas that seek to address the many social, economic and human crises, caused by the pandemic,” Cardinal Farrell noted.

“The praiseworthy effort at reflection and sharing that you have made to compose these guidelines deserves to be better and more widely known.

“Your analysis and your proposals, which are the fruit of a realistic and objective Christian perspective on events, have well interpreted and attempted to translate into concrete action the Pope’s thinking regarding the present world crisis. They also echo his urgent appeal for global solidarity, which was forcefully expressed in the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti.

“At a time when everything seems to be disintegrating and losing consistency, it is good for us to appeal to the ‘solidity’ born of the consciousness that we are responsible for the fragility of others as we strive to build a common future. (Fratelli Tutti §115).

“By your commitment to the most disadvantaged, you are responding precisely to this invitation of the Pope by basing yourself on the “solidity” of the international network that you have developed and by taking responsibility for the fragility of so many of our brothers and sisters in difficulty from the perspective of a common future in which we are all now more than ever implicated.

“I thank all the movements that are part of MIACS for all that you are doing with such devotion and commitment,” Cardinal Farrell concluded.

Church must assert role as peacemaker: Cardinal Bo

“The Church must assert its role as a peacemaker,” Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar has written in a letter to responding to a solidarity message sent by the Cardijn Community International.

“On behalf of our people and Church in Myanmar, kindly accept our grateful sentiments for your moving gesture of solidarity at these great challenging moments. We deeply appreciate your fellowship of men and women from various countries,” Cardinal Bo wrote.

“We are into great challenges for our existence as a nation. After 70 long years, freedom broke and we thought it was a dawn of a new era. Suddenly these dreams seemed to have evaporated especially for the youth. The resistance shown by them is their anxiety about their future. Church people did show their solidarity in very many ways.

“Amidst all this darkness, death and agony, the Church must assert its role as a peacemaker. The Pope visit highlighted that this small church can be a great leaven for peace. This is what we are doing. Amidst all the darkness, we need to light a candle of hope. This is a hard path. But we always work under sincere hope: Peace is possible, peace is the only way.

“Thanks for your fellowship during these days. God bless you

In Christ.

♦ Cardinal Charles Bo

Archbishop of Yangon/ President of FABC

Earlier, CCI convenor, Mr Ruben Joseph sent the following letter signed by CCI leaders from 21 countries.

“Members of Cardijn Community International(CCI), an international network of leaders formed through Cardijn movements and other Cardijn followers who are involved in various movements and organisations around the world wish to extend our solidarity and prayers at this moment of great distress you and the people of Myanmar are going through.

“We have been following with anguish the developments unfolding since the day the military seized power from the democratically elected government. On our part we are disseminating whatever information we receive to as many groups and civil society organisations to create public opinion against the goings on in your country.

“We are shocked at the inhuman methods and brutality employed by the uniformed forces on the peace loving people of Myanmar. The spirit and zeal for peace and democracy witnessed in the struggle by the youth, women, the religious and all sections of the people gives us hope that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

“We are shocked at the increase in the number of people dying in the shooting incidents.

“At this critical juncture we hereby assure our solidarity and prayers to you, the Catholic Church and all those in the struggle for return to democracy in Myanmar.

“We pray to the Almighty for peace and serenity to return to Myanmar at the earliest.

“United with you in prayers,

“Ruben M. Joseph, India and other CCI leaders from 21 countries.

Copies of the original letters may be seen below.

(Photo credit: Agenzia Fides, CCA Int 4.0)

From crisis to conversion: Cardijn-inspired movements speak out

Responding to the Covid-19 crisis around the globe, eleven international Specialised Catholic Action movements representing workers, intellectuals, professional, farmers as well as youth and children’s movements (including the Cardijn Community International), have combined to call for personal and structural change to respond to the problems that have emerged.

“The International Specialised Catholic Action Movements (known by the French acronym MIACS) represent more than 500 movements around the world with a great diversity of countries, cultures and backgrounds,” the statement begins. “Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic we have been reflecting together on this crisis and wish to share some thoughts and actions.

“The pandemic has brutally aggravated pre-existing problems,” the statement warns. These problems include “unemployment, inequalities between gender, between rich and poor, within and between countries, and domestic violence.”

“Various needs including access to healthcare, social security, working conditions, health, food, education, reception of migrants are growing as is the visibility of these problems and the national debt.

“The pandemic has made these situations unbearable, as illustrated by the reports of IYCW on the impact of Covid on young workers, FIMARC on farmers and fisherfolk, and MIDADE on the living conditions of children. A system that fails to solve these problems or to prevent them from worsening, needs to change.

It has “caused personal destabilisation, complicated relationships and blocked projects owing to uncertainty about the future. Destabilisation at a collective level has also occurred. In these circumstances, can GDP growth remain the reference? Can we still believe in ongoing progress after the pandemic? It has changed the way people look at things, e.g. the kinds of employment that sustain society.

“More than just a crisis, the pandemic has created a new situation, the effects of which are still unknown. We are experiencing a key moment that calls for change. But what change? And what will the fundamental basis of it be?

“The current crisis is a call for change to all. The contribution of our movements is to promote human development in the spirit of the Gospel, through everything that catalyses awareness and conversions, at the international and local levels.

“The necessary conversions are not only personal. They are also about relations between people and with the environment, modes of organisation, the laws that govern living together, the collective values of the different environments: companies, financial organisations, etc, the MIACS group says.

“Everything must be at the service of the common good, solidarity and justice in order to achieve a dignified life for all. The expected fruits of these conversions include the following:

Food, housing, dignified work for all.
Access to land and other productive resources for sustainable agricultural production and to the
sea for fishing in a way that respects the planet.
Effective social protection and solidarity for all throughout the world.
Infrastructure for education, public transportation, access to electricity and the Internet for
equal opportunities and participation of all in social life.
A recognition of “care” activities (health, support, education, etc.), in particular
by wages, statutes and working conditions.
Activities (consumption, transport, production…) that do not exhaust non sustainable resources
and do not pollute the planet.
The responsibility of all to finance the common good according to their financial capacities, in
particular the digital giants, and to put an end to tax evasion and corruption.

“This crisis is a call for conversions and changes to make the world more humane,” the MIACS statement concludes. “It will be a herald of good news if we manage to achieve the necessary transformations together.”

READ THE FULL STATEMENT

MIACS Covid Declaration (English)

Déclaration Covid MIACS (French)

IMAGE

John Hopkins University / Wikipedia

Antoine Sondag’s Three Last Things: Thanks, Forgiveness and Hope

French priest, Fr Antoine Sondag, a former chaplain to the International YCS and later to the Pax Romana ICMICA movement, died on 7 November.

Known to many generations of movement leaders for his personal qualities and friendship as well as his intellectual capacities, Fr Antoine also served the French Church in a variety of roles.

Educated at the elite Institute of Political Science in Paris, he renounced an academic career to train as a priest in his home diocese of Metz, where he began his involvement with the French JEC or YCS.

Later he directed the research department for Caritas France and led the “mission universelle” or international affairs department for the French Catholic Bishops Conference.

Recently, he animated a dialogue process between the two YCW international movements, the International YCW (IYCW) and the International Coordination of the YCW (ICYCW).

Knowing that his end was near, he recorded a remarkable video reflection on the meaning of life and death that has already been viewed online over 20,000 times and translated into 12 languages in less than two weeks since his death.

WATCH THE VIDEO (FRENCH) ORE READ TRANSCRIPT

Antoine Sondag, A Dieu (Diocese of Metz) (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Antoine Sondag, A Dieu (English Transcript) (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)

Stefan Gigacz, Antoine Sondag, a diaconal priest (Cardijn Research)