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Remembering Fr Reid Shelton Fernando

Former CCI, Christian Workers Movement and Sri Lanka YCW chaplain, F Reid Shelton Fernando, a renowned human rights activist during the nation’s bitter civil war and a former head of UCA New’s bureau in the country, was laid to rest on June 3.

Fr Reid died at a retirement facility in the national capital, Colombo, on June 1 at the age of 80, the Colombo archdiocese said without giving a cause of death.

He was buried in the cemetery of St. Carlo Borromeo’s Church in Willorawatta, on the outskirts of Colombo.

Fr Reid was also known for extending his vocation beyond his regular Church duties to help support people from all walks of life.

Ruwini Sithara, a member of the Kithudana Pubuduwa, the country’s most significant Catholic renewal movement, highlighted Father Fernando’s leadership roles as a human rights defender and a lay Catholic leader.

“The priest rendered invaluable services by training lay Catholic leadership as the national chaplain of the Christian Workers’ Movement (CWM) and Young Christian Workers’ Movement (YCW). He mobilized factory workers in the Free Trade Zones with the backing of the CWM and the YCW,” Sithara told UCA News on June 3.

She said Fr Fernando was a member of the Congress of Religions and the Inter-Religious Peace Foundation.

Soon after the civil war, the priest testified before the government-appointed Lessons Learnt Reconciliation Commission “to present evidence” in 2010, said Sithara.

Fr Reid stood as the sole advocate demanding justice for enforced disappearances, including ten priests who were reported missing during the 26-year conflict in the island nation that claimed more than 80,000 lives when rebels sought to carve out a separate state.

The priest also compiled a theological dictionary in Sinhala, the most popular language in the Indian Ocean nation, to popularize theology among local lay students.

“Seven volumes have been already published,” said Sithara.

He also edited the local theological magazine, the Shravaka.

The priest was widely recognized in Sri Lanka for his writings and commentaries on social and political issues in newspapers.

Joe William, chairman of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, said, “We mourn his passing and acknowledge his invaluable efforts in advancing peace and reconciliation within and beyond the Church.”

Sunimal Sudeera, a rights activist and former YCW colleague of the priest, said Father Fernando was against the executive presidency followed by Sri Lanka and started a campaign to abolish the sweeping powers given to the nation’s president.

In his autobiography, the priest recounted being transferred to a remote parish in 1992, where authorities urged him to “produce results” because of his outspokenness.

Fernando was born in November 1943 and graduated from the National Seminary in 1970, after which he was ordained a priest.

SOURCE

Renowned Sri Lankan activist priest laid to rest (UCA News)

New Pentecost 2018 focuses on ecology

“Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor” by Leonardo Boff (Orbis Books, New York, 1997)

As it has done each year since 2005, CCI will celebrate its New Pentecost event again this year by focusing on the theme “Ecology” on Pentecost Sunday 20 May.

As decided at the CCI International Council in 2016, the aim is to create awareness of the need to protect creation.

As Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015, ‘a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

In this historic encyclical, Pope Francis applies Cardijn’s time-tested see-judge-act methodology to the ecological sphere and the need to care for our “common home.”

In a statement for this year’s New Pentecost event, CCI has called on its members to ‘organize liturgical celebrations, study days, seminars, rallies or meetings to discuss the threat to humanity and nature by degradation of the environment and the steps that could be taken to leave a safer earth to our future generations.”

“You may also use this occasion to create awareness through social media and other modes of campaigns.

“You may also choose to issue media release on the need to protect creation and to appeal to the people to do their best to care for their common home,” the statement says.

CCI’s New Pentecost program was first launched in 2005 to promote the dream of Saint (Pope) John XXIII that Vatican II should open the way to a New Pentecost in the Church. http://www.newpentecost.com/

“O Holy Spirit, renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost,” was the prayer for the Council proposed by Saint John XXIII.

It was conceived as a follow up to the successful CCI conference on Vatican II in the era of Globalization held in Bangkok to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II in 1962.

Ever since, members and friends of CCI across the world are observing the Pentecost Sunday to reflect and study a particular theme and to come up with action plans, activities and projects to build a different world.

Pepe Palacio remembered

Argentinian ex-JOC leader and IYCW lay collaborator, Jose Serapio (Pepe) Palacio, was remembered at a memorial Mass at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre in Chennai, India, on Sunday 13 December, forty years to the day after he was killed by military or para-military forces.

Two days earlier on 11 December 1975, Palacio had been abducted after leaving his trade union office in Buenos Aires, becoming one of thousands of “desaparecidos”, i.e. people who “disappeared” in the Southern Cone countries of Latin America under the military and military-dominated governments of that period.

On 13 December 1975, a large group of up to 80 armed men descended on the family home, taking almost all of his personal documentation and photos recording his life work as a JOC leader, trade unionist, and activist in the MOAC (Christian Worker movement).

His wife, Amalia Castaño de Palacio, who had also been a JOCF leader and fulltimer, and their three sons were left in the dark for decades concerning the fate of their husband and father, recalls Jose Luis Palacio, eldest son of Pepe Palacio, who was then fourteen years old.

Earlier in 1975, the IYCW had appointed Pepe Palacio as its first lay collaborator.

“He was a person respected by all the former YCWs,” according to Enrique Del Rio, then-president of the IYCW, “and it was precisely for that reason that our international team, in agreement with the Latin American team, proposed him as a ‘lay chaplain’.”

“Unfortunately, he did not have the opportunity to take up that responsibility because of the military repression in Argentina at that time.

“We had very little information then. However, in a very informal manner, we heard that he had been assassinated by Argentine military,” Del Rio noted in a message for the 40th anniversary.

Days after Palacio’s disappearance, the IYCW launched an international solidarity campaign seeking his release.

However, it was not until a later Argentinian government finally opened up access to its archives that it was confirmed that Pepe Palacio had been tortured and shot two days after his initial disappearance.

Although the exact reasons for his abduction and killing remain known, it appears likely that Pepe Palacio, who also had strong links with Chilean JOC and union leaders, may have been killed under the CIA-assisted Operation Condor program to assassinate union and popular leaders suspected of links to the left, Jose Luis Palacio believes.

Jose Luis, his wife Stella Maris, and their daughter Belen, took part in the Memorial Mass celebrated by current Chennai Archdiocese youth chaplain, Fr Varghese Rozario. Ironically, it was also the 29th wedding anniversary for Jose Luis and Stella Maris, who had been married in 1986, before the details of the death of Pepe Palacio were known.

Prior to the Mass, CCI members honoured the memory of Pepe Palacio at a special commemorative session. In a message for the event, current IYCW president, Ludovicus Mardiyono noted that he “was disappeared for the sake of struggle for new society that he and we dream about.“

“Please trust me that the life of your father will always written and stay in our heart, in the heart of young workers, women and men and in the heart of YCW that will encourage us to do more and take action to achieve what he also want to have, it is Just Work and Dignified Life for all young workers,” he added.

Former YCW India and CCI chaplain, Fr Soosai Servatius, also celebrated another memorial Mass in Nagercoil, in India’s Kanyakumari district on 11 December.

IYCW marks centenary of first group

Needleworkers Union at Laeken 1912

This Easter marks the centenary of Cardijn’s arrival in the parish of Our Lady of Laeken, near Brussels in Belgium. Cardijn always dated the founding of the first YCW group to 1912 making this year also the centenary of the beginnings of the YCW.

The International YCW and the Cardijn Community International are both marking this important anniversary.

IYCW International president Geethani Peries has announced a special commemoration at Cardijn’s tomb that will take place at Our Lady’s Church, Laeken on Sunday 26 April from 3.00 -5.00 pm.

Read the IYCW Laeken celebration invitation here.

CCI has also issued a statement to mark the centenary calling on those formed in the Cardijn tradition to renew their commitment to Cardijn’s spirituality and methodology.

“The Cardijn Community International (CCI) therefore wishes to take this opportunity to express its solidarity with the YCW and all others who base their work on Cardijn’s principles,” the CCI statement says.

“We call for a fresh commitment to Cardijn’s cause so that a new generation of young people may be able to discover their mission to transform the world together with all those working to build ‘another world’.

“On this historic occasion, we also renew our commitment to promoting Cardijn’s spirituality, vision and See-Judge-Act methodology.”

Read the full CCI statement here: Cardijn launched first YCW group in 1912: A Centenary Tribute

Cardijn launched first YCW group in 1912: A Centenary Tribute

A century ago this Easter, young Fr Joseph Cardijn arrived in the parish of Our Lady at Laeken near Brussels to take up a post as curate with particular responsibility for women’s projects.

A few months later, with a group of teenage girl apprentices, he launched a study circle that he came to regard as the first ever Young Christian Workers (YCW) team. Working with Madeleine De Roo, Victoire Cappe and others young women leaders, Cardijn rapidly laid the foundations for what would become a worldwide movement of young workers. Later in 1912, he would also meet 18 year-old Fernand Tonnet, who would join him later in founding the YCW movement for young men before eventually dying in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.

“The most fundamental characteristic of the beginnings of the YCW (before the First World War) was the call to an apostolate, a total and complete apostolate for several young women workers who would train and raise up the others,” Cardijn wrote much later.

“It was a time of great apostolic demands and great apostolic commitments,” he continued. These included:

leaving a ‘good job’ for a workshop, a factory, a dirty, repugnant, sub-human job;
accepting to share meals with women workers in the workshops of factories making rabbit fur, rubber, artificial silk; or
going to live in an attic in Rue Haute [High Street] in the midst of an environment of prostitution.

Instilling what he described as a “very active” spirituality based on meditation, prayer, sacraments and study, Cardijn inspired an amazing sense of commitment in the young women workers of Laeken.

“The story of this ‘golden legend’ has never been written down,” Cardijn noted. “However, it is the only explanation for the extraordinary power of the YCW, the YCW mystique.

“I believe that it is the essential condition of the true worker revolution. Without it, we are doomed to bourgeoisification,” he warned.

Although the world of 2012 is very different from that of 1912, some things have not changed. In 1912, Europe was in the throes of its industrial revolution. Today, the whole Global South is in the midst of its own vast industrial revolution.

Whereas Cardijn once spoke of “millions and millions of young workers”, today the reality is that there are billions of young workers throughout the world, particularly in the developing countries. The needs and problems that moved Cardijn to act are greater than ever.

‘Globalization’ has permeated into all spheres of life and is projected as the ‘new religion’. Consumer culture promotes ‘consumption’ as a key to people’s own identity.

The Cardijn Community International (CCI) therefore wishes to take this opportunity to express its solidarity with the YCW and all others who base their work on Cardijn’s principles.

We call for a fresh commitment to Cardijn’s cause so that a new generation of young people may be able to discover their mission to transform the world together with all those working to build ‘another world’.

On this historic occasion, we also renew our commitment to promoting Cardijn’s spirituality, vision and See-Judge-Act methodology.

Christmas and New Year greetings

Dear CCI Friends,

Christmas and New Year greetings to all as we gather with our families and closest friends!

Let us also spare a special thought and prayer for those who are separated from their loved one. I am thinking in particular of former Thailand YCW fulltimer and labor activist, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, who is now in prison while on trial over lese majeste charges. We also remember his family who have now been separated from their husband and father for eight months.

At this time we also think of former IYCW chaplain, Fr RV Mathias, who passed away just a few weeks ago. In fact, at the request of some former YCWs in India, we have now launched a memorial website www.rvmathias.com to commemorate his life and work. We hope to make the development of this site a participative project and so we will be pleased to receive your testimonies and photos for posting on the site.

We also learned recently of the death of former Brazil and American YCW chaplain, Fr Agostino Pretto, who played an important role in the movement during the 1970s.

This year also saw the death of another former YCW chaplain and liberation theologian, Belgian-born Fr Jose Comblin, who spend most of his priestly working in Brazil.

Another CCI friend to pass on this year was Thai Bishop Bunluen Mansap, who died in January aged 81.

We remember and give thanks for their sacrifices on behalf of the poor and workers around the world.

2011 has also been an important year for the development of the Cardijn Community with the 3rd CCI General Assembly in July which also marked the 10th anniversary of our foundation in 2001.

CCI India also held its General Assembly in Chennai in August where it was decided to develop a campaign on internal migration.

Meanwhile, the Cardijn Community Australia focused on the history of the Cardijn movements in Australia at its November conference.

New initiatives have also begun in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

2012 is also shaping up to be an important year for CCI with the launch of our three project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vatican II.

We thank you for being with us this year and invite you once again to join us in our mission to promote the spirituality and methodology of Joseph Cardijn.

Stefan Gigacz

President/Convenor CCI on behalf of the CCI International Team

CCI India to focus on internal migration campaign

CCI-India is to launch a three month enquiry campaign focusing on internal migration following its general assembly and study session in Chennai last week.

The General Assembly also elected a new national team with Xavier Anthony as president, Glynis Joseph as secretary and Monica Mascarenhas as treasurer.

CCI Secretary General MJ Ruben, who also participated in the meeting, has filed the brief report below:

11th Nov.: The event started with an immersion session inaugurated by Fr. Thomas Joseph, 92 years, a worker chaplain and YCW/CWM Chaplain since 1950.The website of CCI-India was also launched. You can visit www.cardijncommunity.in

The immersion session was conducted by Fr. Maschio, Animator of CCI groups in Kanniyakumari and Tuticorin dioceses.

M. J. Ruben made a presentation on ‘What is CCI’.

Ms Glynis Joseph, Coordinator of the host chapter welcomed and Lazar, Treasurer proposed a vote of thanks. The inaugural session was followed by a welcome dinner.

12th Nov.: The Study on ‘Corruption – in and around us’ brought out new insights and revelations about our own lives, attitudes, mentalities, perceptions and about what is happening in the community. Many proposals came out in terms of acting against this menace.

13th: GA – Business session with chapter reports, National report, financial report, etc. It was amazing to discover that Rupess 260,000 was the income in just 18 months. All this money came from the CCI members and through their efforts from the friends of CCI. Everyone felt that it is possible to develop the movement without having to depend on external sources. This is one of the aspects of the ‘spirituality of CCI’ and we need to develop this ‘culture’.

PLAN FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS

1. Internal Migration: Inquiry Campaign to be launched on the ‘Living and working conditions of internal migrant workers’ at the all India level which will go on for 3 months. The National CCI will plan further based on the findings.

2. Vatican II @ 50: A 3 year project commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vatican II will be launched in 2012.

3. Other issues for Study/Campaign: Unemployment, Corruption, Work and Worker, Climate Justice, Peace Building

4. Training for youth on ‘Social Media and Social Networking’

Plans for extension were made besides proposals for fund raising.

STATUTES:

The GA adopted the Statutes and Internal Regulations which will be the guiding point for the CCI India in future.

It was also decided to have a legal status for CCI by registering it under the ‘Societies Act’.

NEW TEAM:

National President: Xavier Anthony (Bangalore)
National Secretary: Ms Glynis Joseph (Chennai)
National Treasurer: Ms Monica Mascarenhas (Pune)
Team Members:
Clifford Bastian: Nagpur
Jomon Cherussery: Kerala
Joseph Arokiasamy: Pune
Paul Arputham: Bangalore
National Chaplain: Fr. Servatius (Kanniyakumari)
Collaborators: Fr. Maschio (Tuticorin); Dominic Mendonca (Pune)
Volunteer Team: Joseph Anthony (Bangalore); George Heston (Chennai); James Sylvester (Hyderabad)
Ex-officio Members: V. Susairaj and M. J. Ruben

Visit Photo Gallery here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/103324114816508872702/CCIIndiaGA2011

Newsletter launch

Dear Friends, Already a month has passed since our General Assembly and 10th Anniversary in Bangkok.

I hope that we can build on the legacy that Ruben left us in his role as convenor and also the team before him, particularly Rungrote whom you met in Bangkok and “Jim” Rungtip Imrunguang who was a key member of our first CCI or CLC team as it was then. It is really a pity that she was unable to join us as she was in Laos for another conference during our event.

Now I guess we are all trying to see best how we can work to implement the plans that we made in Bangkok.

One of the things that we decided was to launch a newsletter and so I have compiled this bulletin to share with you some of what has been happening.

Developments in CCI

Even before he returned to Zambia, Clement Katongo was making plans to launch an event in Africa, i.e. Zambia to mark the 50th anniversary of Vatican II. If everything goes to plan, this would be held in late 2012. We look forward to hearing of more plans.

From Sri Lanka, Fr Reid has already held a meeting on 13 August to launch a Sri Lankan chapter of CCI with about 8 people present and plans for regular monthly meetings.

From Australia, Kevin has been in contact with Cardinal Tom Williams, retired archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, who gave a speech to 300 former YCW and YCS members from NZ at a 1996 event. Hopefully, we will soon be in contact with some of those people.

From India, we have heard that the National Team met last week. Paul and Rebecca Sinappan are in fact on their way to India today for a personal visit and will meet with Ruben and other CCI leaders there.

From the Philippines, Juanito has informed us of plans to establish a Treasurer’s Team to manage the finances. The Manila CCI group has also fixed a meeting for 11 September.

So already lots of things are starting to happen!

CCI Websites

Meanwhile, I have been working here in Kuala Lumpur, mostly on developing the CCI websites.

News

www.cardijn.info: This is our news website, publishing news item relating not only to CCI but to all the Cardijn movements and dealing also with lay apostolate, worker issues, etc. I have updated much of the background information and started to reorganise the site to fit in better with our needs.

www.cardijn.fr: This is our newsite in French which is similar to www.cardijn.info

Community

www.cardijncommunity.org: This website focuses on our own CCI organisation, activities etc. I have already posted up an initial online draft report of our General Assembly. There is still material to be added – and above all photos – please let me know if you have photos that we can add. Also, please let me know of any other suggestions that you have for content.

Campaigns

www.vatican2plus50.com: This also is a brand new website on which I have started as a resource centre for our 50th anniversary of Vatican II project. As you can see, there are already quite a number of resources available there. Please send in suggestions for more development.

www.newpentecost.com: This is our existing website for our annual New Pentecost activities which have been held each year since 2005 in various countries – sometimes big, sometimes small. This was a follow up to our original Vatican 2 + 40 program in 2002 to mark the 40th anniversary of Vatican II.

Resources

www.josephcardijn.com: This is our website for publishing documents by and concerning the life of Joseph Cardijn.

www.josephcardijn.fr hosts the Cardijn documents in the original French.

https://sites.google.com/a/cardijn.info/cardijn-resources/: This is the Cardijn Resources website for other Cardijn related resources. This will be revamped shortly, I hope.

As you will also see the websites are all linked to each other thru the top menu bar on each site.

Feedback

Already the sites are attracting over 1000 visits per month and hopefully this will grow as people discover the range of resources that are available.

Only this week I had a message from Dr Bernard D’Sami, CCI member from India, and also professor of history at Loyola College, Chennai: “You have really opened the floodgates of Cardijn’s resources. These are the primary sources to study and understand Cardijn and his times and work. Somehow it should reach at least some academics who are connected in someway or other with Cardijn’s movement, So that some serious research could be undertaken by some serious social science researchers. More and more young men and women should be exposed to these treasures. I will certainly make use of these resources to involve some to undertake research based on the original documents and materials relating to the life and work of the Cardijn. Great work done! Congratulations.”

This is a really great encouragement and I hope we can keep going.

World Youth Day

You would have also noticed that Sunday was World Youth Day in Spain with Pope Benedict. And I was able to publish online the Marguerite Fievez and Jacques Meert biography of Cardijn as a kind of contribution for World Youth Day:

http://www.josephcardijn.com/latest-news/readcardijnsbiographyonline-1

It is also interesting to note that the next World Youth Day will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013 – only two years away. Some of you will know that Cardijn had a tremendous influence in Brazil through the YCW, YCS, University YCS, and other Catholic Action movements. Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to make sure that Cardijn is on the agenda for World Youth Day Brazil?

Lots of work to do!

Anyway, there’s lots of work to do! But let’s start simply!

All the best
Stefan Gigacz
CCI President/Convenor
Foundation Day of the International YCW

CCI General Assembly plans for future

Over forty participants from eleven countries met in Bangkok, Thailand from 23-25 July 2011 for the CCI 3rd General Assembly.

The event began with a public forum on Sustainable Development for Peace with former IYCS/IMCS and ICMICA chaplain, Father Antoine Sondag as keynote speaker.

Bishop Pibul Visitnondachai of Nakhon Sawan, president of the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR) and National Catholic Commission for Migration (NCCM) celebrated Mass with partcipants on Saturday 23 July to mark the 10th anniversary of the foundation of CCI and the 44th anniversary of the death of Cardijn on 24 July 1967.

The General Assembly then began with a study session on “My community, my country” followed by a session analysing current world realities.

This was followed by a series of life testimonies from various participants including Paul Sinappan from Malaysia and Geethani Peries from Sri Lanka, who is currently president of the International YCW.

New team elected

The General Assembly concluded with the election of a new team including Stefan Gigacz as President/Convenor, Manasa Janaki and Patrick Vishal Fernandes sharing the role of secretary, Juanito Penequito as treasurer, Fr Reid Shelton Fernando and V. Susairaj as collaborators.

Clement Katongo will act as extension officer for Africa while Kevin Vaughan will play the same role for the Pacific.

Plan of Action

The Assembly also adopted an action plan focusing on several key elements:

a) Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vatican II

b) Marking the centenary of the first YCW group founded by Cardijn at Laeken, Belgiun in 1912.

c) Publishing and translating the writings of Joseph Cardijn

d) Developing training resources on See – Judge – Act, Review of Life, etc.

The Assembly also witnessed the launch of the publication, Review of Life… a way of life, Training Module on See – Judge – Act Method, produced by CCI India on behalf of Cardijn Media.

Incoming president Stefan Gigacz closed the Assembly thanking outgoing convenor Mr MJ Ruben for his outstanding work and commitment over the past five years. He also thanked Mr Rungrote Tangsurakit and Ms Rungtip Imrungruang from the original CCI foundation team in 2001.

Countdown to conference

Less than a week to go to our 10th anniversary conference to be held from 23-25 July in Bangkok, Thailand.

We are pleased to say that we have 48 participants enrolled and we expect it to be a very significant event for the development of the CCI network.

Keynote speaker will be Father Antoine Sondag, former international chaplain of the IYCS and of Pax Romana-ICMICA.

We are also happy to say that IYCW international president Ms Geethani Peries will also join us.

More details will follow over the next few days.

Stefan Gigacz, CCI Secretary