New Pentecost Archives - Cardijn.info

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

A ‘New Pentecost’ in the 50th yr of opening of Vatican II

The International Team of CCI wishes all Cardijn alumni and the members of Cardijn Community a spirit filled ‘New Pentecost’.

New Pentecost is very special to CCI.

New Pentecost was promoted by CCI as a follow up to its successful Conference on Vatican II + 40 in 2002 in Bangkok to commemorate the 40^thanniversary of the opening of Vatican II in 1962.

Pope John XXIII proposed the prayer “O Holy Spirit, renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost” for Vatican II. He wished the Vatican II to open the way to a New Pentecost in the Church.

This year CCI is commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II by launching a 3 year project re-examining the spirit and decisions of the Council in the areas of social teachings and lay participation in the light of Cardinal Cardijn’s contribution.

The project will be launched on the 11^th October this year in Manila with a 3 day Conference on ‘Vatican 2 + 50: A Cardijn Perspective’.

An ‘Inquiry’ to collate the perceptions of the laity will be launched as a preparation to the Conference.

On this special day, we beseech the Holy Spirit to guide us in our search to build a ‘sustainable Church’ in the light of the vision and spirituality promoted by Cardijn.

CCI India celebrates New Pentecost

CCI India members gathered at Sacred Heart, Poonamallee near Chennai to celebrate New Pentecost with a special Mass celebrated by Father Thomas Joseph, 92, a worker chaplain since 1950.

“Thomas Joseph stressed on the message of ‘peace’ in his homily. He said peace cannot be achieved without justice and so our struggle for justice is struggle for peace,” CCI Convenor M.J. Ruben reports.

“At the sharing session afte the mass, the CCI members and contacts shared how they are building peace throught their involvement in various fields.

“Lazar Fernando had to give up his good prospects in the Gulf and returned to India to take care of his spastic child. He underwent training and took up a job in a school for spastic children. When the school closed down, the parents of the special children requested Lazar to start a school for their wards. In the meantime, Lazar’s son died at the age of 14. Lazar realised the pitiable state of the children as well as their parents who were mostly poor fisherfolk. He collected some donations from traders and friends besides loans from his wife’s workplace and rented out a house and started a school for special children. Now, the school ‘Mercy Niketan’ has 35 children.

“After joining CCI Lazar is able to share his work and get more contacts and know how to run the school. Susairaj and Ruben are in the Trust and they are planning to develop the school; the parents are now pressing Lazar to open a hostel like facility for children above 18 yrs since it is very hard for the poor parents to look after them. The school gets a small percentage of the teacher’s salary from the state social welfare department.

“Gnanaraj who is a railway employee offered to help out Lazar to find local donors through the network at his work place.

“Sebastian, a worker leader with years of trade union experience hinted that there may be a possibility of getting a house for Lazar’s Trust through one of his contacts who wants to help some genuine organisation. He said he cannot promise now but hopes to convince the donor after seeing Mercy Niketan’s work.

“Susairaj shared how Pentecost is a special day in his life as a motivation for his dedication to work among children and women.

“Heston George felt that people should be motivated to help development organisations by offering their skills free of charges. He said that many such base organisations do not know how to present their activities or to seek funds.

“The group also analysed the social commitment of the Church; many felt that the parish structure keeps the lay people out of social commitment. The young people do not involve actively since they do not find a meaningful role.

“Rupert Rathnaraj initiated a lively discussion on how ‘consumerism’ is promoted by globalization. An image is created that people have lot of money to buy; acutally people are made to buy not from their surplus but because it gives an identity.

“Fr. Thomas Joseph spoke about the child workers and social commitment of the Church.

“Ms Glynis Joseph, Coordinator of Chennai CCI coordinated the discussions and said that more such interactions will be organised. She also presented the CCI message on New Pentecost 2011.

“M. J. Ruben, International Convenor gave an overall picture of CCI and its evolution. He traced the life of Cardijn and how his method see judge act has been acknowledged as a tool of social analysis around the world; he also mentioned that this year is the 50th anniversary of see judge act being accepted as part of social teaching of the Church.

“Ruben also shared with the group the efforts of YCW and Sr. Jeanne Devos and others from the National Domestic Workers Movement who are lobbying in Geneva at the ILC to get the convention on dometic workers passed without any hiccup.

“A brief information about the forthcoming CCI 10th anniversary International Forum and General Assembly in Bangkok was also shared before conclusion.

“While concluding Ms Glynis Joseph thanked Fr. Thomas Joseph and others for making the New Pentecost event a memorable one despite the long distance each one had to travel.”

New Pentecost 2011

CCI which is a co-partner in the New Pentecost movement is observing the Pentecost this year by promoting the theme ‘Peace Education towards Sustainable Development’.

As part of its 10th Anniversary celebrations, CCI is holding an international forum in Bangkok on the 23rd July 2011 with the theme ‘Peace Building towards Sustainable Development’.

Cardijn Community International (CCI) feels that while efforts should be taken by one and all to avert destruction of humanity and nature through warfare, there should be an all out effort in ‘peace building’ so that the whole of humanity can live in harmony with one another and nature; peace education also presupposes ecological education.

The Vatican II document Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World — Gaudium et Spes speaks elaborately on ‘peace’, a part of which is reproduced here:

“78. Peace is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be reduced solely to the maintenance of a balance of power between enemies; nor is it brought about by dictatorship. Instead, it is rightly and appropriately called an enterprise of justice. Peace results from that order structured into human society by its divine Founder, and actualized by men as they thirst after ever greater justice. The common good of humanity finds its ultimate meaning in the eternal law. But since the concrete demands of this common good are constantly changing as time goes on, peace is never attained once and for all, but must be built up ceaselessly. Moreover, since the human will is unsteady and wounded by sin, the achievement of peace requires a constant mastering of passions and the vigilance of lawful authority.

But this is not enough. This peace on earth cannot be obtained unless personal well-being is safeguarded and men freely and trustingly share with one another the riches of their inner spirits and their talents. A firm determination to respect other men and peoples and their dignity, as well as the studied practice of brotherhood is absolutely necessary for the establishment of peace. Hence peace is likewise the fruit of love, which goes beyond what justice can provide.” (It must be noted that Cardinal Cardijn whose legacy CCI wants to promote, was a driving force behind drafting this document at the Vatican II).

On this Pentecost, let us invoke the Holy Spirit to fill humanity with ‘peace’ and ability to engage in ‘peace education towards sustainable development’.

International Coordination
June 4, 2011