Category: Uncategorized
The lost property of the YCW
In many countries, YCW leaders have stories of properties – offices, camp sites, training centres and the like – that once belonged to the movement but have been lost to the Church or other entities.
2026 anniversaries
Once again, I’m beginning the new year with a short overview of anniversaries connected with Cardijn and the various jocist-inspired movements.
See clearly, understand well and act well
Delivering his opening address to the 1913 French Social Week (Semaine Sociale), Bishop Charles Gibier of Versailles, the host diocese, exhorted the more than 1,000 participants “to see clearly, walk straight and understand well in order to act well.”
Cardijn, Pius XI & the YCW: A prophetic encounter
This month marks the centenary of Cardijn’s first meeting with Pope Pius XI in March 1925 in which the pontiff gave his blessing and endorsement to the Young Christian Workers (YCW) saving it from condemnation.
Cardijn, a cardinal: Intrigues and tears
Sixty years ago this month on 22 February 1965, despite his personal doubts about the honour, Cardijn accepted his red hat as a cardinal from Pope Paul VI just days after his consecration as an archbishop.
Fernand Tonnet, a vision for the JOC
Today, is the 80th anniversary of the death of Fernand Tonnet, lay co-founder of the Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne (JOC) or Young Christian Workers (YCW) on 2 February 1945.
Silvo Krčméry, co-founder of the Slovak JOC
Today 5 August 2024 marks the centenary of the birth of Silvo Krčméry, a young Slovak Catholic activist, who helped found the JOC in Slovakia in the late 1940s after the end of the Second World War.
See Judge Act graphics
Here’s a fun and easy post. I was looking for some good See Judge Act graphics this week and could not find many suitable existing ones.
Cardijn anniversaries 2017: Updated
This year is the 50th anniversary of the death of Joseph Cardijn on 24 July 1967. It is also the centenary of his imprisonment by the German occupiers during World War I
Bishop McElroy and a Californian Cardijn tradition
San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy has captured global headlines for his speech at the US Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements in Modesto, California.
Enrique Angelelli and Pepe Palacio
Today is the 40th anniversary of the death of Argentine Bishop Enrique Angelelli of La Rioja diocese, a former JOC and JUC chaplain, who was killed in a staged car accident just nine months after his JOC co-worker, Pepe Palacio, was killed.
Make Cardijn a cardinal: Camara to John XXIII
As we know, Paul VI made Cardijn a cardinal on 25 February 1965. But how did Paul VI get the idea?
Archbishop Cardijn of Tusuros
It was exactly fifty years ago on 15 February 1965 that Paul VI named Cardijn as titular archbishop of Tusuros, a week prior to his elevation as cardinal. But where is Tusuros?
And the Dominicans…
Dominican priests also played a major role in the development of the early YCW, including some very big names such as Yves Congar and MD Chenu.
The Jesuit connection
In studying Cardijn’s life and the emergence of the YCW, it is hard to overlook the role played by Jesuits, particularly in the early stages of the movement’s development.
Cardijn vs Mother Teresa on Amazon.com
Here’s a new measure of how Cardijn has fallen out of favour, namely how many Cardijn books there are for sale on Amazon.com.
Promoting saints
Back in January 1938, Cardijn sent a signed petition to Pope Pius XI backing the beatification causes of Margaret Sinclair, a Scottish young worker who became a nun, and Pier-Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian student and social activist.
