NEC And Trustees Meeting Latest Update

The YCW Trustees and NEC met a few weeks ago to review the progress of the movement, discuss current plans and policies, and explore plans for the year ahead.

The National Team report outlined all the work over the summer visiting groups, organising training and representing the movement at a European and International level. Key points included the REM in Portugal and the associated Chaplains training, increased publicity online and in the Catholic press and successful fundraising efforts.

We also welcomed on board a new Trustee - Marie Reynolds - who is a former member of the YCW and has been part of our past member working group since the 80th Celebrations in 2017.

The NEC also took the opportunity to review the past year’s action plan and will be refreshing it for the upcoming 12 months. One particular new project will be how we can expand the role of the regions in the movement and help build leadership across all parts of the country.

Salford Youth Ministry Day Promotes YCW And IMPACT

The YCW recently attended a local youth ministry training day as part of Salford Diocese’s “Hope in the Future” programme. The day was aimed at providing the skills and knowledge to assist parishioners to take on roles in their parishes around the formation of young people.

It began by looking at the current work being undertaken throughout the Diocese, both at a local Parish and wider Diocesan level. Some examples of this included the new Confirmation programme being developed, the Faith In Action Awards and plans for a youth pilgrimage along the Camino.

This was followed by a fantastic presentation on the recent Youth Synod and some of its outcome by Chris Knowles, who heads up a new group called Synod Fruits. One important outcome was the release of Christus Vivit, in which Pope Francis calls on the Church to make young people the “now” of God and support them to become leaders in both the Church and the World.

Following these presentations, there were a series of workshops on different aspects of youth ministry. One of the workshops was led by our very own Ramsbottom IMPACT Group. The young people explained how they came about, how they functioned and what sort of impact they are making - including lots of great examples of actions they have taken.

In the Q&A they outlined how they had connected more as a Group by working through the YCW Method, Friendship Circle and Review of Life, and how they felt more confidence to become leaders. By growing in awareness of the world around them and the message of the Gospel, they had achieved a huge amount.

There was also the opportunity for the YCW National President, Marc Besford, to speak to those in attendance at our YCW stall. He said: “There was a lot of interest in what we do and in our new Leadership Programme, so we hope to build on this in the coming weeks and months. It was also nice to see so many past members come up and share their fond memories of the YCW.”

Anniversary Of Joseph Cardijn's Ordination

There can be no doubt that the success and growth of the Young Christian Workers movement was a consequence of the vision, determination and dedication of its founder, Joseph Cardijn.

Cardijn was born in the town of Hal, in Belgium. His parents were Henry and Louise Cardijn. He was a lively boy with an enquiring mind and very sensitive to every human suffering he met, especially that of the workers he saw going to the factories at dawn each morning.

At age fourteen, Cardijn was preparing to finish his studies and enter the working world. His parents looked forward to the additional household income. However, one night he told his parents that he wanted to become a priest. With no hesitation his parents agreed to work harder to allow their son to enter the seminary.

In 1897 Cardijn entered the junior seminary at Malines. When the holidays came, he visited his schoolmates now working in the factories. But his friends gave him a cold reception believing that he had betrayed them and joined with the forces that oppressed the working class. Their rejection wounded his heart.

This experience stayed with the young Cardijn as he went back to his studies in seminary. However, it was the death of his father that would be the moment he felt drawn to respond to a new call from God, a call that was clear and decisive. In his innermost being he swore to consecrate his whole life as a priest to save the workers.

In 1906, Cardinal Mercier ordained Joseph Cardijn a priest and he began to develop his own education in the sociological and political spheres, not only theology and philosophy.

Today therefore, we thank God for the revelation of the young Joseph Cardijn and his vocational calling to the priesthood. We also thank the countless number of priests, religious, bishops and Popes who have supported our mission since its creation.

Current National Chaplain of the YCW in England and Wales, Msg. John Marsland, said: “The tradition of priests empowering the laity through the YCW has been our cornerstone since Cardijn began the movement. He recognised that our priestly ministry had to be one that was close to the lives of the faithful and those in need of our help. We continue that mission to this day.”

YCW Shows Solidarity With Workers At ASDA

The YCW has joined with local workers to protest the imposition of a new contract on staff that would remove pay for breaks and force employees to work bank holidays. The consequence of not signing would mean workers being fired on 2nd November.

The protest by staff from across the country was organised by the GMB union and our neighbours in Trafford Park, St Anthony’s Centre for Church and Industry.

Members of the YCW National Team joined staff and trade union members to express their solidarity with many of the young workers under threat.

The demonstration was also joined by local MPs and supported by many of the shoppers who were passing by.

Marc Besford, National President of the YCW, who attended the protest said: “We have a lot of our young people who work in the service sector, especially when they are just starting out in the world of work, so we wanted to show our support for their rights and dignity.”

European Chaplains Meeting

Following the success of the REM the week earlier, the European YCW Chaplaincies gathered for formation training in Porto, Portugal.

The aim of the formation training program is to provide the YCW National movement chaplains and adult companions in Europe with the necessary knowledge and skills which will enable them to carry out the following:

• Help young people create and raise awareness on the future of work after “Laudato Si”, as well as guide them in gaining a deeper understanding of the work realities within their region;

• Help the young people build strategies in spreading the YCW movement in Europe;

• Help the young leaders in building regional awareness and solidarity among young workers leading to young leaders taking the initiative of serving, educating and representing their fellow young workers, friends and family;

• Share and exchange experiences, testimonies and challenges that each chaplain and adult companion is facing in the course of accompanying the young people;

• Reflect on their role of training young workers to be leaders in their own life and the life of others;

• Linked “Laudato Si” and the Synod 2018 to the current realities of chaplaincy;

• Explore together with other chaplains on how to train young workers to be leaders in their own life and the life of others through the appreciation of the applicability and beauty of the reflection and action methodology of See-Judge-Act as proposed by the YCW movement;

• Plan steps on how to Invite and train other chaplains and adult companions thereby strengthening the national work of the YCW.

National Chaplain of the YCW in England and Wales, Mgr. John Marsland, who attended the Conference said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to come together, share and learn from each other. Joseph Cardijn always believed in the importance of adult companions and chaplains being there to support the young workers and we continue that tradition to this day. I look forward to using the fruits of this gathering across England and Wales and training up even more adult companions.”

Visit to Sandbach YCW

This past week, the YCW National Team visited the Sandbach YCW Group to say goodbye to outgoing Group President, Esther, and catch up on the work and future plans of the Group.

The Group has had a busy few years working on a long running action campaign to sponsor a refugee family through the Government’s resettlement scheme. They successfully raised the money, organised a suitable property and arranged for a range of support services to be in place for the family.

The Group visiting the house where the refugee family will live, following some DIY from the Parish

The action was supported by the Parish and Group Chaplain - Fr Michael Morton - all of whom praised the young leaders for their dedication and determination.

With the action successful and there being changes in the Group membership with some like Esther moving away to University, they now want to look at what else they can explore.

The National Team therefore discussed some of the next steps the young leaders could follow, including working through the new YCW Leadership Programme and building an action into that.

We look forward to hearing more about what Sandbach have in store in the future months.