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.

New YCW NEC Member

We are incredibly pleased to announce that we have a new member of our NEC.

The NEC is being joined by Esther Watson from our Group in Sandbach and she will take up the position as Assistant to the National President.

Esther has done some incredible work in Sandbach - including leading on a successful refugee sponsorship scheme in the Parish.

Marc Besford, National President of the YCW, said: “Esther will be an amazing addition to our new NEC. She has proven herself to be an amazing leader in Sandbach and one who takes seriously our commitment to “raising the world” as Cardijn said. We plan to continue building our new NEC and look forward to even more additions over the next few weeks.”

Youth Ministry Training Day Coming Up - YCW Will Be There

The YCW will be present at an upcoming Youth Ministry training day for Salford Diocese. The day comes as part of the Diocese’s “Hope in the Future” programme and is aimed at providing the skills and knowledge to assist parishioners to take on roles in their parishes.

Details:

Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton, BL1 6PQ
Saturday 14th September 2019
10am- 3pm

The day will have workshops on engaging young people in parish life and one of these will be led by a local IMPACT Group.

Programme

9:30                       Registration with Tea/Coffee
10:00                     Welcome/Introduction to the Day
10:10                     Opening Prayer – GIFT Chaplaincy Team
10:20                     Overview – Fr Chris Gorton: Our Vision for Youth Ministry
10:40                     Chris Knowles: Youth Synod
11:10                     Q&A

11.20                     Workshops 1
12:00                     Lunch (Packed lunches and time to visit the stalls)
12:45                     Move to workshops
12:50                     Workshop 2
13:30                     Change Workshops
13:35                     Workshop 3
14:20                     Move back to main space
14:25                     CYMFED Faith in Action Award – How can you help?
14:45                     Closing Liturgy
15:00                     Departures

Marc Besford, YCW National President, said: “I am really pleased that we have been invited to share our YCW perspective and mission. The IMPACT Group who are running a workshop will be a fantastic example of how our SEE-JUDGE-ACT method can transform young people into young leaders, grounded in our Catholic faith.”

Anniversary Of First International Congress Of The YCW

Today (25th August) is the anniversary of the first International Congress of the YCW, held in Brussels in 1935. The gathering included a range of events, speeches and training sessions, forming part of an International Study Week.

Joseph Cardijn opened the Congress saying: “The congress is the sincere expression of the spiritual and moral revolution that the YCW realises night and day in a humble and hidden fashion in thousands of souls, homes and workplaces, and which is in the process of imperceptibly changing the face of youth and the working class 

No, the YCW is not to be found in processions, in congresses or in noisy demonstrations. The YCW lives and works in the uninterrupted effort of thousands of young workers, who, with all the energy of their intelligence and their will, have decided to regain their comrades and everyone in the world of work to their divine origins and destiny. 

Not slaves, not beasts of burden, not machines, but sons, collaborators, inheritors of God!”

It was also an opportunity to share the 3 Truths of the YCW. Cardijn explained: “Three fundamental truths dominate and illumine the problem of the working youth of the world. They inspire, explain, and direct us towards the solution that the Y. C. W. has to give: 

1. A truth of faith. The eternal and temporal destiny of each young worker in particular and of all the young workers in general.

2. A truth of experience. The terrible contradiction which exists between the real state of the young workers and this eternal and temporal destiny.

3. A truth of pastoral practice or method. The necessity of a Catholic organisation of young workers with a view to the conquest of their eternal and temporal destiny.”

On this anniversary we hold in our prayers the continued good work of the ICYCW and all those around the world who bring young workers together in solidarity and uphold their God given dignity.

Next year will see the ICYCW International Congress gather again, this time in Ethiopia, and we intend to send a delegation from England and Wales to participate.

Young Christian Workers Across Europe Meet To Discuss The Future Of Work

Young people from the European Young Christian Workers’ (YCW) national movements of Portugal, Spain, Catalonia, France, Italy, England and Wales have gathered together in Porto, Portugal in order to discuss “The Future of Work”.

This REM (Rencontre Européen Militant), which is a meeting of young YCW leaders, took place between 25th-29th July 2019 and was attended by members of the International Secretariat of the International Coordination of the Young Christian Workers (ICYCW).

During this meeting, young people were able to share their experiences of working life, for example: what motivates them and what makes them happy. We also discussed our concerns about the future of work, since we are facing a new revolution in many forms of work. With the growth of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence, we have reached a point of unprecedented challenge.

Below is our joint statement detailing what we discussed, our concerns and what we propose needs to be done in response.

There are also some great pictures of the REM we wanted to share.

Thank you to all those who attended, especially to JOC Portugal for their hospitality and those who organised it.