Au revoir to IMCS-IYCS chaplain Nicolas Desboeuf

Nicolas (front 2nd from left) with IMCS-IYCS team members 1994, Syros, Greece. Photo Javier Martos

Former IYCS and IMCS chaplain Nicolas Desboeuf died this week in Switzerland.

Fr Nicolas was IYCS-IMCS chaplain from 1991-96.

"Nicolas was a good friend of all those who came to Geneva for Pax Romana, always smiling, open, welcoming everybod," said Fr Antoine Sonday, who was Nicolas' predecessor.

"CCI remembers him as a great Cardijn priest," added CCI convenor Stefan Gigacz.

 

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Aus bishop recalls Cardijn role at Vatican II

Bishop Pat Power with Devett O'Brien

Bishop Pat Power, recently retired auxiliary of Canberra-Goulburn archdiocese, has recalled "the influence on Vatican II of Joseph Cardijn".

Writing in CathNews, Bishop Power was recounting his experience in Rome for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening the Second Vatican Council.

"A week earlier, I had prayed at the tomb of Pope John XXIII in St Peter’s Basilica and was moved to tears as I contemplated the great contribution he and the Second Vatican Council had made to the life of the Church and its impact on the contemporary world," Bishop Power wrote.

"Prior to the Mass, I had a chance meeting with Australian, Devett O’Brien, Secretary General of the International Young Christian Students movement.

"That meeting reminded me of the influence on Vatican II of Joseph Cardijn, founder of the Young Christian Workers. The YCW method of See, Judge and Act is very much in harmony with John XXIII’s call for us all to “read the signs of the times”.

"As I left Rome, I felt privileged to have experienced an historic moment of grace on 11 October 2012 and I had hope in my heart for a new flowering of Vatican II which would more clearly enable the Church to show its best self in witnessing to the love of God and showing the face of Jesus to a world hungering for meaning," Bishop Power concluded.

SOURCE

Bishop Pat Power's historic moment of grace (CathBlog)

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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

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IYCS elects new team

Outgoing Secretary-General Edouard Koutsava with new team members Nimali Fernando and Devett O'Brien (Photo: Lama Tanjar)

Meeting in New Delhi for its 14th World Council, the  IYCS has elected Australian Devett O’Brien as its new general secretary.

“I thank the IYCS members for electing me to the post,” O'Brien told ucanews.com, adding that he hoped to work with other members to spread peace in the world.

Nimali Fernando from Sri Lanka was also elected as the new program coordinator for the movement.

In addition, Kabore Gerard, Loucille Alcala, Teresa Mourad, Msgr. Robert Vitillo, Fr Mike Deeb, Manoj Mathew were elected to the IYCS Advisory Board.

Outgoing lay member Loucille Alcala and Edouard Koutsava thanked the movements and individuals for their support during the last four years.

LINK

IYCS World Council website

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IYCS World Council featured on social media

The International Young Christian Students World Council meeting is now under way in New Delhi.

The movement is leading the way in the use of social media during the Council through a special website website set up by former secretary-general Manoj Mathew.

Everyone can follow the progress of their event and even share their own comments and contributions through Facebook and on Twitter.

CCI offers its best wished to IYCS leaders for the success of their event.

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IYCS leader visits India

International Young Christian Students leader Edouardo Koutsava from Togo talked to the YouthActiv8 website while on a visit to India.

Edouardo Koutsava, 33, is originally from Togo, Africa and is the first of six children. Since 1989, he was involved in YCS which attracted him because of the space and opportunity it provided to young people to live their motto of ‘See, Judge, Act.’ He served three years as a national leader in Togo before he was elected in 2007 as Secretary General of International Young Catholic Students (IYCS). He is much in favour of peace building initiatives and advocating the young people. Koutsava spoke to Nalini on the upcoming IYCS meet and many more.

Q: What is the purpose of your visit to India?

Edouardo Koutsava: I am in India in order to finalise the preparation of the global “study” session, the world council of my organisation which is the International Young Catholic Students.

Why in India?

We have presence in 87 countries. India was selected because it has a wide ground of different topics, its different religions, culture and diversity. There is the issue of poverty, how the government is coming out. There are different types of subjects. India is offering us a space to go into concrete studies and find solutions to problems. To see how they can face the challenges that the world is facing now.

FULL INTERVIEW

Innovative youth leader (YouthActiv8)

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