Chennai floods wash out CCI conference

Devastating floodwaters in Chennai have caused the postponement of the CCI international conference originally scheduled for 5 - 8 December 2015.

CCI Secretary General MJ Ruben and Convenor Stefan Gigacz made the call at 3am Chennai time on 2 December as flood waters rose in the streets of the city, forcing the closure of the city's international airport and cancelling train and bus services.

The conference venue, Joe Beach, remained cut off for six days at the height of the floods stranding former Mauritius Minister of Social Security, Ms Joceline Minerve, who had arrived early at the venue.

Conference special guests, Jose Luis Palacio, his wife Stella Maris, and their daughter Belen, who had arrived in Delhi en route to Chennai, were also caught out by the storms. With the assistance of former IYCS leader, Manoj Mathew, former YCW India national chaplain, Fr Soosai Servatius, and YCW India leader AJ Simon Peter, an alternative program for our guests was quickly arranged, including a visit to the Kanyakumari region of India.

The homes of several CCI leaders in Chennai were affected by the floods. Others played an active role in flood relief in the coming days.

The CCI conference, Cardijn Today: Inequality, Ecology and Diversity will now take place from 6 - 8 May 2016.

PHOTO CREDIT

Chennai floods 2015 (Destination8infinity)

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Australia's Cardijn-inspired co-operative initiatives

Cardijn Community Australia has now posted video from its successful August seminar, Economics for the 99%: Co-operatives in Victoria, including history of co-operatives developed by the Australian YCW movement and Cardijn's understanding of co-operatives.



Bob Maybury on working in the YCW cooperative movement from Uniting Church VIC/TAS on Vimeo.



Stefan Gigacz on Cardijn from Uniting Church VIC/TAS on Vimeo.



The Earthworker cooperative from Uniting Church VIC/TAS on Vimeo.



Cameron Neil on alternative trade from Uniting Church VIC/TAS on Vimeo.

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Remembering Cardijn's role at Vatican II

“'Vatican II canonised Cardijn,' I remember late Melbourne Archbishop Frank Little saying as he regaled us with his story of meeting the YCW founder while studying in Rome," writes Stefan Gigacz.

"What's more there was a whole generation of Australian bishops and priests, who told similar stories, starting with his predecessor Archbishop Justin Simonds, and including Brisbane Archbishop Frank Rush, Adelaide's James Gleeson, Perth's Redmond Prindiville and many others.

"Archbishop Little's message stayed with me, and was later reinforced by a biography of Cardijn by his co-workers, Marguerite Fievez and Jacques Meert, that detailed his role at the Council in promoting the specific task of the laity as the building up of the world.

"So in 1995, when I began doing research on the origins of the International Young Christian Workers movement, I looked forward to the publication of the first volume of a major History of Vatican II.

"But after forking out over $100 for Volume I, I reached for the index – only to be deflated to find not a single mention of Cardijn."

Read the full article here:

The saint at Vatican II (CathNews)

CCI is this year launching its 50th anniversary of Vatican II program with a conference "Vatican 2 + 50: A Cardijn Perspective" to be held in Manila, Philippines from 11-14 October 2012.

Click here for details: www.vatican2plus50.com

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