ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT:
Sunday 19 February 2012
By Fiona Basile
Kairos Catholic Journal
'See, Judge and Act' are three words synonymous with former Belgian priest, bishop and cardinal, Joseph Cardijn (1882-1967). It was Cardinal Cardijn who founded the international Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement in Europe in 1925—which was later established in Australia in 1939—and whose social action principles continue to inspire young and old people to make a positive difference to the world around them.
And while Cardijn's principles and the YCW movement continue to serve, educate and represent young people in Australia today, there's now an associated movement specifically for adults which is gaining momentum.
Cardijn Community Australia (CCA) is a national group for adults who are inspired by Cardijn's social action principles in making a positive change. It was established in 2008 with many of its members already involved in some way with the Cardijn principles and the YCW movement in their youth.
Secretary of CCA David Moloney said, "The CCA provides an avenue for adults to make a positive difference in their communities."
"Cardijn's principles of 'see, judge and act' are a systematic and practical method of engaging people within their direct communities and also within the wider world.
"It is a methodology that can be applied to small parish groups, at whatever stage of development, which provides the framework for asking the deeper questions of their surrounds.
"The Cardijn method of inquiry begins with looking at the immediate circumstances of our lives and the lives of those around us. For Cardijn, 'the world on our doorsteps is a missionary field, a place that can be made whole through individual and collective action'.
"Having discovered the facts of our surrounds, we then make a Christian judgement, which then leads us to the actions we plan to carry out, or 'the responsibilities we shoulder' as Cardijn explained.
"Whether it's a youth group, or an elderly group, no matter what age you are, we're all called to action and to make a positive difference."
CCA hosted its first conference at its inception in Melbourne in 2008. This was followed by another conference and workshops in 2009 and 2010 in Adelaide. Its most recent conference was held last November in Melbourne and explored the means by which Cardijn's 'see judge act' method might be developed among adults in local parishes and elsewhere.
"Catholic parishes provide a strong platform for community leadership; a place to ask the question 'Who is my neighbour?'," said David.
The conference also celebrated the many achievements of the YCW, Young Christian Student, and National Catholic Girls movements in Australia. In Victoria these included initiating the credit cooperative movement, introducing 'pre-Cana' marriage education and pioneering some important road safety measures.
Speakers shared present-day experiences and some exciting initiatives, and attendees were given the opportunity to workshop an official Cardijn Training Manual which could be used by small parish groups throughout Australia.
David said, "The conference and the manual allow those interested to see what a 'social inquiry' looks like using the 'see judge act' methodology, and to find out how we can judge in the light of the Gospel and discover how common action can engage, empower and change.
"Together we can identify the issues at the heart of our local communities, and use the 'see judge act' method to explore how these themes might become a part of our mission as church.
"Looking to the future, it is hoped that the draft training manual will develop the Cardijn method among adults in parish and other settings. There's no reason why existing Church, prayer, social, scripture and social justice small groups couldn't integrate and use the Cardijn principles to help them take positive action."
CCA President Guido Vogels added, "Sharing reflection, prayer, action and Eucharist together in Cardijn groups is a means to personal transformation. We believe that the Cardijn method is also an excellent vehicle for the 'New Evangelisation', the focus of the international Church."
For more information about CCA, contact
David Moloney on dmo74189@bigpond.net.au
or see www.cardijncommunityaustralia.org.
See What's On for details on upcoming Cardijn workshops in Melbourne.
Photo: Participants in the 2011 Cardijn Community Conference held in Melbourne. Photo supplied by David Moloney.
Sunday 19 February 2012
By Fiona BasileKairos Catholic Journal
'See, Judge and Act' are three words synonymous with former Belgian priest, bishop and cardinal, Joseph Cardijn (1882-1967). It was Cardinal Cardijn who founded the international Young Christian Workers (YCW) movement in Europe in 1925—which was later established in Australia in 1939—and whose social action principles continue to inspire young and old people to make a positive difference to the world around them.
And while Cardijn's principles and the YCW movement continue to serve, educate and represent young people in Australia today, there's now an associated movement specifically for adults which is gaining momentum.
Cardijn Community Australia (CCA) is a national group for adults who are inspired by Cardijn's social action principles in making a positive change. It was established in 2008 with many of its members already involved in some way with the Cardijn principles and the YCW movement in their youth.
Secretary of CCA David Moloney said, "The CCA provides an avenue for adults to make a positive difference in their communities."
"Cardijn's principles of 'see, judge and act' are a systematic and practical method of engaging people within their direct communities and also within the wider world.
"It is a methodology that can be applied to small parish groups, at whatever stage of development, which provides the framework for asking the deeper questions of their surrounds.
"The Cardijn method of inquiry begins with looking at the immediate circumstances of our lives and the lives of those around us. For Cardijn, 'the world on our doorsteps is a missionary field, a place that can be made whole through individual and collective action'.
"Having discovered the facts of our surrounds, we then make a Christian judgement, which then leads us to the actions we plan to carry out, or 'the responsibilities we shoulder' as Cardijn explained.
"Whether it's a youth group, or an elderly group, no matter what age you are, we're all called to action and to make a positive difference."
CCA hosted its first conference at its inception in Melbourne in 2008. This was followed by another conference and workshops in 2009 and 2010 in Adelaide. Its most recent conference was held last November in Melbourne and explored the means by which Cardijn's 'see judge act' method might be developed among adults in local parishes and elsewhere.
"Catholic parishes provide a strong platform for community leadership; a place to ask the question 'Who is my neighbour?'," said David.
The conference also celebrated the many achievements of the YCW, Young Christian Student, and National Catholic Girls movements in Australia. In Victoria these included initiating the credit cooperative movement, introducing 'pre-Cana' marriage education and pioneering some important road safety measures.
Speakers shared present-day experiences and some exciting initiatives, and attendees were given the opportunity to workshop an official Cardijn Training Manual which could be used by small parish groups throughout Australia.
David said, "The conference and the manual allow those interested to see what a 'social inquiry' looks like using the 'see judge act' methodology, and to find out how we can judge in the light of the Gospel and discover how common action can engage, empower and change.
"Together we can identify the issues at the heart of our local communities, and use the 'see judge act' method to explore how these themes might become a part of our mission as church.
"Looking to the future, it is hoped that the draft training manual will develop the Cardijn method among adults in parish and other settings. There's no reason why existing Church, prayer, social, scripture and social justice small groups couldn't integrate and use the Cardijn principles to help them take positive action."
CCA President Guido Vogels added, "Sharing reflection, prayer, action and Eucharist together in Cardijn groups is a means to personal transformation. We believe that the Cardijn method is also an excellent vehicle for the 'New Evangelisation', the focus of the international Church."
For more information about CCA, contact
David Moloney on dmo74189@bigpond.net.au
or see www.cardijncommunityaustralia.org.
See What's On for details on upcoming Cardijn workshops in Melbourne.
Photo: Participants in the 2011 Cardijn Community Conference held in Melbourne. Photo supplied by David Moloney.
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