Thursday 6 December 2018

Encouragement from world's oldest bishop


Chilean Archbishop Bernardino Piñera, currently the world's oldest bishop at the age of 104 and who first met Cardijn when he was a seminarian, has sent a warm message of encouragement to ACI.

Here is an English translation of his letter accompanied by the original Spanish version.

Thank you, Don Bernardino!


Emeritus Archbishop Bernardino Piñera of La Serena, Chile, collaborator with Cardijn

Dear Friend:

I have read your letter with great interest, in which he manifests that he is willing to create a movement in Australia to remember the Belgian canon José Cardjin. I knew Canon Cardjin very much and I am a great admirer of him. I accompanied him twice on a trip through Latin America. He was also in Chile and on several occasions I went to see him in Belgium or I met him in Rome.

Despite the admiration I feel for him, I have the impression that nobody remembers him today. His work, the Belgian JOC that reached to spread to France and other countries, today is over. I have never heard of him again, nor have I met him in the press. I am left wondering what it means today to want to awaken the memory of a priest who was very important 100 years ago but who today seems to me to be forgotten even in his country of origin.

I am 103 years old and it is difficult for me to communicate because I have lost a lot of sight and hearing. If you would like to ask me something very specific and that I feel capable of doing it, I will do it with pleasure. But I have the impression that Cardjin already has its place in the history of the Church but it has already passed from the world today.

In any case if you write something about Cardjin or gather some interesting material and have the kindness to send it to me, I would really appreciate it.

May God bless you and may Cardigan Cardyn bless you who must be in Glory.
Affectionately

+ Bernardino Piñera C.,
Archbishop Emeritus of La Serena



Original Spanish

Estimado amigo:

He leído con mucho interés su carta en la cual me manifiesta estar dispuesto a crear en Australia un movimiento para recordar al canónigo belga José Cardjin. Yo conocí mucho al canónigo Cardjin y soy un gran admirador de él. Lo acompañé en dos oportunidades en un viaje por América Latina. También él estuvo en Chile y en varias oportunidades lo fui a ver a Bélgica o me encontré con él en Roma.

A pesar de la admiración que yo siento por él tengo la impresión de que hoy día nadie lo recuerda. Su obra, la JOC belga que alcanzó a extenderse a Francia y otros países, hoy día ya pasó. Nunca he vuelto oír a hablar de él ni me he encontrado con él en la prensa. Me entra la duda de qué significa hoy día querer avivar el recuerdo de un sacerdote que fue muy importante hace 100 años pero que hoy día me parece estar olvidado incluso en su país de origen.

Yo tengo 103 años y me cuesta comunicarme porque he perdido mucho la vista y el oído. Si usted quisiera pedirme algo muy concreto y que yo me sienta capaz de hacerlo, lo haré con mucho gusto. Pero tengo la impresión de que Cardjin ya tiene su lugar en la historia de la Iglesia pero ya pasó del mundo de hoy.

En todo caso si usted escribe algo sobre Cardjin o reúne algún material interesante y tuviera la gentileza de enviármelo, se lo agradecería mucho.

Que Dios lo bendiga y también lo bendiga el canónigo Cardjin que debe estar en la Gloria.

Afectuosamente

+ Bernardino Piñera C.,
Arzobispo emérito de La Serena

Sunday 4 November 2018

Cardijn Vatican II and the 21st Century

Stefan Gigacz, who has just completed his PhD entitled "The Leaven in the Council: Joseph Cardijn and the Jocist Network at Vatican II" was our presenter at the ACI study circle held on Monday 12 November 2018.

This is the slideshow from his presentation:


Tuesday 30 October 2018

The work of the YCW after the Synod on Young People

Australian YCW fulltimer, Marilyn Bellett, addressed the first ACI "study circle" evening on Monday 29 October at Catholic Theological College, Melbourne.

For the last six months, she has been working to re-launch the YCW in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

While here, Marilyn organised a whole series of events on a variety of topics and issues including mental health, sustainable living, etc.

She also made contact with young people from several areas including Footscray, Sunshine and St Albans.

Having now completed her six month stay, Marilyn will return to Sydney to take up the post of national secretary.

However, she also introduced us to her successor, Tiyami, the YCW fulltimer for Melbourne's west.









Thursday 23 August 2018

Australian Cardijn Institute launched

The official "formation meeting" for the Australian Cardijn Institute Cooperative Ltd took place on Sunday 19 August.

Greg Crafter AO addressed the meeting, highlighting Cardijn's influence on Vatican II and on Pope Francis. He also emphasised the importance of formation for the lay apostolate in Australia today.

The meeting also adopted resolutions for the formation of the Australian Cardijn Institute Cooperative Ltd and to approve the draft rules.

The Board of Directors was also elected as follows:

President: Kevin Vaughan

Secretary: Stefan Gigacz

Treasurer: Michael Rice

Members: David Moloney, Jacques Boulet, Des Ryan, Victoria Burrows and Mark Ager.






Talk by Greg Crafter













Thursday 2 August 2018

Launch




Australian Cardijn Institute Cooperative Limited

Official Formation Meeting


Sunday 19 August 2018

10.00 am - 2.00pm.


All Saints Church Hall

King William Street, Fitzroy, Vic, 3065



Program

10.00am: Mass with Fr Max Vodola, All Saints Church


10.50am: Coffee in All Saints Church Hall (next to church)


11.15am: Australian Cardijn Institute Cooperative Limited Formation Meeting


11.30am: Guest speaker: Greg Crafter AO, Former Minister for Community Welfare, Minister for Education and Minister for Local Government, South Australia. Currently chair of the National Catholic Education Commission. Former YCW leader and extension worker.

12.00pm: Discussion

a) Other speakers

b) General discussion

12.30pm: Resolutions

a) To incorporate as a cooperative.

b) To adopt the Draft Rules.

c) To open a bank account

d) To decide official address

e) To appoint a contact person for the Registrar of cooperatives

12.45pm: Election of initial Board of Directors

1.00pm: Chair and Secretary to sign relevant documents

a) Two copies of the Rules

b) Application to register the cooperative

c) Application forms to open bank account

1.00pm: Lunch

1.00pm: Member applications

Members to complete applications for membership and pay relevant fees to Treasurer.

1.15pm: Closing

1.30pm: Pizza lunch!