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LinkThis is the on-line version of Link, the bimonthly newsletter of Fimcap. Edition February 2004
General InformationCalendar [top]
"Make human society more humane" [top]I.C.O's General Assembly From the 30th November to 7th December 2003, the International Catholic Organisations (I.C.O) met in Rome to have their 36th General Assembly. Pope John Paul II sent his warm greetings to the President Ernst König and to the participants of the Conference. We also attended the papal audience with Holy Father John Paul II who gave courage to all International Catholic Organisations. The study session was "MAKE HUMAN SOCIETY MORE HUMANE, Gospel Values leading from Violence to Peace". There were many workshops on this issue: Economy and peace, economy in solidarity, development and peace, debt redemption, fair trade, communication and peace, professional ethics and media, environment and peace, natural resources, politics and peace, migrations, refugees, international court, religion and peace, inter-religious dialogue, religions and fundamentalism, health and peace, struggle against Aids, access to medication. The statutory part mainly focused on the elections and the resolutions. E. König was re-elected as president, and F. Vincent as administrator. New members were elected in the Co-ordination committee: FIAMC –Doctors-, CICG – Guides-, OIEC –Catholic teachers -, MIAMSI Independent social groups. A member of the CCPL Prof. Carriquiry and Mgr. Pietro Parolin informed the GA about "The Canon Law 1983 and the ICOs". We had a very interesting discussion about new statutes according to the Canon Law. At the end of the G.A we voted for the recommendations and resolutions and worked in groups according to the new methodology presented by Olivier Heyen. Here are some resolutions:
And Recommendations:
During this gathering Olivier Heyen and I met different personalities from the Secretariat of State. We had many opportunities to talk to them and to find ways of working together. They encouraged us to follow the Christian Values in our organisations having especially in mind the message of "Peace Day" proclaimed by the Holy Father on the first of January 2003 who reminded us of the 40th anniversary of the encyclical "PACEM IN TERRIS" written by the Pope Johannes XXIII. The Pontifical Council for the Laity was represented by his president, the Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, who assured us that his dicastery will follow up the life and mission of all I.C.O.'s because the Universal Church needs us and our Christian commitment for better human society. We also had a very good discussion with Lucienne Sallé from CPPL about Fimcap. PS: The working group about "Violence against Women in War times" presented a very interesting document. It said that " [...] millions of women throughout the world live in conditions of abject deprivation and attacks against their fundamental human rights for no other reason than that they are women. [...] " Organisations interested in this document can contact us. Alveiro Vasquez, Olivier Heyen AfricaXaveri international [top]Dear friends, Happy New Year 2004! Here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are still clouds in some parts of the sky, but it is gradually clearing up. Some villages can now be reached and the situation is improving. The provinces of the country can all be reached by plane, but people that have just endured a war cannot afford the costs for the tickets. A return planeticket Bukavu - Kinshasa (2 hours flight, 2000 km) costs 700 US Dollars. In spite of all these difficulties, the youth and all are determined to look for ways to prevent this "ship" from sinking. Many activities have started again that is: agricultural work, breeding animals, and also the Xaveri have started the leadership training. We have good contacts with the Xaveri Movement of Kisangani, Kinshasa, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Katanga... The access to Internet and cellular phone facilitate contacts when people can afford the costs. Friendly greetings, Gustave Lunjwire, The Xaveri Movement [top]In 2002-2003 the Xaveri Movement celebrated its Golden Jubilee together with the founder and General Chaplain Father Georges Defour. The Xaveri Movement was founded on 7 September 1952. The speech given by Mr. Gustave Lunjwire, the General secretary of the Xaveri Movement presented the present situation of the movement, the new challenges in the present world and the African and Catholic Church context related to the dynamics of profound evangelisation. 156 former members attended the celebrations and they acknowledged that the Xaveri Movement contributed a lot to their personal growth. Among these, 20 members have launched the Xaveri Movement in 1956 together with Father Defour. Today this movement counts more than 450,000 members in Africa and is steadily growing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Congo-Brazzaville. The celebrations of the Jubilees of the Xaveri Movement in Burundi (27,000 members), in Uganda (52,000 members) and in Rwanda (23,000 members) have already been mentioned in previous Link editions. Gustave Lunjwire Father Defour, General Chaplain of the Xaveri Movement, is decorated[top]Fr. Georges Defour m.afr, born 30th December 1913 in Verviers, Belgium, has been in Africa Bukavu, R.D. Congo since May 1946. Pope John Paul II awarded him with a medal "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" in sign of his affection and his pastoral commitment during his long life. To pay him this homage, the apostolic nunciature asked the Archdiocese of Bukavu to solemnise the awarding of this pontifical decoration with a Eucharistic celebration in the Notre Dame de la Paix Cathedral in Ibanda, Bukavu. They also celebrated the 90th birthday of Fr. Defour and exchanged New Year wishes in the Archdiocese of Bukavu. Excerpts of "Jeunesse Africaine" Nr. 2, 2004 Latin AmericaJupach at the other end of the world [top]We have just finalised a five-day camp. We were 76 and worked together around the theme: I am a 100% jupachino! We wanted
to discover a little more about our movement using games as educational means. The children wished the camp would not finish so soon. Now we are preparing a two day camp with the leaders to relax and evaluate the work of the year and of the camp as well. Fr. Alfonso, EuropeZAK has a new chaplain [top]
The New Year's Eve party complemented a campaign which was launched in the media by ZAK, urging everybody to enjoy the festive season but at the same time to take care of themselves and of those around them by avoiding unnecessary accidents. Adrian Leone Ganado European bureau [top]On the 13th and 14th of December the European Bureau members met in Utrecht in the Netherlands. The weather was absolutely terrible, but the warm atmosphere between the delegates made up for it. The meeting was in the club house of a local group. The kids met on Saturday afternoon in the same building and even sang a song for the delegates. On the agenda there was news about many different activities which are being planned for spring and summer time. The first important meeting will be in April. It is a seminar in Malta about intercultural learning. Only ten days later, on the 15th of April, Euroforum will take place in Lithuania. We are very happy that Ateitis is hosting this activity. It is the first time that local leaders are invited to a country in the eastern part of Europe. Summer will be very busy for Fimcap Europe. There will be Roundabout projects (exchanges of local groups) in different countries, Eurocontact in Belgium, hosted by Patro and a third activity which is new and sounds very promising: The SMS inter-rail game. This is a project in co-operation with the protestant youth organisation European Fellowship. The headquarters and steering team of the game are in Denmark. Young people from all over Europe will travel around with Inter-rail Tickets. They will receive test messages on their mobile phones to in form them about shelters, missions and events which are hosted by the organisation of each country. The delegates from FDF, the Danish organisation, explained to the bureaumembers what the organisations should offer and how they can find money for it. The topic of finding funds was omnipresent at the meeting. We are happy about a promising project from Jong Nederland. They will create an e-learning training course about organisation of camps for their leaders. Fimcap Europe wants to enlarge the course to an international project. All the countries will provide information about their way of organising camps. To co-ordinate everything we are going to apply for funds at the Youth Programme of the European Union. There was also time to work in groups. The first group created concrete ideas for a game booklet in which all European organisations should present themselves. A second group developed suggestions about a Fimcap day. There is the vision to remember at a special day that all youth organisations are part of Fimcap world wide. The way to celebrate it will be topic at the General Assembly when everybody is present. The third group is making plans for the World Youth Days 2005 in Germany. KJG (from Germany) is very much involved in preparations and Fimcap wants to be present as well. And the fourth group, talked about money, especially how to find funds for Euroforum after the application at the European Youth Program has failed. We closed the meeting with a reflection and people either went home directly or visited Corno's house and had lunch there. Thank you for the hospitality! Doris Renggli, EuroForum 2004 [top]"The Ship of Experience" → 15 - 18 April, Kaunas, Lithuania The aim of "The Ship of Experience" is to give the opportunity for youth leaders to meet and to learn from each others experience in workshops. They will also get acquainted with and experience working and animation methods of Ateitis federation. There will be four different workshops: music, sculpture, dances and games. Our methodology and way to work with children and youth and the use of different approaches will be discussed in all these workshops. If you have any questions, please contact: Ruta Taraseviciute Ruta Taraseviciute, Italy F.O.I. [top]
C.O.R., which is the name of FOI in Rome, organises a monthly meeting for the co-ordinating leaders of all local groups in Rome. I went to this meeting with the President of FOI. The meeting was really good. They want to be more active in Fimcap. We also went to visit their main office in Rome and I met their regional chaplain and some staff who work in COR. Their web site: http://www.centrooratoriromani.org. Alveiro Vasquez, Deadline for the April 2004 Link edition: 20 March 2004 |
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For the 4th year running ZAK organised a New Year's Eve party. As soon as all the participants had gathered we had
Mass together. The Mass is a very good way to end the year as prayer plays a very important part of our lives. After Mass it
was also announced to ZAK members that Fr. Michael Bellizzi has been appointed as ZAK chaplain. It has been years since ZAK
had a chaplain and everyone is very pleased about. At midnight we all celebrated the start of the New Year and exchanged
greetings of goodwill. An important factor during this party is the fact that it is non-alcoholic and in this way we demonstrate
that it is possible to have fun without consuming loads of alcohol.
From 28th - 30th of November before the G.A of the I.C.O.'s I went to visit some FOI local groups.
I was hosted by the parish Santo Gaudenzio in Rome where I met nice people from a local youth work. The youngsters of this
group were really interesting in having a Roundabout project with an other Fimcap local group. If there is any local group
interested you can contact Alessandro Ciafrei (