2024 has been a really big year for the Australian Cardijn Institute (ACI) and for me personally.
Joseph Cardijn Rediscovered
My biggest personal project has been the writing of a new book, Joseph Cardijn Rediscovered, which aims to explain the historical, theological, philosophical and sociological bases of the Cardijn or “jocist” method.
Particular thanks here go to Val Noone and Catherine Noone for their editing and layout skills, as well as their “accompaniment” during the drafting process.
I’m sure I could never have got it done without their help.
We published 220 copies in a special “Synod edition” that was printed for the Lay Mission and Vocation Conference co-sponsored by ACI in Rome in October 2024 during the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality.
If all goes well, we will publish an Australian edition in 2025.
Lay Mission and Vocation Conference
ACI’s biggest project for 2024 was, in fact, the holding of the Lay Mission and Vocation Conference in Rome.
Perhaps the biggest achievement of this conference was to bring together most of the Specialised Catholic Action movements that follow the Cardijn model of lay apostolate formation.
Over 50 participants from 30 countries participated in the conference, which concluded with special masses at the Domitilla Catacombs and in Cardijn’s titular church, St Michael Archangel, at Pietralata in the suburbs of Rome.
I believe that it was possibly the first mass commemorating Cardijn since the year he was made a cardinal in 1965.
YCW Centenary 2025
Looking towards the new year, the big event ahead of us will be the Centenary of the (official) foundation of the Belgian YCW in 1925.
That was the year of Cardijn’s first personal meeting with Pope Pius XI, during which the pontiff wholeheartedly endorsed the YCW, enabling it to blossom in Belgium and rapidly around the world.
Cardijn often used to speak of “millions and millions of young workers.” The truth is that today, there are literally more than a billion young workers around the world.
The need for the YCW is greater than ever.
I hope and pray that the centenary will allow former YCW leaders and members worldwide to commit or re-commit themselves to supporting the movement into its second century.
Stefan Gigacz
Secretary, Australian Cardijn Institute
Treasurer, Cardijn Community International
Member, Cardijn Community Australia