See-Judge-Act and Columbans

21.07.2010

Fr Charles Rue was in London for this re-launch during his recent sabbatical leave.

In write-ups following the death of Fr Cyril Hally, his multiple Cardijn connections featured. Working at the Asia desk of church sociology research at Pro Mundi Vita in Brussels in the late 1960s, Fr Cyril lived with the international YCW (Young Christian Workers) leaders. At that time, their world chaplain and female leader were both Australians.

Cyril had previously worked with Australian adults who had been formed in the Cardijn way and gone on to set up the Paulian Association. The Paulians in turn spawned the overseas lay missionary group PALMS and the Lenten Overseas Aid Appeals which is now run by Caritas. Not only did the appeals adopt a Columban mite box look-alike for collections, over decades multiple Columbans have contributed to this practical out-growth of the Cardijn method through inputs on mission studies.

The YCW is perhaps the best known branch of the Cardijn Movement in Australia and promoters of the axiom for Catholic living, See-Judge-Act. Working with disenchanted young workers in Belgium 100 ago, Fr Cardijn created this cycle of formation. Its wider application bore fruit in student action (YCS) and the peace movement (Pax Christi).

My first encounter with the YCW was in the 1960s through a Bendigo diocesan priest Fr Frank Marriot. He ran a YCW introductory week for seminarians every year at a camp site on the Mornington Peninsula. I was immediately attracted to the down-to-earth style of the YCW spirituality and its approach to being a Catholic in-the-world. This was brought home to me when a young man struggling with reading was advised to first read a western and not a holy book.
 
A decade later in South Korea, Catholic girls working in a large factory led me to appreciate the power for good of the YCW’s straight forward method. Over a year of so, those young women transformed the working conditions of their silk factory, and even dismantled the systematic sexual harassment by male factory supervisors.

In May this year the YCW-Columban connection was reaffirmed at the launch of the ‘Dignity for Young People’ campaign in Westminster Cathedral London. Ellen Teague works with the Columban Vocation for Justice Team in London, and cooperating with the YCW/YCS in the UK is part of her work. She took me along to the Mass launching the campaign and also to enjoy the plays and music performed by YCW members on the steps of the cathedral.

“Spirituality seems to be the leading quest for many young people” says Melbourne academic David Tacey. Taking the experience of one’s life in this world seriously is at the heart of See-Judge-Act spirituality and it might be one way for young people to progress with their inner spiritual journey and find spirituality in the outer world.

Click here to read Let the Son Shine

Fr Charles Rue SSC is the Coordinator of Columban Justice Peace Integrity and Creation (JPIC).
For more information see:  www.ycw.org.au