July 2025
Mass for Creation - Francis' legacy - Catholic Social Forum NY - Synodality in a nutshell - Cardijn's incarnational faith - Jean Préhu, YCS martyr - Relevance of Rerum Novarum
Burning issues for today
Dear Friends,
This month we begin with Pope Leo’s homily at the Vatican last week introducing the newly-approved liturgy of the Mass for the Care of Creation.
We also share news of a Catholic Social Forum, a major initiative that will take place at Manhattan University, New York, next Sunday. Co-organized by a number of Catholic lay movements and organisations, it promises to be a significant event in the life of the US Church.
In a similar vein in this issue, Fr Bruce Duncan reflects on the legacy of Pope Francis while Richard Pütz notes the ongoing relevance of the historic encyclical Rerum Novarum.
We also share a recent article on Cardijn’s “incarnational faith” by Chicago Catholic Social Teaching specialist, Bill Murphy.
Sr Nathalie Becquart xmcj introduces a new Vatican document that aims to help Catholic parishes and groups to implement synodality from the grassroots.
International YCS secretary-general, Roshan Lobo, introduces us to Jean Préhu, a French YCS leader whose death during World War II, along with that of many other YCW and YCS leaders, has been recognised by Pope Leo as martyrdom.
Pat Branson shares his latest Gospel enquiry.
Finally, we hope you enjoy the new format of our newsletter, which is now produced on the Substack platform.
The Cardijn Associates Team
Leo launches Care of Creation Mass
“On this beautiful day, I would begin by asking everyone, including myself, to take stock of what we are celebrating here amid the beauty of what might be called a ‘cathedral’ of nature, with so many plants and elements of creation that have brought us together to celebrate the Eucharist, which means to give thanks to the Lord,” Pope Leo said in his homily on Wednesday 9 July.
“This may well be the first celebration to use the new prayers of the Mass for the Care of Creation, which is the fruit of the work of several Dicasteries of the Holy See,” he continued.
“At the beginning of Mass, we prayed for conversion, our own conversion. I would like to add that we should pray for the conversion of the many people, inside and outside the Church, who do not yet recognize the urgent need to care for our common home.
The many natural disasters we see occurring almost daily in our world, in so many places and countries, are also in part a result of the excesses of human beings and our lifestyles. We need to ask whether we ourselves are undergoing that conversion. How much we need it!
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Pope Leo XIV, Holy Mass for the Care of Creation (Vatican)
The legacy of Pope Francis
Pope Francis endeavoured not just to evaluate the burning global issues; he strove to mobilise decisive action to transform our world to improve living standards and well-being for everyone, writes Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR. He spoke as a voice from the Third World, challenging the conscience of the richer countries.
Francis was propelled onto the global stage in 2013 to revitalise the Catholic Church and to renew its mission to bring the good news of God’s solidarity with everyone, especially the poor and distressed.
He insisted that the Church must engage more closely with the great issues of our time, joining others in earnest conversation about our human future on this fragile planet, and developing networks of collaboration not just with other Christians, but also with followers of other world religions or philosophical traditions, and indeed with all people of good will.
READ MORE
The legacy of Pope Francis in an unjust world: Part I (Cardijn Reflections)
Catholic Social Forum - New York, July 20, 2025
Catholic youth movements, NGOs and Church leaders will hold the Catholic Social Forum (CSF) 2025 at Manhattan University, New York from 2.00-7.00pm on EST on Sunday July 20, 2025.
It will be a hybrid event addressing themes including:
Global Governance
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
Highlights include:
Role of Catholic NGOs/CSOs at the UN
10th Anniversary of the UN 2030 Agenda and Laudato Si’
Pope Francis’ prophetic visit to the UN in 2015
Join online or onsite
Register: http://bit.ly/CatholicSocialForum
Joseph Cardijn's incarnational faith
As the Second Vatican Council and many other sources affirm, a living faith—that is, one informed by charity—labours to be salt and light (Mt 5:13-16) in the world, to inform the world with the spirit of the Gospel (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity), and to bear the fruit of charity for the life of the world (Decree on Priestly Training), writes American Catholic Social Doctrine specialist, Bill Murphy.
Authentic Catholicism is an incarnational faith, one that continues to make present in the world the saving love of God in Christ. In my opinion, the failure to do so explains to a significant extent the loss of faith in the contemporary world, and the desperate situation in the world.
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Joseph Cardinal Cardijn (1882-1967) (Better Politics)
Document: Synodality is Vatican II in a nutshell
The Synod General Secretariat in Rome has published a new document offering guidance for the next stage of the synodal journey.
Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod aims to foster dialogue between local Churches and the General Secretariat, and to promote the exchange of synodal experiences among the Churches, Vatican News reports.
"Synodality is the Second Vatican Council in a nutshell," said Synod under-secretary, Sr Nathalie Becquart xmcj, quoting Australian theologian Ormond Rush.
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Synodality is Vatican II in a nutshell
Jean Préhu, French YCS leader and martyr
Jean Préhu, born on March 27, 1920, in Laval, France, was a devoted Scout and an active member of the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne (Young Christian Students – JEC). From an early age, he was formed in a spirit of faith, solidarity, and service. These values would later shape his courageous resistance to the Nazi regime, ultimately leading to his martyrdom.
Jean Préhu died on April 27, 1945, during the strafing of the infamous “death train” headed to Dachau. In 1983, he was officially recognized as a déporté résistant (resistance deportee) by the French government.
In 2024, the Vatican formally included Jean Préhu among the group of 50 French Catholic martyrs whose beatification cause is underway, recognizing them as victims of hatred of the faith (odium fidei). Préhu’s unwavering commitment to faith and justice remains a profound witness for today’s world.
READ MORE
Jean Préhu: A Scout, Young Christian Student, and Martyr on the Path to Beatification (International YCS)
Reflection: Have you read Rerum Novarum?
Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum (1891), a deep examination of economic and social issues, still resonates with the complexities of today's world, writes Richard Pütz. Its main ideas on economic fairness, workers' rights, and government roles remain just as important now as they were in the past, grounding us in a strong historical tradition.
Human dignity takes precedence over profit or ideological extremes in Rerum Novarum, which addresses contemporary issues like wage disparities, job security, and the moral dilemmas associated with capitalism. Novarum Rerum Overview emphasizes that the emphasis on fair wages and the dignity of labor directly relates to current debates over workers' rights, income inequality, and living wages.
Rerum Novarum's unwavering support for collective bargaining and trade union formation is a beacon of hope for labor movements worldwide.
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More than a century later, have you read Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum? (Cardijn Reflections)
Gospel: Doubt no longer but believe
I found myself wondering if Cardinal Joseph Cardijn ever wrote about the place of doubt in the faith life of the young worker. This is what I found:
…each leader must develop a personal sense of faith. Each one must believe in his or her vocation in such a way that they can never doubt it, whatever anyone else thinks or says. Each one must have a firm and steadfast faith in the divinity of Our Lord and in His call and His support. When He calls, there is nothing more to fear. As long as the Apostles doubted, they kept falling but as soon as they believed, they went to prison, torture, and death. They had the strength of Christ through faith in Christ. (From Lecture III: “The Mystery of Vocation”. In The Young Worker Faces Life, the 1949 Godinne Lecture Series delivered by Fr Joseph Cardijn, founder of the Young Christian Workers Movement (YCW)
Cardijn links faith and doubt and encourages the young leaders in YCW to develop a “firm and steadfast faith.”
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“Doubt no longer but believe.” (Cardijn Reflections)
News briefs and social media
CFM introduces 2025-26 program
Read more: https://www.cfm.org/program_guide_redesign
World War II martyrs of the YCW and YCS
Editorial Note: The purpose of the Cardijn Associates USA Newsletter is to share information and promote discussion. Citing or linking to articles does not imply any endorsement by Cardijn Associates of the authors' views.