Honoring our Legacy, Inspiring our Future
80th anniversary of the International Young Catholic Students (IYCS) coordination
In 1946, the IYCS secretariat was born in Brussels, Belgium. 80 years later, current IYCS Secretary General, Roshan Lobo (2024-2028), former IYCS Secretary General Manoj Mathew (2003-2007) and many former YCS members and leaders originally from many countries around the world, now residing in the US, came together in Silver Spring, MD to celebrate, and to remember. The event was the first time in recent memory that intentionally identified and brought together YCS alumni in the US.
Rejoicing together
Contributions by both current and former YCS members and chaplains made the event a memorable one. Fr. Jacob Anil D’sa (former IYCS Asian Chaplain) led a fun mixer that had everyone moving and smiling and helped everyone remember names. The mixer closed with a rousing song of praise, Alabaré, led by Rudy Dehaney.
The formal celebrations were launched with a beautiful traditional Bengali dance by three young students, choreographed by Ms. Shilpi Rozario (former YCS Bangladesh leader).
International Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Justo de la Fuente Fernandez, M.Id joined the celebration online with a Thanksgiving prayer he composed specially for the occasion, which he shared in Spanish. Elisabeth Gobu, (Cote D’Ivoire), also led a hymn of praise in French, Nous Chanterons Pour Toi Seigneur, emphasizing the international character of the IYCS and the celebration.
Keynote Speeches
In a stirring keynote speech, Manoj Mathew reminded us that through the profound social, political and cultural changes of the 20th century, the YCS has never retreated.
As a movement formed in the values of human dignity and truth, IYCS has always understood that fidelity to the Gospel sometimes means asking the hardest questions.
Mathew highlighted the role of Fr. Louis Putz, CSC of Notre Dame University, who accompanied the World Student Congress, Prague in 1945, and Sally Cassidy, the only American who worked at the IYCS coordination office and then returned to the US to organize the 1948 IYCS meeting in Chicago which established the national movement.
Mathew also paid tribute to the men and women formed by YCS who now live in the US who are now professionals and community leaders and who now live out Cardijn’s belief in the dignity of every person.
“Tonight we say to them: your formation was not wasted. Your movement shaped you. Through you, it continues to shape this country and this world.”
~Manoj Mathew
Next, current IYCS Secretary-General Roshan Lobo, remarked on the bond that united all former and current YCS. Lobo went on to outline his hope for the future and called for investment in people and leadership formation rather than buildings or structures.
“Each one of us joined this movement with a dream, a desire, an expectation, a spirit of friendship, a shared vision, and above all, one common methodology, See, Judge, Act.
We dream of establishing a global centre dedicated to leadership formation, values education, research, and accompaniment, a centre that will strengthen future generations of leaders.”
~Roshan M Lobo
Cardijn Associates congratulates the IYCS for this historic milestone and embraces the call to support the formation of youth and young adults in a changing world. With the grace of God, we are excited to work with the global IYCS movement and explore opportunities at home with former alumni networks, and existing Catholic organizations and programs.
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Yesterday, Today and Always: Students Who Dare to Change the World
We are here to build the future of YCS