Young Christian Workers, Roman Catholic movement begun in Belgium in 1912 by Father (later Cardinal) Joseph Cardijn; it attempts to train workers to evangelize and to help them adjust to the work atmosphere in offices and factories. Organized on a national basis in 1925, Cardijn’s groups were approved by the Belgian bishops and had the support of Pope Pius XI. The organization was innovative, however, in that the apostolic activity was the effort of workers rather than of the clergy. In their attempt to bring Christian principles to their work situations, the workers made use of the formula “See-judge-act.” Using the same organizational and methodological principles, Cardijn organized similar groups of young farmers, students, and married couples. In the late 20th century the organization was known in some areas as the Young Christian Movement. The teaching of this movement is based on labor encyclicals by Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI. It received approval from Pius XI in 1925.
This international Catholic movement was officially started in the parish of Katukurunda, Moratuwa 26th May 2002 by Rev. Fr. Marius Fernando with about 18 members initially. The focus of this association is to help laborers such as fishermen, carpenters, farmers, cleaners, factory workers, venders, teachers etc. In other words, we can say that Labor includes both physical and mental work undertaken for some monetary reward, thus those involved in providing labor as a livelihood are called to be members of this movement. The purpose of this movement is to help those laborers in the lowest social strata to find occupational security to themselves and if at all exploitation and injustice is being experienced by them to help them overcome such ordeals by giving them legal assistance and advice. In the parish many projects were carried out by this Movement such as giving full scholarships to selected students attending underprivileged schools in the village such as St. Mary’s Primary School and Sunanda Upananda Vidyalaya and giving financial assistance for tuition and computer courses etc.
At present this Movement has become dormant in its activities and has failed to work in collaboration with the Parish Priest due to the legalistic approach of its current leadership. Focusing only on the legal aspects of labor problems is insufficient within an association such as the Christian Workers Movement where the cultivation and instilling of a proper Christian spirituality can solve problems more effectively than pure legal means. The parish Society needs the participation of many more professionals representing a wider range of professions in order to balance the approach of the present system. The present leadership must overcome anticlericalism if it is to be more relevant as a Church based association rather than functioning more like a secular political movement.
In the year 2021, the Christian Workers Movement was invited to organize the May 1st Feast of St. Joseph the worker, in the secular context of the World Labor Day. It was halted due to the pandemic. The blessing of all occupational instruments, vehicles and tools was planned but it could not be held. When the Pearl Express Ocean disaster happened, a coordinated effort was carried out with the Seth Sarana Institute to provide information of all the affected fishermen to the government authorities. All Catholic professionals belonging to various fields are invited to reform and strengthen the parish Christian Workers Movement for the future.
Coordinator: Mrs. Nilani Kumuduni Manthrinayaka (0712361424)
