Young Christian Workers

The Christian Workers (YCW ) (or Catholic working-class youth in Austria ) is a youth organization, which has a membership adolescents and young adults mainly from the Roman Catholic Church.

The CAJ has something to offer for young people who are already or soon to be in working life. It has taken the situation of socially disadvantaged young people particularly in view. Therefore, it argues for a change in the employment society so that all have a chance.

The aim of the CAJ is a youth work with disadvantaged young people: "We can give a detail perspective, but we can only solve the overall problem, if we are changing structures! "

  • 5.1 The prayer of the CAJ
  • 5.2 The Coat of Arms
  • 5.3 The Banner
  • 5.4 The logo of Deutsche CAJ
  • 5.5 The Song of the International CAJ

History of CAJ

The founding of a young trade union movement ( Jeunesse Syndicaliste ) by the priest and later Cardinal Joseph Cardijn and Fernand Tonnet are at the beginning of the CAJ- movement in Belgium. As a young worker priests Cardijn went into the housing estates of his parish from house to house, preaching the gospel, it saw the miserable living conditions of the working-class families and had an open ear for the needs of young workers.

After a name change reflects the movement since 1924 the name " Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne " ( JOC ). " The first General Assembly of the JOC will be held on 18 and 19 April 1925 in Brussels: 600 delegates express publicly the existence of the movement and its program This date is considered the official date of origin, founded by young workers movement.. " Cardijn concern was to make them aware of their dignity and educate them, in order to exercise responsibility for themselves and the society. He developed the method to "see - judge - act ", which was taken over in many ways from the education of youth and adults. In his "Handbook for the CAJ " he put the principles of the motion states: " Every young worker, every young worker is worth more than all the gold in the world because he or she is the daughter or son of God. "

Due to the similar situation of young workers around the world, the CAJ has become a worldwide movement. " The CAJ allows an exchange between young workers about their reality, their hopes, their cultural and spiritual riches and thus leads to a mutual aid, solidarity and mutual understanding among young workers in the world. " In 1975, the first time a policy statement of the CAJ was adopted.

Essentials of CAJ

Essential characteristic of the Christian

The CAJ is located in the Catholic Church, but " offers ( they ) all young workers, without distinction of faith and religion the way their faith and their beliefs to discover, deepen and share. The CAJ is an open community that all young worker receives that care about their future and for their design, together with other young people around the world to engage. "

Essential characteristic of workers / in

" The CAJ is composed of young male and female workers; belong to the class of workers, the oppressed and marginalized young people. " In many national movements, the CAJ takes over union similar tasks and fighting for better living and working conditions. Due to the changes in the labor heritage grip and social realities, the CAJ Germany now works more generally against precarious working and living realities, relying on, for example, the situation of young refugees or students and students in the view.

Essential characteristic of youth

Regardless of parental occupation, education or appearance in the CAJ is each and every important. As the young people of their situation, their concerns and their desires know best, they are stopped in the CAJ to themselves to take responsibility and to work for a change in social relations. The involvement of young people is therefore an important prerequisite for the substantive orientation of the association.

CAJ in Germany

Organizational form

Since 1947, bringing the CAJ in Germany the situation of young workers to the language. For the development of the German CAJ, the first national convention in 1966 was particularly important in Essen, where Joseph Cardijn personally participated. Under the motto " work made ​​the world " nahmem 320 delegates the world of work and its impact on the lives of young people under the microscope. Starting from 35,000 questionnaires that were filled out by young people, the Congress developed political demands and the action plan of the CAJ. In her work, the CAJ took in Germany in the past, particularly the following topics:

  • -Design of the world of work in cooperation with trade unions
  • Internationality
  • Vocational Education
  • Intolerance and exclusion

CAJ structure in Germany

The structure of the CAJ is based in Germany at the Catholic dioceses spread. In 21 of them there are diocesan associations of the CAJ, the members of the CAJ Germany eV. Volunteer representatives of the diocesan lines meet once a year to Leitungsrat, the highest decision-making body of the CAJ Germany. There supradiocesan mergers for coordination purposes, but only in Bavaria. The Bavarian dioceses have their own national office in Nuremberg with an associated land line.

This individual diocesan associations are: Hamburg, Berlin, Osnabrück, Hildesheim, Münster, Aachen, Essen, Paderborn, Cologne, Trier, Speyer, Limburg, Freiburg, Rottenburg- Stuttgart, Eichstätt, Augsburg, Munich, Passau, Bamberg, Würzburg, Regensburg.

The CAJ is a grassroots organization in which the members elect their governing bodies and usually equipped with a political mandate. This democratic structure carries over to an international team based in Brussels, which coordinates the global work and the CAJ represents in politics, religion and society.

Practitioners of the CAJ Germany Action groups of the CAJ Germany, in which CAJler and CAJlerinnen from various diocesan organizations involved are called practitioners. Since practitioners are always called for one year to life, you can see the currently existing practitioners the main topics of the CAJ Germany. Currently, there are two practical.

  • The practitioner Weltnah / rr was founded in 2005 and dealt in the past with various effects of globalization.
  • Brochure on the project "So keres? " www.caj.de. Accessed on March 1, 2014
  • Film for the project " So keres? " www.361gradbremen.de. Accessed on March 1, 2014
  • Report on the Project film www.echo -muenster.de. Accessed on March 1, 2014
  • Voluntary commitment of the CAJ www.noz.de. appreciated Accessed on March 1, 2014
  • The practitioner Webspinners 2012 was launched. In it to network and volunteer CAJler CAJlerinnen who want to improve the web environment of the CAJ.
  • The practitioner history songbook was founded in 2013. He researched the historical background of the songs that are traditional in association healthy and thus represents a major part of the CAJ history.

In the past there were in the CAJ following practitioners:

  • Practitioner education reform, 2007-2010
  • Practitioners work, 2009-2012

Networking

  • The CAJ is the independent youth organization of the Catholic Workers Movement in Germany ( KAB ).
  • The CAJ is a member of the Federation of German Catholic Youth ( BDKJ ).
  • The CAJ Germany eV is member of the International Young Christian Workers ( IYCW ) or Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne International ( IYCW ) and linked this with nationalist movements around the world.

Thematic priorities and actions

Saint Precarious / The Holy Prekaria The CAJ is committed to fair and decent work. For this, the CAJ Bavaria has brought in 2010 the figures of Saint Precarious and the holy Prekaria to Germany. They are used by the CAJ at all kinds of events to raise the issue of precarious employment in the public and are symbolic of the many people who can not live from their work. The Memorial of St. Precarious, or the holy Prekaria is February 29th.

CAJ international

European CAJ The German CAJ is networking at European level with other national movements under the name Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne ( JOC Europe). The Secretariat of the European level is located in Belgium.

International CAJ The international CAJ named Young Christian Workers ( YCW ) and unites more than 50 national movements on five continents. The International Secretariat is based in Brussels.

Signs and symbols of motion

The prayer of the CAJ

The CAJ has her own prayer, which has the KAB taken from her, and the two organizations thus combines:

Lord Jesus Christ, we offer you our day, our work, our struggles, our joys and sorrows. Let us, as are all our sisters and brothers in the world of work, think like you, work with you, living in you Give us the grace to love you with all my heart and to serve You with all their might. Thy kingdom come into the factories, workshops, the offices and in our homes. Grant that all who are in danger today remain, in your grace and give the deceased Thy peace.

In particular, we ask You to ... ( space for personal concerns )

Lord Jesus Christ, in your love bless the working youth. Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify us and our families. Lord Jesus Christ, Thy kingdom come by us and our work.

(now part :) Blessed Marcel Callo, pray for us.

Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us. Amen.

The coat of arms

Cross and ear are the symbols of the Young Christian Workers. The sign or emblem of the CAJ shows these symbols in a coat of arms on a white background, with above the cross on a red background the word " CAJ " can be seen (outside Germany according to " YCW ", " JOC " etc.).

The Banner

The banner of the CAJ is in the true sense a flag ( which term is frowned upon as a banner within the federation ) and shows the arms of the CAJ either on a black or white background. Originally the Association was divided into a man and a woman Youth ( CAJ CAJ -M and -F); the black banner belonged to the CAJ- M, the white for CAJ -F. The banners will be shown at public events such as demonstrations, etc., but are often seen also in the intra- associational events.

The logo of Deutsche CAJ

From the CAJ in Germany is now mostly used the logo since the 90s on letterheads, stickers, etc. in place of the emblem with cross and ear. This logo should appeal to young people better and faster than the arms and bring the modernity and dynamism of the Association expressed. This view was and is controversial within the association, but the logo has become established as a carrier of corporate identity.

The song of the International CAJ

The CAJ has its own international anthem. This is called " induction of workshop and factories" and consists of six verses:

Induction of workshops and factories! A cry is heard: Get ready! The youth is building the new bridges, Christ carries in time.

( Chorus :) Be proud! Be pure! Be happy and free! Conquering, forward, are there! The CAJ agreed closes their Reih'n: Come and joins you!

The smoke and soot from high chimneys devours the bright, pure light. Silk of a new day messenger, Gray and mist it breaks.

(Refrain )

The light shall bear you into the dark! The flame that flared up in you, to light beat from your heart, Kindle Fire rings in the country.

(Refrain )

And hot it burns in the souls, than ever like burning coal. The fighting steels our hearts hard and like a hammer blow.

(Refrain )

Sirens tingle! Wild swearing! Machines pounding! Dull roar! Let us seek the hand of the brother. New love song ertön!

(Refrain )

The youth comes from the factories, building with the dome of the new time, full of hope and with bright eyes, Christ has consecrated himself.

(Refrain )

Institutions of the CAJ

Education Sites and Holiday Homes:

  • Jugendbildungsstätte Waldmuenchen
  • Nell- Breuning - Haus Herzogenrath
  • CAJ workshop training center Saerbeck
  • Employee education and meeting Obertrubach
  • Joseph Cardijn house Listrup

Youth clubs:

  • Jugendtreff Checkpoint Netphen
  • Wonderful food XXL

Known members of the Young Christian Workers

  • Marcel Callo, Seliger of the Catholic Church, martyrs of the Workers' Youth, District Secretary of the CAJ
  • John Leppich, 1946, co-founder of the German branch of the CAJ, its national chaplain was
  • Kurt Beck, Rheinland- Palatinate Minister President and former National Chairman of the SPD
  • Norbert Blum, MP, former Minister of Labour
  • Werner Thissen, Archbishop of Hamburg
  • Ernst Leuninger, an expert on Catholic social teaching
  • Julius Angerhausen, former auxiliary bishop in Essen
  • Hans Ley, President of the Parliament in the Saarland parliament
  • Irene Fernandez, winner of the Right Livelihood Award 2005
  • Jean -Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal
  • Lorenz Huettner, German prelate
  • François de Menthon, a former French politician and lawyer.
  • Leonidas Proaño, former Bishop of Riobamba ( " bishop of the poor" )
  • Harald Pawlowski, co-editor of Publik - Forum
  • Heinz Feldhege, Honorary Mayor of Mönchengladbach
  • Karl Lenfers, composer and lyric writer, New Sacred Song (Peter Janssens Musikverlag)
  • Karl -Heinz bridge spans, trade unionists and Merit carrier
  • Reimund Wolf, Federal Bureau of Deutsche CAJ, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche CAJ, Fundraisers in the diocese of Hildesheim

TV talk shows

  • Anne Will: Following the Amazon Affair - Stop the agency? - About excesses in the temporary employment industry talk Diana Löbl ( co-author of the Amazon documentary ), Ariane Durian ( chairman of the pressure group German temporary employment agency ), Paul Schobel ( Young Christian Workers ), John Vogel and Günter Wallraff ( journalist), talkshow NDR, 1:13: 10 min, German Original Air Date on February 27, 2013 at 23:30 clock in the first.
Worker-Priest Grassroots democracy Hymn Jean-Claude Turcotte Contemporary worship music
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