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Golden Jubilee of CWM

 

On occasion of their Golden Jubilee and also being CWM Joseph Cardijn Day, the Christian Workers’ Movement of Archdiocese of Bombay had organized the Archdiocesan Seminar and Annual General Body Meeting on Sunday, 22 nd July, 2007 at CWM Centre, Joseph Cardijn Technical School, Khashaba Jadhav Marg, Dadar, Mumbai 400 014 on the theme, "Christian Worker - A Call to be an Evangeliser".

The programme began with the Eucharistic Celebration by Bishop Ferdinand Fonseca and con-celebrated by Rev. Fr. V. Louis, the National Chaplain. After a short break, the seminar was inaugurated by the lighting of the lamp by Bishop Ferdinand Fonseca, who also released the Golden Jubilee issue of the CWM Joseph Cardijn Day Souvenir. In his address, Bishop Ferdinand Fonseca enlightened on the Apostolate of workers. He said that after Pope Leo XIII released the document, "Rerum Novarum", there was a tremendous changes in the church. Pope Leo XIII spoke on the dignity of work and workers and that we were made in the image and likeness of God.

Rev. Fr. V. Louis, in his address highlighted the struggle of unorganized workers. India has 93 percent of unorganized workers. Cajetan Phillip D’Souza, the former Secretary of the Christian Workers’ Movement [CWM] & also the former Principal of Joseph Cardijn Technical School shared his experiences on how the CWM was build. One of the criteria, which was made that every member brings one friend for the next meeting and that’s how the CWM was built and that’s how the CWM build in Mumbai at the early stage. Through the Methodology of Review of Life and the technique given by the founder, Joseph Cardinal Cardijn of "See-Judge-Act", the Christian Workers’ Movement helped the members grow even through hardships.

This was followed by the training programme conducted by the National President, Mr. Jomon Cherrussery, who said that as Catholics, God has called us for a vocation. We are called to be apostles of Jesus Christ in this vocation. Giving the difference of the trade union, and the Christian Workers’ Movement, he said that the trade unions do not help in the spiritual growth of the worker. He added that there are 22,000 trade unions in the country but not all work for the development of unorganized workers. This was followed by the keynote address by Rev. Fr. Felix D’Souza, the former Chaplain of the Christian Workers’ Movement. The seminar ended with lunch.

After lunch, the Annual General Body Meeting began with the opening prayer. This was followed by the reading of the Minutes and Annual Report for the year 2006-07 and Annual Statement of Accounts for 2006-07. The Secretary told the house that in this Golden Jubilee year, more parish sections will be started in sections having more than seven members and members were requested to enroll more members from their parish to the Christian Workers’ Movement. The meeting ended with a closing prayer art 3.00 p.m. As a token of their participation in this Golden Jubilee celebration, all participants were given a gift as a token.

The Christian Workers’ Movement is expanding the Movement in all parishes of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad and have invited all Catholic workers, professionals, business people, self-employed people, housewives, BPO-Call Centre workers, including those taken VRS/CRS and the retired to enroll themselves as members of the Christian Workers’ Movement-the Church amongst workers. Seven members are required to start a parish section. Membership Contribution is Rs. 250/ only [one-time payment] in favour of "Christian Workers’ Movement" should be sent to the address mentioned below. Parishes are requested to support us in our mission of empowering the workers. For a free membership form write to, "Archdiocesan Secretary, Christian Workers’ Movement, 37/1095, Pantnagar, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai 400 075" or e-mail stating your postal address, and parish at < cwmbombay@gmail.com> or < cwmbombay@rediffmail.com>

Cajetan Perer D'Souza 
Secretary
Christian Workers' Movement