The Young Catholic Students of Nigeria (YCS) Friday celebrated sixty years of existence of the organization in the country (1959 – 2019).
The YCS, which has its head office at the Youth Office, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, is a Catholic Action Movement of the laity approved by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
It is traditionally an evangelization agent in schools and students milieus, which aims at transforming the society through informing students and encouraging them to look at the world from the perspective of service and poverty, with a commitment to global solidarity, freedom, justice and peace.
In an exclusive chat with Blueprint,
the coordinator of YCS Nigeria, Mr Uchenna Enebe, revealed that YCS was founded through the initiative of Joseph Cardinal Cardijn (a Belgian priest, 1882-1967) in 1920s in Belgium, after the First World War, and started in Madagascar in 1937.
He said the Movement was introduced in Nigeria in 1959, through Miss Freda O’Mahoney (now Mrs Ogunade), with the help and support of Most Rev. Dr. Edmund Fitzgibbon (SMA), then bishop emeritus of Warri, adding that the Movement has continued to spread like a bushfire across the country.
He said: “We are very happy and glad for the gift of YCS in Nigeria, because of its great impact since its inception. The YCS Nigeria is a member of the International YCS, with its head office in Paris (France) and also the Pan African YCS with head office in Nairobi (Kenya). The YCS aims at bringing students to Christ and Christ to students; through the methodology of see, reflect, judge and act.
“This is evident in the students’ apostolate, were the students are called to be evangelists to their fellow students, to Christianize oneself and the others in schools, homes, recreation centres, neighbourhood, parish and work places and lead the gospel of Christ according to the catholic teachings and traditions. It is a Movement of young people who, by all the acts of their daily lives, support, love and prepare themselves for the future.”
Also speaking, chairman of YCS @60 celebration, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Asagh, said the Movement has since taken deep roots in the country, through spirituality, and is transforming students in their environment.
“Today in Nigeria, 60 years later, the Movement has continued to grow, not only in terms of numerical and diocesan spread, but also in quality membership. Amidst us are testimonies of people who the inspiration of YCS has completely changed their lives. It is an achievement to roll out the drums, for it is an achievement to be celebrated. It is 60 years of active involvement in students’ evangelization in Nigeria,” he said.