A ZENIT DAILY DISPATCH

A ZENIT DAILY DISPATCH

Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements

Roots in Project Drawn Up in 1950s

VATICAN CITY, 31 MAY 2006 (ZENIT)

Here is the description of the International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements which appears in the Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

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Official name: International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements

Acronym: FIMCAP (Federation Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissiale)

Established: 1962

History: The origins of FIMCAP date back to the 1950s when the leaders of Catholic youth movements from France, Belgium and the Netherlands drew up a project in 1959 in Lucerne, Switzerland, to form an international organization.

The first conference of delegates of the General Parish Youth Communities was held in Munich, Germany, in the course of the 1960 Eucharistic Congress. In October 1961, eleven youth associations created FIMCAP, and its institution was formalized at Easter 1962.

In the 1970s the structure of the federation emerged more clearly, and the first activities began and working programs were planned for cooperation between the member associations in the form of a partnership. This was to strengthen the solidarity uniting them, and to open them up to the world dimension.

Recognized by the Holy See as an international Catholic organization, FIMCAP is a member of the Conference of International Catholic Organizations.

Identity: FIMCAP is made up of Catholic parish and non-parish organizations for young people. The member associations draft and implement projects to animate groups of young people and children, and provide them with spiritual direction based on the principles and values of the Gospel.

The formation pathway offered aims at educating young people and children to share and work together, and to nurture their awareness of belonging to a world community. FIMCAP pursues its objectives by organizing conferences, meetings, holiday camps, and promoting forms of twinning and exchange schemes between the affiliated associations.

Organization: FIMCAP is managed by the general assembly, made up of the leaders from all the affiliated associations which meets every three years with decision-making powers.

It is also managed by the Intercontinental Praesidium, to which the president, ecclesiastical assistant and the general secretary belong; the Intercontinental Council, which comprises the Intercontinental Praesidium, the European Praesidium and the African Praesidium; the Euroconference, which groups together the leaders of the European associations and decides on the activities of the European branch, which the Euro­council is responsible for implementing; and the Afroconference, which groups together the leaders of the African associations and decides on the activities of the African branch, which the Afro­council is responsible for implementing.

FIMCAP has full members, associate members (non-Catholic Christian associations working with young people), observers and invited members.

Membership: FIMCAP has 35 member associations in 33 countries.

Publications: Link, a bimonthly newsletter in French and English

Web site: www.fimcap.org

Headquarters:

Federation Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissiale
Kipdorf 30
2000 Antwerpen - Belgium

Tel. (32) 3.231.0795 — Fax 3.232.5162

E-mail: info@fimcap.org

© Copyright 2006 — Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
ZE06053125
 

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