PAX ROMANA UCC LOCAL

ALL ABOUT THE MOVEMENT: INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF CATHOLIC STUDENT  IMCS PAX ROMANA

 

MOTTO AND VISION

MOTTO: “ LIBERATION FOR PEACE ”

VISION: “ THAT CHRIST MAY BE IN ALL”

HEAD OFFICES

INTERNATIONAL  OFFICE  – PARIS, FRANCE

PAN AFRICAN OFFICE    - NAIROBI, KENYA

NATIONAL OFFICE        -  KUMASI, GHANA

TEAM MEMBERS

INTERNATIONAL TEAM 

Charles Ochero (Sudanese) -International President

Camila Jara Aparicio (Chilian) -Secretary General  

 Fr. Henry Jerome, SJ(  Indian)  -International Chaplain

  

Karine Bonchretien -   Secretariat

TEAM MEMBERS

PAN AFRICAN COORDINATING TEAM

Njuguna Catherine Wangui (Kenyan)- Coordinator

Chantal Bengaly Afou (Malian)- Coordinator

Fr. Franten Masawe (Tanzanian)-   Chaplain

REGIONAL COORDINATIONS

 Njuguna Catherine Wangui -  Pan-African Coordination

Raxy Richard Gomes -  Asia-Pacific Coordination

Mihai Floran -  European Coordination

 (vacant) -  Latin American and Caribbean-Coordination

 Samer Maher - Middle East Coordination

 Jessi Steenbergen  North American Coordination

TEAM MEMBERS

NATIONAL COORDINATING TEAM

Rev. Msgr. Dr. John Opoku-Agyemang- National Chaplain

Alex Anthony Boakye-Babo – National Coordinator

Augustine Asiriboya A – National President

Obeng Yeboah Samuel – National Vice-President

Jonathan Alua A – National Secretary

Felix Kaba- National Fin. Secretary

Augustina Osabutey – National Ladies’ Commissioner

Justin Opoku Mensah – National Organizer

WHO IS A PAX MEMBER?

A lay or religious Catholic who confesses their faith in Jesus Christ. Any  Catholic student pursuing an academic programme in any tertiary institution. The one who practices  Reflection-Action-Reflection methodology. A person who has a strong commitment to transform the society for the Kingdom of God. One who takes part in discussions on youth, education, human rights, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, environment and sustainable development issues.

GHANA HISTORY

1949: IMCS-PAX ROMANA, Ghana federation started as the St. Thomas Aquinas Society in the then University College of Gold Coast- now University of Ghana(Legon) and spread to other tertiary institutions

1956: INTERNATIONAL  NAME ADOPTED. Affiliated and accredited by the International Secretariat of the Movement.

1949-1978: Rev. Fr. Prof. Korster, served as the first National Chaplain.

                       We are now in 53 institutions in Ghana

INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

1887: “International Union of Catholic Students” proposed by Baron George de Montenach of Fribourg, Switzerland; president of Swiss Students Society, at a General Assembly of the Society

August 23rd 1887: Pope Leo XIII accepted and approved the idea, but  collapsed due to political reasons, during that era.

1920: Max Gressly and Fr. Tschuor,President and Chaplain respectively of the Swiss society succeeded in uniting with Holland and Spain to revive the Union.

1921: Max Gressly ’s efforts led to the approval of the union by the Vatican.

5th July, 1921: Pietro Cardinal Gasparri presented letter of approval from Pope Benedictus XV, who in approving the Union added “PAX ROMANA” (Peace from Rome) to the name.

19th July, 1921: Max Gressly was elected as the first International President, with Abbe Johannes Tschuor as Secretary General-in the first Congress. Twenty-three other countries were represented to start the Union.

Now we have Eighty countries as member bodies

 

CHANGE OF NAME

1921-1924: International Union of Catholic students (IUCS)

1925-1947: Catholic Confederation of students (CCS)

1947-date: International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To promote the student apostolate within the life and mission of the church and in the world.

To deepen our experience of the Christian faith lived through commitment and to communicate this faith to the student milieu.

To promote justice which is crucial for the transformation of our society.

To foster social awareness among the youth and to promote effort for nation building

To develop an educative process that will help students translate their Christian  faith into more practical efforts aimed at building a more just society.

METHODOLOGY AND PEDAGOGY

Reflection-Action-Reflection

Participation-Critical Analysis-Conscientisation

‘The objective of conscientization is to power the knowledges and resources of groups, by facilitating a learning process that becomes critical, "transitive" and dialogical consciousness, and then potentiality of "liberation"

Reading and sharing of ideas and experiences

Preferential option for the poor

IMCS and its option for the Poor:

Our fundamental orientation is “the Preferential Option for the Poor”

because it is with them that Christ identified himself in his glory.

Those who are thirsty and hungry, those who are persecuted, ignored

and marginalized by Modern Systems of exploitation.

IDENTITY
Things that make us  definable and recognizable

CHURCH MOVEMENT

A lay Catholic movement recognized by the Vatican and National Episcopal Conferences.

Members are active participants in the building of the church; we confess our faith in Jesus Christ.

Member locals have Chaplains, who serve as spiritual counselors and formators.

STUDENT MOVEMENT

Members are Catholic students pursuing various academic programmes in tertiary institutions.

Members are in solidarity with all marginalized social sectors, members increasingly discover the scientific, intellectual and cultural demands of the struggle for justice.

Members are evangelisers in the student’s milieu through their testimony and openness to others.

We believe students enlightened by their faith in Jesus Christ are good leaders for today and tomorrow, to bring about a more humane world.

EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT

Members practice the review of life or Reflection-Action-Reflection methodology.

  This helps to avoid an intellectual formation without an impact on reality and activism without reflection.

   This emphasizes the importance of our spirituality growing together with the intellectual formation.

Members acquire and develop a MATURE CONSCIOUSNESS  through its gradual process of OPENNESS to NEW REALITIES, PARTICIPATION and CONSCIENTISATION.

IMCS’ educative process continues after the completion of study

The Movement aims at promoting an integrated formation and strong commitment among the members to transform the society for the Kingdom of God.

INTERNATIONAL  MOVEMENT

IMCS is present in all continents (eighty countries) and promotes dialogue between cultures and exchange of ideas at national and international levels.

The international dimension offers us a chance to promote solidarity, to share our vision and to undertake a common project.

IMCS is an NGO that works under the United Nations Agencies notably, Human Rights Commission and UNESCO, ECOSOC.

It takes part in discussions on youth, education, human rights, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, environment and sustainable development issues.

MAJOR PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES

 MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ACTION

-Rural Development and Educational Project (RUDEP) [MDGs 1&7]

-Campaign and Education on Killer Diseases and other Health Topics [ MDGs 3,5 &6]     

-Gender Empowerment Workshop[MDGs 2&4]

DIALOGUE AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS

●

LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMMES

LOCAL ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES

Orientation for freshmen

Small group discussion, sharing and debate, Bible studies and prayer meetings

Liturgical celebrations: Mass, Retreats, Recollection, Penitential services etc.

Socialization: Get-togethers, Visitation, Excursions, Games, Voluntary works etc.

   Formation of Choirs, Drama Groups, Debating Groups etc.

Research and Publications: Writing of Articles on notice boards and in Magazines or Local Newsletter.

St. Thomas Aquinas Feast Day Celebration- 28th Jan.

ZONE AND AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS

    Exchange and joint programmes with other IMCS locals and affiliates

Zone and Affiliated Association Orientation Programmes

Zone and Affiliated Association Meetings(ZAAM)

Zone and Affiliated Seminar(ZAAS)

Zone and Affiliated Outreaches(ZAAO)

NATIONAL ACTIVITIES/PROGRAMMES

Orientation Programmes

National Consultative Meeting(NACOM)

Annual National Executive Congress(ANEC)

Workshop and Special Study sessions

Rural Development and Education Project(RUDEP)

National Ladies Summit(NLS)

    National  Pax Conference( NAPAC)

All other gatherings essential for achieving the goals of the Movement are encouraged at all levels

THE RESPONSIBILITY / OBLIGATION OF THE PAX MEMBER

To promote the student apostolate

To promote a just society

Practicalise our faith

To fulfill to the movement financially

MEANING OF THE LOGO

OPEN CIRCUMFERENCE: means the global world, the new reality we have to live in at the beginning of the new millennium. The rounded form gives the feeling of a movement and the dynamism that characterizes the youth.

THE CROSS: this reminds us that we are Christians , following Jesus who died on the cross but has risen and is alive.

THE OPEN BOOK: invites students to be faithful to their intellectual mission.

WHITE HALF GLOBE: recalls God’s presence, the light of the Holy Spirit  who enlightens and guides us.

THE LIGHT BLUE COLOUR: stands for peace (PAX)

MEANING OF THE LOGO - PAN- AFRICAN  LOGO

GREEN AFRICA MAP: on the Pan-African logo, signifies the hope and magnificent nature we have to preserve as Africans.

THE YELLOW COLOUR: coupled with the WHITE AREAS reminds us of the Papal flag (ROMANA)

WORLD STRUCTURE OF IMCS

International Team (President, Secretary-General, Chaplain, Regional Teams , Coordinators)

Regional Teams (Pan-Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America)

National Teams Worldwide

Local Teams (institution)

IMCS-AFRICA STRUCTURE

THE PAN-AFRICAN ASSEMBLY

Pan-Africa Coordinating Team(Coordinators, Chaplain)

Coordinated by a Pan-African Co-ordination Team of 2 lay Coordinators and part time Chaplain,

 The Pan-African Co-ordination Headquarters is based in Nairobi – Kenya.

Sub-Regional Coordinating Team (East, Central and Madagascar, Southern and West Africa) National Movements are divided in four (4) sub-regions:

 the Southern Africa Sub-region led by Zambia,

the West African sub-region led by Togo,

the Eastern African sub-region led by Sudan and

the Central African and Madagascar sub-region led by DR Congo.

THE PAN-AFRICAN COUNCIL

The Pan-African Council is the decision making body between two Assemblies. The role of the council is to prepare and evaluate the Pan-African IMCS - Pax Romana plan of action.

THE NATIONAL MOVEMENTS
The National Movements are the basis of IMCS – Pax Romana.

Local Teams

IMCS-GHANA STRUCTURE

National Coordinating Team (Coordinator, Executives, Chaplain, Zone and Affiliate Coordinators)

Zone and Affiliate Coordinators

Local Executives

GHANA FEDERATION ANTHEM

1.IMCS Pax Romana,

      We are the catholic intellectuals,

  IMCS Pax Romana,

  We are the hope of the church in Ghana.

2.We have been charged by God,

  To spread His peace aboard,

  We are equipped to liberate,

  Hurray, Hurray, Hurray,

  With peace so great.

3. We are conscientising, acting and reflecting,

  We shall overcome ,

  Liberation for peace, Peace

  Peace from Rome, O Pax, Pax,

  Pax Romana,

  Pax Romana forever remains.

  (repeat last stanza)