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IMCS President’s Message for Pax Romana Centennial Year Closing Ceremony

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Dear friends, I bring you the greetings of the International Coordination Team of the International Movement of Catholic Students Pax Romana! Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a member of FUCI or the Federation of Catholic University Students of Italy, who was a  strong supporter of Pax Romana wrote this quote in a letter to another delegate who participated in the Pax Romana foundational meetings in 1921. And I quote “If all people were to have it as their inner spirit, Pax Romana will bring peace and justice”. After 100  years, we are coming together as one global family, carrying the same mantle of Peace and Justice in our hearts. The 100th milestone year of the movement gave us an opportunity to reminisce and celebrate the path we have walked as advocates of Peace and Justice. Recently I heard this quote from a documentary. I quote “The past will never come back. And unless you are willing to invest in the future there’s no use even trying to exist anymore”. As a 100 years old movement with a young spirit, I believe this message is very much relevant to our movement. All the momentums created and contributions made in the past are stars guiding us to the future. But as a people’s movement, Pax Romana still carries a very relevant mission to society. our contribution for today and tomorrow matters more. The investments for the future, or for the ones yet to come matter more. In the extremely troubled world today, the responsibility of people’s movements such as Pax Romana extends even further. In the past 100 years, we mostly responded to the existing social-economic-cultural religious issues. But in the fast-changing today’s world, Pax Ramana has to create solutions for problems we don’t yet know exist. Rather than problem-solving, we need to problem seek. The centennial initiatives of establishing Pax Romana centres around the world will serve this purpose. In our diversity exists our uniqueness to share ideas, support students and professionals, implement projects and individually establish networks to grow our social capital and net worth. As we envisage the future of the Movement together through this occasion with the “Curtain-raiser for the next milestone: mobilising Catholic students and professionals for a peaceful, just, inclusive and a green world”, we are in communion together. The life of this Movement is a life of a community, service seeking social justice and the spirituality of action in our daily lives. We are evolving as a Movement. We have moved from one century and beginning another. In a time like this, we celebrate the torchbearers; and we come together to support ourselves to continue transforming our communities, one national movement at a time. Let’s bring our ideas, talents, resources and networks to transform Pax Romana to the next version, so Pax Romana will continue her mission for another 100 years.  God bless Pax Romana global family! Ravi Tissera – President, IMCS Pax Romana Paris. July 23, 2022

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Pope Francis to Pax Romana: Be agents of social change

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In a letter to the Pax Romana movements on 22 July 2022, Pope Francis has called on leaders to work for the spread of the Gospel, its values of justice, peace and solidarity, and to be agents of social change. The pope also acknowledged the contribution to the Church that the two Pax Romana movements, the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) and the International Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA) have made to the Church over the century since the foundation of the IMCS in 1921. To the Members of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS-MIEC) Pax Romana and the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMCA-MIIC) Pax Romana I send prayerful good wishes to the students and professionals celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the International Movement of Catholic Students – Pax Romana. Your Movement received official recognition by the Holy See in 1921, and I am pleased that you have maintained your spirituality of action and fulfilled your mission of addressing the spiritual and material needs of young people in tertiary educational institutions throughout the world. I am likewise appreciative of the contribution you have made within the Church over this period, and for the notable fruits that have been borne in nurturing leaders and supporting the faithful in promoting Catholic social leaching in the Americas, Africa and Asia. Your vital apostolate encourages young people to take the lead in striving for a more just social order within their countries. Over the past Century, Pox Romana has enabled many university students and young professionals to grow in their faith and to work for the spread or the Gospel and its values of justice, peace and solidarity. I encourage you to continue to be agents of social change, steadfast in your efforts to help build a more inclusive, harmonious and sustainable world. Be ever ready to give the best of yourselves in meeting the challenges that lie ahead, attentive to the signs of the times and committed to the service of the poor, the vulnerable and the underprivileged. Dear young friends, at this stage of your lives, you have much energy and a plethora of opportunities and choices before you. Yet, while you have many wishes and interests that you want to explore, not all of you live in environments that easily facilitate the pursuit of your dreams or that help you to grow in faith. Support one another in the life of faith and the pursuit of virtue. In a world of widespread inequality, may you be mindful too of your fellow students and peers in so many parts of our world whose dreams arc threatened by war, injustice, and political, economic and ecological crises. Keep them in your prayers and support them by works of practical solidarity. As you know, young Catholics are preparing to meet in Lisbon in August 2023 for World Youth Day, with the motto, “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39), I look forward to seeing many of you there! I urge you to “arise” like Mary, and work for the change you want to experience within your communities. Demonstrate and spread the values of “Respect and Integrity, Trust and Solidarity. Diversity and Inclusivity, Transparency and Accountability” that your Strategic Plan highlights. In this way, your service to the liberating message or the Gospel wall be effective and will bear tasting fruit. With these sentiments, I send my blessing to all the members of lMCS and ICMICA, I ask you, please, to pray for me, and for peace in our world, that young people everywhere may enjoy a future filled with hope and joy. Rome, Saint John Lateran, 22 July 2022 SOURCEPope Francis, Letter to Pax Romana

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Appel à la contribution-“Repenser la démocratie” – Pax Romana Journal 2021

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“Repenser la démocratie” – Pax Romana Journal 2021 Appel à la contribution  La pandémie de COVID-19 a révélé et exacerbé une crise croissante de la démocratie. Depuis un an, les gens descendent dans la rue, notamment au Brésil, à Hong Kong, au Myanmar, au Nigéria et aux États-Unis, pour appeler à plus de justice et de démocratie dans leur pays. En même temps, la pandémie pose de nouvelles questions avec la montée du nationalisme vaccinal, les inégalités mondiales dans la distribution des fournitures médicales, l’augmentation des niveaux de chômage et des inégalités économiques, et l’échec des gouvernements à se coordonner efficacement en matière de santé publique. Les questions de participation démocratique existent également au sein de l’Église, lorsque les catholiques réfléchissent à la signification et à la valeur de la synodalité et de la participation laïque à la prise de décision. À la lumière de ces défis, Pax Romana Journal 2021 vous invite à partager vos idées sous forme d’articles de revue sur le sujet « Repenser la démocratie pendant la pandémie et au-delà ». Les sujets possibles incluent : Droits de l’homme et démocratie ; Situation spécifique à un pays ; L’Église catholique et la démocratie ; Participation des jeunes/étudiants à la démocratie ; Lutte contre le racisme et démocratie ; La foi, les réformes de l’Église, la synodalité et la participation laïque ; Démocratie, bonne gouvernance et gouvernance mondiale ; Changement climatique et justice écologique ; Le rôle des mouvements sociaux, des ONG et des groupes Pax Romana Pax Romana Journal est une revue interdisciplinaire, internationale et intergénérationnelle du MIEC et du MIIC. Nous encourageons les contributions de la part d’étudiants, de jeunes actifs et d’intellectuels de tout domaine de recherche (médecine, droit, théologie/spiritualité, sociologie, économie, science politique, etc.). Les propositions et les publications finales peuvent être transmises en anglais, français ou espagnol. Envoi des contributions Toute personne souhaitant contribuer est invitée à envoyer une proposition de 250 à 500 mots avant le 1 juillet 2021. La proposition doit résumer les arguments de l’article et identifier les principales sources utilisées. Le comité éditorial évaluera les résumés dans le cadre d’une sélection anonyme. Nous vous informerons avant le 15 juillet si votre proposition est approuvée. Lien pour soumettre des propositions : https://forms.gle/HyGC66SdzhnQ55529 Publications finales Les publications finales doivent être transmises avant le 1er octobre 2021, et le nombre de mots est limité entre 2500 et 5000. L’équipe éditoriale procédera à l’évaluation finale des articles et renverra aux auteurs toute proposition de révision avant le 1 décembre. Consignes à respecter Toute publication doit être rédigée en anglais, français ou espagnol Pas plus de trois auteurs pour chaque contribution d’article Avec leur contribution, les participants doivent fournir leur nom complet, leur date de naissance, leur adresse, leur numéro de téléphone et leur adresse e-mail Les auteurs sont autorisés à utiliser tout format de notes de bas de page standard pour références Interligne double et indentation de chaque paragraphe Le contenu doit être critique, non-romancé et non-injurieux Toutes les contributions seront notées sur l’originalité, le contenu, le thème et la présentation créative Chaque proposition doit être originale dans sa conception et son exécution et ne doit enfreindre aucune loi sur le droit d’auteur. Les propositions hors sujet seront disqualifiées. Aucune forme de plagiat n’est autorisée Pax Romana (MIES et MIIC) a le droit d’utiliser le contenu une fois transmis Les participants doivent accepter le présent règlement et accepter d’être lié par celui-ci

Announcements

Call for Proposals and Papers-“Rethinking Democracy” – Pax Romana Journal 2021

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“Rethinking Democracy” – Pax Romana Journal 2021 Call for Proposals and Papers  The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated a growing crisis in democratic forms of organizing. Over the past year, people have taken to the streets in countries across the globe, including Brazil, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the United States to call for more justice and democracy in their countries. At the sametime, the pandemic opens up new questions with the rise of vaccine nationalism, the global inequality of distribution of medical supplies, rising levels of unemployment and economic inequalities, and the failure of governments to effectively coordinate with each other in public health. The questions of democractic participation also find parallels within the church, as Catholics reflect on the meaning and value of synodality and lay participation in decision making.  In light of these challenges, the 2021 Pax Romana Journal invites you to submit journal articles on rethinking democracy in the pandemic and beyond. Possible topics include: human Rights and democracy; country specific situations; the Catholic church and democracy; youth/student participation in democracy;  racial justice and democracy;  faith, church reform, synodality, and lay participation; democracy, good governance and global governance; climate change and ecological justice; the role of social movements, NGOs, and Pax Romana groups,   The Pax Romana Journal is an interdisciplinary, international, and intergenerational journal of IMCS and ICMICA. Submissions are welcome from university students, young professionals, and intellectuals from any field of research (medicine, law, theology/spirituality, sociology, economics, political science, etc).  Proposals and final papers may be submitted in English, French or Spanish.  Submission of Proposals July 1, 2021: Those wanting to submit a paper are invited to submit a  250-500 word proposal by July 1st, 2021. The proposal should summarize the paper’s argument and identify the main sources used.  The editorial committee will evaluate the abstracts in a blind review process.  You will be informed by 15 July whether your proposal is approved. Link for submitting proposals – https://forms.gle/HyGC66SdzhnQ55529  Final Papers  1 October, 2021: Final papers are due 1 October 2021. They should be 2,500 – 5,000 words.  The editorial team will make the final evaluation of papers and return to authors any proposals for revision by 1 December.  Author Guidelines  All submissions can be in English, French, Spanish No more than three authors for each paper submission.  Along with the submissions, participants should provide their full name, date of birth, address, contact number and email as applicable authors are allowed to use any standards footnotes format for reference,    Double space pages and indent each paragraph, Content should be Critical, Non-Romanticized, Non-Abusive All submissions will be judged on originality, content, theme and creative presentation Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any copyright laws; off topic discussions shall be disqualified and strictly no plagiarism is allowed Pax Romana (IMCS and ICMICA) shall use the content once submitted Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering the competitions.

Pax Statements

Solidarity With the Students and civilian leaders of Myanmar

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It is with a great sense of duty and concern that we the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs and the International Movement of Catholic Students condemn in strongest terms the recent attacks on due process, justice and democracy in Myanmar. Eleven years ago, the nation moved from military rule to democracy after ruling the country for  decades. On early hours of Monday, 1st February, 2021 the military organized coup took place and the elected leaders of the people, especially the top echelon of the NLD leadership have been  arrested and  Aung San Suu Kyi taken to unknown locations for detention, under unsubstantiated charge of the violation of the country’s import-export laws. It is important to alert the military that the world is watching most especially the young people of Myanmar whose future and destiny they are toying with. We strongly advocate for a round table dialogue between the military high ranking officials, led by the commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, and the Civilian Leaders, to return power to the civilian leaders and call on the Civilian Leaders to address the concerns of the military if any. We appeal to the students, youth and women of Myanmar to maintain peace and harmony as their plight is a global concern and we won’t rest until normalcy returns to Myanmar. We call on the international community to intervene in this constitutional violation of the rights of democratically elected leaders so that participatory democracy is returned to the people of Myanmar. Sign: International Teams of IMCS Pax Romana and ICMICA Pax Romana

Pax Statements

Pax Romana Statement on Mass Arrests of Pro-Democracy Figures in Hong Kong

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Pax Romana Statement on Mass Arrests of Pro-Democracy Figures in Hong Kong The mass arrests of activists and human rights defenders in Hong Kong this past week represents a serious attack on human rights and democracy.   As the two international movements in Pax Romana, IMCS and ICMICA are particularly concerned by the arrest of John (Jack) Clancey, a lawyer, chair of the Asian Human Rights Commission,  and a former chaplain to our movements.  We are happy to know that Jack has been granted bail and we pledge to support him in the weeks ahead. We stand in solidarity with Jack and with all the people of Hong Kong in this difficult time. These attacks come as the promise of participatory democracy is eroding not only in Hong Kong, but also in many other parts of the world as we saw with the failed coup in the United States this week. As movements, we continue to believe in the values of human rights and participatory democracy. We urge our members, groups of Catholic students, professionals and intellectuals, and others friends to learn more about the human rights situation in Hong Kong and to reach out to their political leaders to take immediate action to put pressure on the Chinese government to abide by human rights norms as established in international law and to drop the charges on the human rights activists.  For more information, see: American lawyer arrested by Hong Kong police in national security crackdown   Hong Kong: Mass arrest of opposition figures highlights repressive power of national security law (Amnesty) Hong Kong: Mass Arrests of Pro-Democracy Politicians (HRW) Signed, Ravi Tissera – International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Pax Romana Kevin Ahern, PhD, on behalf of the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA) William Nokrek – Asia Pacific Secretariat, International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Fasika Lachore Laba – International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) Pan African Coordination, Nairobi Kenya Eirini Freri – European Coordination (JECI-MIEC) International Young Catholic Students- International Movement of Catholic Students

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Pax Romana Journal 2020

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IMCS and ICMICA are pleased to present the latest issue of the Pax Romana Journal, an intercultural, international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational review. This year’s theme is Beyond COVID-19: A Comprehensive Perspective.The issue includes articles and creative works from sixteen contributors coming from ten countries (Bangladesh, Canada, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius (Chile), Mexico, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines). The authors in this volume bring a range of experiences, expertise, and ideas. Some are university students; others intellectuals with doctoral degrees. Some are members and chaplains of our movements; others are friends and collaborators who responded to our open call for papers. We hope that these diverse papers can contribute in some way to the type of dialogue and social friendship that is urgently needed today. Contributors include Michael Afolami Daniel Deak Bernard Lee Heriberto Cabrera Reyes, SDB Jojo M. Fung, SJ Rosemary Goldie Disha Mary Gomes Jephte Olimpo Muñe I.M. Panditha U.V.A.P. Kalpashaka Erika Montes de oca Rivas Aloysius Pieris, SJ Sandy Francis Peris Shoshi Sylvester Peris Patrick Drishya Purification Djamester S. Simarmata Helen Grace M. Udtuhan The Pax Romana Journal is an interdisciplinary annual publication for literature reviews, research and opinion pieces on specific contemporary social issues. Key themes, include but are not limited to: Human rights; Democracy, good governance and global governance; Themes on the United Nations agenda; Faith, church reform, synodality, and lay participation; Youth participation and advocacy; Climate change and ecological justice; Intercultural/interreligious dialogue It is published jointly between ICMICA and IMCS. Each of these themes is approached from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching with the goal of promoting peace, justice and mercy, in service of the common good of the poor and the Earth click here to Download a copy of the journal

Pax Statements

Solidarity Statement by The 2020 IMCS Pax Romana Global Advocacy Training Participants To #EndSARS Protesters In Nigeria

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Solidarity Statement by The 2020 IMCS Pax Romana Global Advocacy Training Participants To #EndSARS Protesters In Nigeria We, the 2020 International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Pax Romana Global Advocacy Training Participants from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa have followed with interest the #EndSARS Protest by the Nigeria Youths, calling on their government to end Police Brutality, Reform the Police, end marginalization, serve justice to families and victims of police brutality and guarantee a good governance that inspires hope, vision and aspirations among the young people. On the 20th October, 2020, the Nigeria Government instead of listening to the legitimate demands her future generation have placed before them, they unleashed heavily armed military men on peaceful and unarmed protesters which led to the killings of the peaceful protesters and metamorphosed to social unrest even as they raised up the nation’s flag with chants of national anthem. We call on the Nigeria Government led by President Mohammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Army and all the stakeholders to rise and stop the killings of innocent peaceful #EndSarsNow Protesters for no nation on earth should be found with political will to wipe from the earth surface her future generation. The government should recognize that violence begets violence.  We call on young people of Nigeria to follow the spirit of Peace and turn away from any form of violence continue to and seek more democratic and legal processes in their struggles for Justice. Finally, we call upon the international community to recognize such processes in their own countries and respond meaningfully to the sufferings of victims of bad policy in the name of security and law. Signatories: Name of the Signatory Organization Joseph Nyamayaro National Movement for Catholic Students (NMCS), Zimbabwe Tinotenda Wakabikwa National Movement for Catholic Students (NMCS), Zimbabwe Mpho Mehlape Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS), South Africa Zoleka Shangase Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS), South Africa Gmafumi Timothy Mabinkun International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Ghana Federation Marvis Idemudia Ehigiator International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) Ghana Federation Tuntufye Simwimba IMCS Southern Africa Sub Regional Coordination Nwalie Chinwe Maureen Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Clinton Boniface Onoyima Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Ogbonnah Francis Ugochukwu Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Chukwu Stephen Chukwuebuka Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Orbum Joseph Iorfa Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Peter Uchenna Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Ogbonnah Francis Ugochukwu Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Madukwe Peter Obinwanne Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) Michael Afolami Peace Actor Network, Nigeria SENZIRA Emmanuel International Movement of Catholic Students, Rwanda Federatiom Koone Thamae National Movement for Catholic Students (NMCS) Botswana Kudzai Sibusisiwe Mkwala National Movement for Catholic Students (NMCS), Zambia Victoria K. Muzyamba National Movement of Catholic Students (NMCS) Zambia Abhijith Mathew All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) Aniket Shubham Beck All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) Pasindu Lakshan Sri Lanka University Catholic Students’ Movement Ruklan Kularatne Sri Lanka University Catholic Students’ Movement Patrick Drishya Purification Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement Swopnil Louis Cruze Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement Sumic Maclean Gomes Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement Anna Holtkamp Katholisch Studierende Jugend (KSJ) Germany  Jonathan Pagel Katholisch Studierende Jugend (KSJ) Germany  Conrrado Sigisfredo Vargas Unión Nacional de Estudiantes Católicos (UNEC) Perú Erika Quispe Guerra Unión Nacional de Estudiantes Católicos (UNEC) Perú Francisco Viany Flores Hilario Unión Nacional de Estudiantes Católicos (UNEC) Perú Ariel Coello Peralta Jeunesse Etudiante Catholique (JEC) Ecuador Sameh Kamel Advocacy Coordination Team, IMCS Pax Romana Victor Kweku Ayertey Advocacy Coordination Team, IMCS Pax Romana Eirini Freri JECI-MIEC European Coordination William Nokrek IMCS Asia Pacific Jorge Parra MIEC-JECI Latin American Coordination Fasika Lachore Laba IMCS Pan African Coordination Aurelie Monganzimbi IMCS Pan African Coordination Fr. Fratern Masawe, SJ IMCS Pan African Coordination Ravi Tissera International Coordination, IMCS Pax Romana Michael Mmadubueze International Coordination, IMCS Pax Romana Fr. Jojo Fung, SJ International Coordination, IMCS Pax Romana

Pax Statements

Pax Romana statement for International Workers’ Day 2020

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“We ask St. Joseph …to help us fight for the dignity of work, so that there might be work for all and that it might be dignified work, not the work of a slave.” Pope Francis on May 1, 2020 Today, we celebrate International Workers’ Day and the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. This day honors the collective dignity and rights of workers and the role of movements working for labor justice.  This May Day, workers around the world are facing new challenges caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic. While the economic fallout of the crisis has impacted all workers, we take note that the poor and vulnerable have been most impacted by this crisis: extremely high rates of unemployment, dangerous working conditions, lack of protective equipment and medical care, rising cases of domestic violence, and growing discrimination against minorities and migrants.  Daily wage workers are stranded in their confinements without any means to secure some food for their daily sustenance. Hunger has forced them to violate lockdown laws and put their lives in danger of getting infected. Scavenging has been the only way to find some food for many working-class families.  All of this, as St James (James 5:1-6) reminds us, cries out to God and to our shared humanity to take action. As many governments strengthened their war machineries, they neglected their obligation in establishing effective public healthcare systems. We are now paying a price. Many healthcare workers lack basic protective equipment. Many governments praise the healthcare workers as heroes without providing them with necessary protection and proper contracts to the unregulated healthcare workers. Migrant workers and refugees have become one of the first communities to be victimized and discriminated during this pandemic. Many of the 244 million migrant workers have become jobless, homeless, and stranded away from home. Without the government subsidies and the access to public healthcare facilities, their plight has become more intolerable and fatal. The Coronavirus pandemic is illuminating the glaring flaws in our present neoliberal world order and the need of a new social, economic, cultural, political post-pandemic world where everyone is included and mother earth is respected. As Pope Francis points out in Laudato Si’, Integral ecology “needs to take account of the value of labour” (124). Everyone must be able to work, because it is “part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment” (128), while “to stop investing in people, in order to gain greater short-term financial gain, is bad business for society” (128). On this International Workers’ Day, the Pax Romana family -the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) and the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA) – further confirms our Christian duty and commitment to find a society which liberates the “All and Whole human”. The Ponnamallee declaration (1970) of All India Catholic University Federation serves us a timely challenge: “We were born in an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it.” International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Pax Romana (ICMICA) International Movement of Catholic Students Pax Romana (IMCS

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International Day of Rural Woman

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The bodies were lying in the streets un-buried. All railroads and vessels carrying food and such things into the great city had ceased runnings and mobs of the hungry poor pillaging.

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