Asia

Australian Catholic Students Association

Motto of the Movement

Via, Veritas, Vita

Year of Foundation 1942    

Year of IMCS membership 1942

Brief History
Rosemary Goldie was commissioned to bring the IMCS to Australia in 1938 by General Secretary Rudi Salat. This lead to the affiliation of the Sydney University Newman Society in 1938 at the 18th Congress of Pax Romana. From this 1940 was set as the time for the first National conference. However, due to the out-break of WWII, this was not able to take place. Little then happened until 1942 when the first conference took place from January the 24th and 25th in Sydney. Those who attended decided to start the University Catholic Federation of Australia, which was the first title under which the movement was known.

The founding members of the movement were Mr T Burke (Sectary), Rosemary Goldie (Assistant Sectary), Dr John Eccles, and Mr TA Herbert. At this conference the first constitution was developed. From this point began the National Movement of Catholic Students in Australia. Between 1942 and 1950 the organisation, then known as University Catholic Federation Australia (UCFA), was run by university graduates who volunteered for positions of secretariat over the years.

In 1968 the movement was restructured and its focus moved from social activities to community building and social justice issues. In 1974 it was decided to re-structure the movement to make it more relevant to university students at the time. It was re-named the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA).

The Movement then went through another restructuring period in 1990 when it was re-named the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA). The Movement was renamed the Australian Catholic Students Association in 2005.

Since then ACSA has held annual conferences, and has worked towards achieving and living out its mission.

Names and Positions of Current team members
Alexander Kennedy – President

Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement

Year of Foundation 1991

Year of IMCS membership 1994

Brief history
During the 1990s Ms. Helen Ting, a member of the IMCS Asian team came to visit Bangladesh and with the help of Catholic Jubo Sheba Dol (Catholic Youth Service Team) conducted several seminars with the students of Dhaka University, Jagannath University Tejgaon College and Christian Student Organization of Chattogram respectively. On 13 February 1991, a combined Meeting was held on Ramna Cathedral Parish, Dhaka and a 9-member committee were formed to organize a national Seminar in October 1991. This committee with the help of Rev. Father Benjamin Costa CSC, Dr. joseph D’ Silva, Dr. Isodore Gomes, and Catholic Jubo Sheba Dol organized a five-day (20-25 October 1991) convention at Dhaka Notre Dame College and started the movement which was named BCSM. During April 1994, the Asian Council of IMCS Asia, an evaluation meeting was held in Thailand between two Pan Asian assemblies. The BCSM President participated in the meeting and applied to get the full membership of IMCS. On July 6, 1994, a three-member team participated in the Asia pacific assembly in Hong Kong. Being satisfied with the activities of BCSM and receiving a recommendation from Most. Rev. archbishop Michael D’ Rozario, IMCS accepted BCSM as a full member.

Names and Positions of Current team members

Patrick Drishya Purification- President
Nishan Cristofer Rema- General Secretary
Mark Tonmoy D Costa- Treasurer
Victor Jayanta Biswas- Organizing Secretary
Joy Egnetius Rozario- Publication Secretary
Tonni Gloria Roy- Executive Member
Xavier Oli Minj- Executive Member 

Official Address: CBCB Center, 24/C Asad Avenue, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1215
Official Email: bcsmbd@gmail.com
Telephone:  +639391194999
Website: www.bcsmbd.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bcsmbd
Instagram:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bcsmbd

Hong Kong Federation Of Catholic Students

Motto of the Movement
Option for the Poor

Year of Foundation 1961

Brief History
Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students (HKFCS) was formed in 1961 as a student movement organization consists of members from 14 Universities. Our aim is to unite the students to take their role as a Catholic youth and to concerns about the underprivileged people in the society.

HKFCS works towards the goal of ‘Option for the Poor’, which is to achieve Christ’s teaching through actions and to accompany the needy in the society. The Executive Committee would also focus on different target groups every year, such as the homeless ones and children who are facing the problem of poverty, and to organize activities related to the issues in order to let the students to have more in depth understanding of different social problems.

Names and Positions of Current team members
Melissa Tsui (Acting President), 

All India Catholic University Federation

Motto of the Movement
“we were born in an unjust society and we are determined not to leave it as we have founded it”

Year of Foundation 1924, affiliated to Catholic Bishops Conference of India from 1948
Year of IMCS membership 1937

Aicuf  an introduction
All India catholic university federation Aicuf was founded by Fr Carty SJ in 1924 at St Joseph’s college, Trichy. Aicuf functions in 13 states of India Objectives of Aicuf To analyze socially the various situation in India and to approach the society with social awareness To be the voice of the voiceless for their rights to create spirituality centered on human kindness within students To prepare the students to respond to the social issues in today’s context. Target people of Aicuf Dalit Adiwasis Women refugees To be a member of Aicuf College/university students below the age of 30 Places of Aicuf units Colleges college hostels Catholic parishes Note: a unit should have minimum of 20 members Structure of Aicuf National level State level Regional level Unit level Trainings by Aicuf Leadership & personality development Social analysis & field visits Political awareness Street theatre & folk arts training Journalism & media education Criticism on documentary films Human rights education Summer camps Documentation Activities Developing personality and leadership quality for today’s youth, with the virtues like love, justice, honesty, truth, equality and brotherhood Organizing seminars, special talks, debates, group discussion to make the students socially concerned Conducting workshop to explore the multi talents of the students training the students to think optimistively “We were born in an unjust society, and we are determined not to leave it as we have found it “

Union of Catholic Students of The Republic of Indonesia (PMKRI)

Motto of the Movement
Pro Ecclesia et Patria
Religio Omnium Scientiarum Anima

Year of Foundation 1947

Brief History
PMKRI constitute fusion from KSV ( Katholike Studenten Vereniging) and The Federalisme of University Students of Republic of Indonesia (in Indonesia ; Perserikatan Mahasiswa Katolik Republik Indonesia/PMKRI) in Indonesia. There are St. Bellarmine Catholic student association (KSV) was the first Catholic student association, established in Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1928. In 1947, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic student association (KSV) was founded in Bandung , West Java. And then the St. Lucas Catholic students association (KSV) was founded in Surabaya, East Java in 1948. And the last is The Federalism of University Students of Republic of Indonesia was founded in Yogyakarta in 1947. After following some meet and congress, these association fused an formed the PMKRI in Yogyakarta on 1947 with new name is The Catholic Union of University Students of the Republic of Indonesia (in Indonesia ; Perhimpunan Mahasiswa Katolik Republik Indonesia/PMKRI). 

Names and Positions of Current team members

Catholic Student Network of Thailand

Motto of the Movement
“Stand Together for What you Believe”

Year of Foundation 1956     Year of IMCS membership 1958

Brief History
Jesuit had been invited by Catholic Church of Thailand to open pastoral works in Thailand that according to the history it considered as the 2nd chance. Then Jesuit opened a house and began the missions where one of it was working with Catholic students at some public universities. At that time there were 2 groups of students.
One was university students and the other was vocational school students.
Recently there are 3 groups under Catholic Student Network of Thailand:
1) Catholic Student of Thailand,
2) Student Volunteer Development Camp of Xavier Hall,
3) MAGIS group of Thailand.

Now, there are 2 Catholic Student Center in Thailand run by Jesuit:
1. At Xavier Hall that coordinating Catholic University Students throughout Thailand;
2. At Seven Fountains that coordinating Northern Catholic University Students.

Names and Positions of Current team members
Fr. Beda Yassao, SJ (Chaplain), 

IMCS Nepal

Motto of the Movement
Live for God, Lead for Nepal

Year of Foundation 2016 Year of IMCS membership 2016

Brief History
IMCS has had connections with Nepali students for few decades and during the past few years the connections had been disrupted and a new initiative had been needed for years. In October 2016, IMCS Secretary General Ms. Evelina Manola and IMCS Asia Pacific Coordinator Mr. Ravi Tissera visited Nepal with the intention of reestablishing the movement. They met with Bishop Paul Simick, the Vicar Apostolic of Nepal and shared their intentions. Bishop Simick conveyed his gratitude to the IMCS about taking the interest to continue the mission with the Nepali students and gave his blessings to initiate the movement again in the Nepal among undergraduate level catholic students.

IMCS representatives then met with Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J. the Principal of St. Xavier’s College to discuss further about the initiative. Many catholic students were doing their undergraduate studies at St. Xavier’s College at that time and the College was open to take the lead if the Bishop approved it. Bishop Simick in a letter later approved St. Xavier’s College as the IMCS Nepal chapter and to take the lead in conducting the various activities. Fr. Jomon Jose, S.J. was appointed as the Chaplain.

In July 2017, Mr. Ruki Fernando, lay chaplain of IMCS Asia Pacific paid visit to IMCS Nepal and conducted a half day orientation as well as interaction session for the members of IMCS Nepal.

Since the reestablishment IMCS Nepal has had many activities and programs. Since November 2019, Fr. Jiju Varghese, S.J. has been the chaplain and Sr. Sophie Lee SPC the animator of the program.

Names and Positions of Current team members
Mr. May Ghale ( President) 

UCCSA (University Chinese Catholic Students Association)

Motto of the Movement
Open, Dialogue, Vocation, Faith

Year of Foundation 1951      Year of IMCS membership 1981

Brief History
In February 1949, Father Fang Hao in History Department of National Taiwan University founded the “Catholic Teachers and Students Association” on the campus of NTU, which was the first Catholic university association in Taiwan. In 1951, it was renamed as “National Taiwan University Catholic College Student Association”. Faculty and students from all colleges and universities in Taiwan have successively established formal or informal associations on campus and gradually integrated with them.

In 1954, the college associations of 5 schools including National Taiwan University, National Normal University, Tamkang, Taipei Institute of Technology, Provincial Vocational College, and Soochow established the “Taipei Archdiocese College Catholic Church” on November 14. In 1965, the Catholic Association for the Advancement of Academic Affairs approved to establish National Assembly in Taipei and officially named it “Chinese Catholic University Student Association”, and therefore became a national organization. In 1974, the Association was officially exposed to Asian Conference in 1981 and became a member in the International Movement Catholic Student (Pax Romana). Later in 2018, the association renamed as “University Catholic Chinese Student Association” (UCCSA) at the 47th National Assembly.

Names and Positions of Current team members
Secretariat President Xie,Meng-En 謝孟恩 

楊翠如 Yang Tsui-Ju, Teresa, lay chaplain

Official Address: Rm. 411, 4F., No. 22, Sec. 1, Xinhai Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan (R.O.C.) 10089 台北市中正區辛亥路一段22號4樓411室
Official Email: ccusa.stu@gmail.com
Telephone:   (886)02-23654205#280
Website: http://uccsa.at.tw/
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catholic.ccusa
Youtube: