Welfare Conference - National Catholic - Washington 5.D.C. - 1312 Mass.Ave..N.W. - No.3 - Jan.-Feb.-Mar.1947 - Vol.1 - Pius XIl To Canon Cardijn

Sep 21, 2026

A 1947 Catholic welfare conference publication centered on Pope Pius XII’s address to Canon Cardijn, celebrating the Jocists (J.O.C.) and their lay apostolate. It emphasizes collaboration between the laity and church hierarchy, the need for priests and pastoral care, and the spiritual fruit expected to grow amid postwar reconstruction. The text also includes a diocesan Catholic Action message from Kansas City, describing parish programs, rural retreats, street preaching, mission chapels, and education initiatives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Pius XII to Canon Cardijn

Role of the Jocists in the lay apostolate

Vocations, priests, and pastoral needs

Apostolic blessing and encouragements

Catholic Action - Diocese of Kansas City

Parent-Educator program and community initiatives

Rural retreats and Catholic press

Catholic education and diocesan planning

WELFARE CONFERENCE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WASHINGTON 5.D.C. 1312 MASS.AVE..N.W. 15 NO.3 JAN.-FEB.-MAR.1947 VOL.1 # Pius XIl To Canon Cardijn Founder of the Jocists which Our Predecessor Pius XIof holy and venerable memory,worked so much and which Weare so anxious to see extendedand prospering for the very sal-vation and peace of the world.This close collaboration of thelaity in the apostolate of thehierarchy,in their intelligent andjoyous obedience to the spiritualleaders whom the Holy Ghosthas appointed to rule the Churchof God,is a guarantee of the su-pernatural success divinelypromised to the heralds of theGospel—the Gospel of which thejocists are the living expressionin the midst of their brothers andsisters of the working world byreason of their highly appropri-ate methods and their animatingspirit. To Our Dear Son,Joseph Car-dijn,General Chaplain of the most certainly We do not with-hold them,are indeed due totheir devoted chaplains whosenumber we can only hope willmultiply to meet the ever in-creasing demands which comefrom multitudes of young menand women of the factories andshops;an immense flock too of-ten without Pastors.A flockwhich,without such Pastors,willbecome the prey of evil shep-herds and wolves.In this re-gard We do not doubt but thatfrom the ranks of the jociststhemselves,inculcated with theneed of imploring God forpriests,there will spring up nu-merous vocations so imperative-ly required by the conditions ofthe Church in modern society.At the time when a new worldis being built on the ruins of sucha merciless war,We cannot butwish ardently that the law ofJesus Christ will triumph in allsectors of society,as well asamong the nations,and notably,thanks to the Providential leavenof the J.O.C.,among the massesof Belgian workers and theworkers of other countries.We know what a favoredplace you occupy in CatholicAction in the strengthening of J.O.C.: The pious and filial addressby which you have,in the nameof the leaders of the Belgian J.O.C.,given Us a pledge of yourallegiance and devotion on theoccasion of the elevation to theCardinalate of Our formerApostolic Nuncio to Brussels,who was also your protector andvenerated friend,could not failbut move Our heart greatly andincrease still more,if possible,Our eager solicitude and Ourpaternal affection toward Ourdear sons and daughters the Bel-gian Jocists and their zealousguides. Why then should we not takea very lively pleasure at seeingthese Christian fruits of theworkers'world growing in valueand in number in the field of theFather of the human race;andespecially since Our dear son Cle-ment Cardinal Nicara has toldUs about them as they exist inthe very heart of dear faithfulBelgium,where the Spirit of theDivine Savior animates with suchfervor those intrepid ranks ofyoung working men and women. Accordingly,it is with a fullheart that We send Our Apos-tolic Benediction as a pledge ofthe finest heavenly favors to you,as well as to your dear colleaguesof the apostolate,leaders of theBelgian J.O.C.,and to all Ourwell-beloved sons and daughters,the Jocists of Belgium and of theentire world.The Vatican,April 26,1946. Special encouragements,and PIUS PP.XII. Catholic Action -Diocese of Kansas City By Most Rev.Edwin V.O'Hara,Bishop of Kansas City the study of the history of the Churchthis fall notwithstanding the let downin adult religious education duringthe war years.Every parish in KansasCity is represented in the Parent-Edu-cator program for spiritualizing ourhome life and the program is expandingthroughout the diocese.Last summerstreet preaching was conducted in sev-enty towns and villages.The dedicationof twelve mission chapels in the dioceseduring the past year and a half is thefruit of this apostolate. My dear representatives of Catholic Ac-tion in the Diocese of Kansas City: night is far advanced:the day is athand:but put on the Lord JesusChrist.”The further fact that youare meeting today,not in the See City ofthe Dioc

FAQs

What role does the text assign to the Jocists in Catholic apostolate?

The address presents the Jocists as a living, working-world expression of the Gospel, supported by methods and a spiritual outlook that enable active lay collaboration with the Church’s hierarchy.

Why does the publication emphasize the need for priests and pastors?

It warns that without devoted chaplains and pastoral guidance, young people can become vulnerable to harmful influences, and it calls for vocations prompted by prayer for priests.

What initiatives does the Kansas City Diocese message describe?

It describes parish representation in a Parent-Educator program, street preaching across towns and villages, the dedication of mission chapels, diocesan rural retreats, and efforts to strengthen Catholic education and community resources.

Sep 21, 2026

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