Poland to host ICMICA world assembly

ACMICA in Pax Romana-ICMICA Assembly

By Bill Neville*
April 2004

May 1, 2004 will be a significant date in Polish history. Then the country will become one of the fourteen new members of the European Union.

The year 2004 is also significant for Polish participation in the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (Pax Romana-ICMICA), the world-wide Catholic graduate movement of which ACMICA is the Australian affiliate.

For the very first time the triannual World Assembly of the Movement will take place in Poland, hosted by the local affiliate – the club of Catholic intellectuals, Klub Inteligendji Katolickiej (KIK).

KIK is one of the strongest ICMICA members in Europe with a full-time office in Copernicus Square in Warsaw and branches in all the major cities of the country. It was one of the few organisations able to exist during the Communist period and became a focus for a Catholic counter-culture in those difficult times. A number of its leading members became active in Solidarnosc and some were advisers to Lech Walesa. One became the first speaker of the post-Communist Parliament.

After many years of KIK representatives coming to ICMICA activities across Western Europe (including one serving as Secretary General in the 1970s), ICMICA is going to Poland. The 29th ICMICA Plenary Assembly will take place in Warsaw and Krakow, 24 - 30 July, 2004. The theme will be "Poverty and Injustice - Challenges to Ethics and Cultures: Christian Professionals' Responsibilities". The first part, called a study session consisting of addresses and workshops, will take place in the Polish Senate building in the capital, Warsaw.

Three keynote speakers have confirmed their attendance: Ms Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High-Commissioner for Human Rights; M. Jerome Binde, Deputy Director of Social, Philosophy and Human Science at UNESCO, Paris; and Cardinal Renato Martino, President of Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Several more prominent speakers have been invited. The study session will be open to all ICMICA members and friends. A large attendance is expected not only from Poland but also from former Communist-controlled countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

On 27 July there will be a one-day tour to the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp and to cultural places in Krakow, the ancient royal capital where the kings of Poland and the national hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko (after whom Australia's highest mountain was named) are buried in the crypt of the cathedral.

This will be followed by the Statutory Session at the Jesuit Retreat Centre in Krakow. The session will be concerned with the legal and administrative business of ICMICA including the election of international office bearers and of the affiliated countrieswho will provide the members of the international council. Among the most important business will be to elect the Secretary General to replace Anselmo Lee from Korea who has served as since 1997. It is open only to official delegates of ICMICA federations (maximum three delegates per federation).

To date, Australia will be represented by the Pastoral Animator, Fr Peter Maher, and former international president, Bill Neville.

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