Youth Corps
Catholic New Times, Sept 11, 2005
OTTAWA — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, is pleased to announce the following the Order of Canada award to Father Tommy McKillop, C.M. (Toronto) in the category of Religion.
McKillop, a priest of the Toronto archdiocese was a pioneer in Youth ministry. Beginning in the 60′s he modeled a new approach to youth. McKillop, energized by the commitment of the Church to the world in Vatican II, made youth the primary evangelizers of youth. Youth Corps for years was a staple in Catholic parishes, always with a focus on outreach to the marginalized. The model was so successful that noted American youth expert Michael Warren of St. John’s University, New York called Youth Corps “the finest example of youth ministry in North America.”
For years Youth Corps brought dynamic justice people to Toronto. Among the latter were Dorothy Day, and Jean Vanier.
Tom McKillop: order of Canada, ‘father’ of families, friend of Jesus
Catholic New Times, Jan 15, 2006 by Ted Schmidt
Joe Mihevc, (YC 1979-83)
Frankl, Viktor E., Youth in Search of Meaning, a videotape produced by the Youth Corps and Metro Cable Television. Contact: Youth Corps, 56 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X2, Canada. Rental fee $10.00.
nkl, Viktor E., The Unheard Cry for Meaning, an audiocassette produced by the Youth Corps, 56 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X2, Canada. $6.50.
‘Be true to what you believe’: Kitchener, Ont. activist and teacher Dwyer Sullivan muses on a life committed to justice
Tom McKillop: Order of Jesús , Theology in the Vineyard, Edited by Teed Schmidt
Catholic New Times, Feb 12, 2006 by Christopher Reilly
F 1950s Thomas McKillop, SMC 5T0, Hockey Father Thomas McKillop recently received the Order of Canada. Over the years, he has been a major force in promoting ecumenism, responsibility and social engagement among Canada’s youth. In 1966 he co-founded the Youth Corps, a church- based movement welcoming young people of all faiths. Now retired, he remains a source of inspiration, with achievements that have had life- changing effects on many people.
Youth ministry pioneer receives Order of Canada
BY GILLIAN GIRODAT The Catholic Register
Deacon Daniel and Carmen Gana
“Be Not Afraid, Follow Me”
Father Thomas McKillop, C.M.Toronto, OntarioMember of the Order of Canada
Father Thomas McKillop has been a major force in promoting ecumenism, responsibility and social engagement amongst Canada’s youth. In 1966 he co-founded the Youth Corps, a church-based movement welcoming young people of all faiths. He was determined to give young people a sense of direction, bringing them together to help the most vulnerable members of society and also to reflect on the world surrounding them. Now retired, he remains a source of inspiration, whose achievements have had life-changing effects on many people.
Our journey led us to come
to Canada. Our Christian commitment
increased by being
involved in different faithcauses
in the City of Toronto
and abroad, mainly the process
of developing Christian leadership
among the youth. In June
1979 we met Fr. Tom McKillop
at a farm near Sharon, run by
the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
Fr. Tom introduced us to
Youth Corps and it led me to
work with the Catholic Children’s
Aid Society of Toronto
as a social worker. I worked on
call as a Social Worker and
joined the Youth Corps Team.
My involvement with Fr. Tom
and Youth Corps helped me to
develop a deep appreciation
and value to work as a team in
all things I become involved in.
We continued to include our
families and friends in all our
activities.
I learned from Fr. Tom a
way to develop leaders by
modeling how Jesus formed his
disciples. Fr. Tom called this
process Friendship Reflection
and Action Model. He reflected
on the Gospel of Luke and emphasized
that Jesus called the
disciples to Action, “Come follow
Me”. The disciples’ answer
was often a response of guilt.
“Apart from me, Lord, I am a
sinner. I am not worthy” Jesus
insisted reflecting in their lives
and said “Be not afraid, follow
me.” He said to Peter, “You are
a fisher, I will make you a fisher
of people.” Jesus sent them out
by two’s and asked them to
bring nothing extra with them.
Coalición de iglesias canadienses
Youth Corp
Canadian Catholica Organization for Development and Peace
News Synthesis
Now in its 30th year, Catholic New Times is Canada’s award-winning social justice and faith journal, offering a unique perspective on the Canadian and world church, as well as current affairs. Our examination of Canadian and world issues is rooted in the spirit of Vatican II and the radical, liberating message of the Gospel. You’ll read news and analysis from our staff writers and freelancers across the country, who cover national and foreign politics; sustainable development and the environment; anti-globalization and anti-imperialism; Aboriginal issues; child poverty; women’s issues; racism, HIV/AIDS; labour exploitation and peace activism. As well, we have a lively Arts and Culture section, featuring book, television and film reviews; reports on art exhibits and insightful cultural commentary.
Canadian Information Sharing Service, Consejo mundian de
Coalitions for Justice: The Story of Canada?s Interchurch Coalitions. Edited by Christopher Lind and Joe Mihevc. Ottawa: Novalis, 1994.
- Mary Jo Leddy describes this as “an introduction to one of the most exciting and controversial ecumenical experiments in Canada”. Mel Watkins, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Toronto, says “I had no idea how marvelously meddlesome the churches were till I read this thorough and fascinating documentation of what they’ve been doing.”
Inter-Church Coalitions, The Growing Edge of the Churches in Witness to Peace and Justice,A Unique Canadian Ecumenical Institution.
- Aboriginal Rights Coalition.(ARC) Founded in 1975 as Project North.
- Inter-Church Coalition on Africa.(ICCAF). 1984.
- Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility.(TCCR) 1975.
- Canada-Asia Working Group.(CAWG) 1977.
- Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice.(ECEJ) Founded in 1973 as Gatt-Fly.
- PLURA.(Presbyterian,Lutheran,R.C.,Anglican) Domestic Poverty.1972
- Ten Days for Global Justice. Education/Action. Canada wide.
Founded in 1973 as TEN DAYS for World Development. - Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America. (ICCHRLA) 1973.
- Inter-Church Committee for Refugees.(ICCR) 1979.
- Project Ploughshares.1976. Disarmament, Conflict Resolution, Arms Trade, Weapons Registry, Common Security.
- Inter-Church Action.(ICA) Global Development and Emergency Response (recently formed through amalgamation of the Inter-Church Fund for International Development,1974, and the CCC Development and service committee.)
- Canada China Programme. Founded in 1972 as China Working Group. Has recently been laid down.
Ecumenical Social Action from TCE Standard
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Ecumenical Social Action by Christian churches in Canada since the late 1960s has been characterized by a reawakening of the SOCIAL GOSPEL passion for justice and a new level of co-operation between Protestants and Roman CATHOLICS. Following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Roman Catholic bishops joined mainline (Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian and United) and minority (Mennonite and Quaker) protestants in the creation of a number of jointly sponsored social action coalitions. The war against domestic poverty provided an initial focus for ecumenical social action. The 1968 national conference “Christian Conscience and Poverty” led to the creation of the Coalition for Development. This ambitious attempt to co-ordinate the antipoverty struggles of a wide range of organizations did not survive, but the desire to work together remained strong.
International emergencies such as the Biafra and Bangladesh crises of the late 1960s and early 1970s and the growing gap between rich and poor nations heightened the churches’ desire to co-ordinate relief and development activities. The Inter-Church Campaign Committee produces shared materials for each denomination’s annual appeal for relief and development funds; Ten Days for World Development co-ordinates a development education program; and ICFID (the Inter-Church Fund for International Development) co-ordinates emergency assistance and administers jointly sponsored development projects.
The churches’ responses to domestic and developing nation poverty reflected the social gospel conviction that justice, not charity, was required. The need for carefully targeted research was recognized as a starting point for combining compassion for victims with a sophisticated understanding of existing policies. For example, the experience of church observers at UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) III (the poor nations’ organization) strengthened the conviction that the churches should examine Canada’s role as a member of the rich nations’ club – the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The GATT-Fly Project was created to help the churches to be more effective gadflies in criticizing Canada’s trade and aid policies. In 1990 the name of this group was changed to the Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice.
Other specialized groups created in response to different issues include the Task Force on Churches and Corporate Responsibility, Project North (now called the Aboriginal Rights Coalition), the Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America, the Church Council on Justice and Corrections, Project Ploughshares (defence policy and DISARMAMENT) and the Inter-Church Committee for Refugees. Each group has a small specialized staff and an administrative committee consisting of denominational representatives. PLURA (named after its Presbyterian, Lutheran, United, Roman Catholic and Anglican sponsors) works through regional committees to assist local antipoverty organizations. The eco-justice subcommittee of the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility reflects the churches heightened concern over the environmental crisis. Such ecumenical social justice acitivities have made a unique contribution to the world church. The social justice and eco-justice activities have been accompanied by a developing tradition of ecumenical social thought. The central conviction that the transformation of unjust social structures is an integral part of mission and ministry has been expressed in various publications, study materials and briefs to governments.
Author ROGER HUTCHINSON
Suggested ReadingChristopher Lind and Joe Mihevc, eds, Coalitions for Justice: The Story of Canada’s Interchurch Coalitions (1994); Bonnie Green, ed, Canadian Churches and Foreign Policy (1990).
Catholic New Tiems, now in its 30th year, is Canada’s award-winning social justice and faith journal, offering a unique perspective on the Canadian and world church, as well as current affairs. Our examination of Canadian and world issues is rooted in the spirit of Vatican II and the radical, liberating message of the Gospel. You’ll read news and analysis from our staff writers and freelancers across the country, who cover national and foreign politics; sustainable development and the environment; anti-globalization and anti-imperialism; Aboriginal issues; child poverty; women’s issues; racism, HIV/AIDS; labour exploitation and peace activism. As well, we have a lively Arts and Culture section, featuring book, television and film reviews; reports on art exhibits and insightful cultural commentary
