The International Catholic Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) has announced the appointment of Dr Greg Lopez, lecturer at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, as Assistant Coordinator of its Commission of Animators & Chaplains for the Asia-Pacific region.
Now a management lecturer, Dr Lopez has had extensive experience working with young people. He belonged to the La Salle Sentul high school Young Christian Students (YCS) team in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In 2001, he worked as an intern with the Catholic international development agency, CIDSE, and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) supporting their advocacy efforts in the WTO Doha Development round.
From 2003-2008, he was a volunteer coordinator for the Young People for Development (YPD) network.
He has been a member of the Cardijn Community International since 2002 and was previously a board member of the Australian Cardijn Institute. Currently, he is a member of the Joseph Cardijn Digital Library working group.
In his role with the IMCS, Greg will be tasked with supporting Fr Jiju Kevillil SJ, the Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Commission of animators and chaplains, coordinating meetings of the chaplaincy team, assisting with the formation of current and future animators and chaplains. He will serve a two year term.
Quote from Greg: “This is an immense blessing, honour, and responsibility. Cardinal Cardijn promoted organisations in which young people are given responsibility and the opportunity to exercise their God given mission. I am grateful for the opportunity to accompany these young people in fulfilling this mission.”
Quote from Fr. Dr. Jojo M. Fung, SJ, IMCS, International Ecclesiastical Assistant:
IMCS is as strong as the lay animators and chaplains who accompanied the tertiary students are adequately formed in the Catholic Papal and Social Teachings of the Church. IMCS counts our blessings in having Dr Greg Lopez as an assistant coordinator of APCAC as he brings with him his competent experiences in management and advocacy with the international development agency, CIDSE, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) in the WTO Doha Development round.
Quote from Bertha Samponu, IMCS Asia Pacific Coordinator:
As the student organization, the presence of chaplains and lay animators plays an important role to assist and accompany. To lead and coordinate the region, a student coordinator must have a good chaplaincy team where she/he can share and ask for advice and suggestions.
On behalf of IMCS AP, I am pleased to welcome Dr Lopez, and look for more meaningful assistance to the students’ leaders, national movements’ teams, regional coordination, and the AP- Chaplains, Animators and Elders Commission.