Catholic Herald Reporter FIVE English students and two student interpreters formed this country's delegation to the Fifth International World Study Session of the Young Christian Students just ended at 13roumana, near Beirut, Lebanon, where 150 young men and women from 50 countries met to discuss student problems and programmes.
The English delegates suggested several projects for YCS members in their own countries during the next four years, including (i) a survey of the needs of the pre-YCS age group (11 to 15); and (ii) a survey of religious teaching at all levels from school to university.
Two extremes were noted: too much teaching in Catholic institutions. and too little in nonCatholic, ones.
From England came Peter Baldock (Christ Church, Oxford), Sheila Cronin (Manchester College of Science and Technology). Fr. John Fay (national chaplain).
With them were Kathleen Moss (Keele) who has been helping with a UNESCO survey of I6-yearolds; Roger King, who has been visiting YCS sections in East Africa: and Cynthia Sing (graduate of Keele) who is to work full time for the YCS for a year.
The interpreters were Sheila Melrose (Manchester University) and Richard Merryman. With the Nigerian delegation was Freda Mahoney, former English national president, now working full time with the Nigerian YCS. At the conference too was Elizabeth Crook, who, since mid-1962, has been the tirsi English YCS member to become European Secretary. She will later join the Catholic Film Bureau in Paris.
The English students supported the plea for close relations between hierarchy and laity. and one of the most important topics discussed was how far YCS groups can collaborate in work with a political aspect. The YCS Council is now working on this, An example of the problem is the invitation to the YCS in England to work on WAY's Commission on Human Rights.
At Brournana, students met seven archbishops representing four rites, and heard Masses according to the Syriac, Maronite, Greek. Catholic and Armenian liturgies.