The continental level is fundamental for IFCA’ s existence and is promoted and supported by member countries. One or two countries assume responsibility to coordinate and to keep contact with the member countries. The International Secretariat.Coordinators coordinate the work of the different age-groups in the different countries.
Our Continent is Catholic Action’s historical birthplace as CA was officially founded in Italy in 1867. Nowadays Catholic Action in the Europe-Mediterranean region is characterised by different languages and rites. There are national Associations with a long history but also others which started very recently. In the midst of these differences, the national Catholic Action Associations find common ground in the focus on formation and the opportunity to meet. Particularly in recent years programme funds have made it possible for many young Catholic Action members to meet and discover IFCA’s international dimension.
The continental level of the Church is IFCA’s main point of reference.
Europe Mediterranean Region
In this region, there are nine member countries and twelve observer countries. Among the observer countries there is the Holy Land, which is at the heart of all CA, in fact, a special space is dedicated to it on IFCA’s homepage.
Member countries are countries where Catholic Action is present and is identified by the four well-known characteristics laid down in Apostolicam Actuositatem 20, is under the name of Catholic Action or any another name but is organised in a way which corresponds to the history and reality of each particular national association.
The request to be accepted as an IFCA member country has to be submitted by the Bishops’ Conference of that particular country or by the Bishop of the particular Diocese requesting to join IFCA.
Member countries are countries where Catholic Action is present with the four well-known characteristics described in Apostolicam Actuositatem 20, under the name Catholic Action or under another name, with an organisation that corresponds to the history and reality of each national association.
The request to participate in IFCA as a member country is submitted by the Bishops’ Conference of the country or by the Bishop of the diocese in which the CA wishes to actively participate, representing its country.
Observer countries are countries in contact with IFCA mainly through participation in continental or international initiatives.
Some countries have been in contact for some time, others have just started, and with others contact has to be resumed.
Through this continental network, vital for IFCA, information about each observer country is being up dated. Through this work at Continental level, the situation in each Observer Country is being reviewed and the information up-dated.
