from Ray Turner, NEC Representative, Liverpool
Can I take you back to the summer of 1976 when inflation was running at nearly 20% and companies were closing at the rate of two a week. Unemployment was touching 15% and the trades unions were at the peak of their power, or at least that is what the government at the time told us! Imagine the scene in a tiny dingy smoke filled room in a large factory in Liverpool. The room is used at the concession of management by the shop stewards’ committee and there is a heated discussion going on about what action should be taken to avoid a complete walk out of 2,000 production workers in a dispute over 5 men not being paid the correct bonus. In the midst of all this mayhem in walks a little bloke in a long mac and beret accompanied by another member of the committee.
"Who
is this bloke? Is he a new member of management come to spy on us?"
"No, he's a French priest, he is here learning to speak English." "He
won't learn any here we only speak ... scouse." "Why have you brought him
in here?" "He is the Chaplain to the World Movement of Christian
Workers and he is interested in the worker movements around the world
and in particular the British Trades Unions at grass roots level."
This
was the beginning of a long and disorderly discussion, made worse by
the different translation and culture of those involved. But from this
insignificant meeting came what I like to believe, the seed from which
our Movement in its present form has grown. It has withered a bit along
the way.
It
was at that meeting that I first heard some of the Gospel (Good News)
according to St. Jean Marie and like some of the words of the Good Lord
may be a little lost in translation: When asked why a priest would be
interested in the problems of workers rather than those of his flock
his answer was that he hoped that if he had a flock then they were an
important part of it. To their amazement he said, "I am convinced that
where people are struggling together for justice and their rights, then
Christ is present whether they know it or not, even if they profess to
be non-believers. If we so called Christians cannot find God in our
neighbour next door needing a cup of tea, then we will never find Him
in church."
A
short time later two of that committee joined a small group of members
of the FSA (Family & Social Action) who were trying to form an
adult worker service of the Movement. The rest is history and those of
us who have been involved from the beginning know how much we depended
on our friend Jean Marie for his support and inspiration during some
very difficult but exciting times.
For
my part I would like to say that it has been an honour and privilege to
have had Jean Marie as a father confessor and very dear friend. He has
been part of my life for the last thirty odd years, both within the
Movement and with my family and my (his) friends here in the City of
Culture. If I can be so bold as to make the comparison of our
relationship it would be with that of Cardijn and Pat Keegan (well just
a little bit). I can at least boast of having achieved a small
contribution to Jean Marie's conversion to be a proper drinker by
convincing by my good example that good single malt is far superior to
any of that cognac rubbish!
Congratulations and Best Wishes from the Movement of Christian Workers and from your many friends in the UK and Ireland.
|