Fr. Vitally Novak, C.M. is the founder and force behind International Movement of Catholic Students, Ukraine. The internal organization of IMCS is designed to develop student leaders who will work directly with the Missionaries.
The International Movement of Catholic Students, Ukraine (IMCS), was founded in May 2010 by Fr. Vitally Novak, C.M. in the eastern city of Kharkov. It is a Catholic moment composed of foreign catholic students from Africa and Asia who are studying in the Ukraine. The aim of IMCS is to establish a pastoral outreach to foreign students, bearing in mind the diversity of culture and language. In September 2011, the Congregation of the Mission, vice province of sts Cyril & Methodius Ukraine, established a pastoral team to undertake this ministry. Four confreres were assigned to this apostolate anchored in St Vincent De Paul Church, Kharkov. They include: Jan Martincek CM (National coordinator); Yuri Shpak CM, Thomas Enchackal CM, and Anthony Ekpunobi CM (Spiritual Directors).
The IMCS is divided into three sub-groups: the African-English, African-French, and Asian-English. The pastoral language is English and French. IMCS is found in the following cities of the Ukraine: Kharkov, Vinnitsya, Lviv, Sumy, Zaparozhie, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Poltava, and Odessa. The activities of IMCS include: Christmas carols during the month of January, the executive meeting held in Kiev in the month of March, and the annual Pilgrimage to Kharkov during the month of May. The Christmas carols provide the students with an opportunity to display their talents in singing, dancing and dramatic presentation.
The internal organization of IMCS is designed to develop student leaders who will work directly with the Missionaries. The student leaders are drawn from all the member cities, with the overall student leader residing in Kharkov. Within IMCS there are various societies, for example, the Legion of Mary, the Divine Mercy Society, the Altar Ministers, the choir etc. There is a weekly prayer fellowship in the hostels where participants pray the Rosary and share reflections on the gospel of the day.
IMCS work in collaboration with the priests who minister in the parishes in the cities where the members live. The national coordinator and the spiritual directors are in direct contact with the local parishes and offer solutions to problems as they arise. The spiritual directors visit the cities once a month for confessions, retreats and spiritual direction. The cooperation of the local parish priest in the different cities is very commendable.
In 2013, the demands of the mission of the congregation of the mission in Ukraine, saw the transfer of one of the spiritual directors, Fr Yuri Shpak, CM to Perechin, west of Ukraine. Presently he is laying the foundations for the establishment of IMCS in the western city of Uzhgorod. The 2015/2016 academic year witnessed a new development in the pastoral work with foreign students. The Missionary from India, Fr. Thomas Enchackal, CM., completed four years in the mission to the Ukraine and he decided to return to his homeland. We wish him the best of luck in his ministry. At the present time, IMCS is administered by the National Coordinators, Fr Jan Martincek, CM and Fr. Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.
IMCS Anthem
IMCS international movement of catholic students is living the faith
We are the hope of our faith to blossom the dreams of the church, hail IMCS
With the strength of our youth we’ll move our faith forward and defend it whatever be the case.
When the roll is called on the last day a joyful song we’ll raise, hail IMCS.
Let’s spread the news of God’s kingdom to all people on earth through IMCS.
And join hands with groups of like minds to evangelize the world through IMCS.
Let the message be brought to every living soul by the life that we live as students.
When the role is called on the last day a joyful song we’ll raise, hail IMCS.
We say no to corruption and greed, sectionalism and violence in IMCS.
And chant down the agents of bribery, ethnicism and war in IMCS.
With Jesus prince of love and peace we’ll pitch our tent, yes the enemy will forever be ashamed
When the roll is called on the last day a joyful song we’ll raise,
Hail IMCS! Hail IMCS! Hail IMCS!
