A.U.C.A.M.

A.U.C.A.M. (ASSOCIATIO UNIVERSITARIA CATHOLICA ADIUVANS MISSIONES). - It arose in Louvain in 1925 through the work of professors and students, on the initiative of the Jesuit Fr. Charles, with the aim of interesting the educated laity in the theoretical and practical missionary problem. Soon in almost all the cities of Belgium, and also abroad, centers and committees were formed with the most varied activities, which made the A. "the strongest and most flourishing student organization in favor of the missions" (Guida delle missioni, p. 519).

The activities went on increasing more and more in importance, giving life to institutions of broader scope and great social interest. Thus arose the Medical Foundation of the University of Louvain in the Congo with hospitals at Kisantu (1926) and at Katana (1930), to which is attached a school for the training of certified indigenous medical assistants; the agricultural center of Kisantu (1932) and of Kamponde (1938) for the training of indigenous agricultural assistants, lecturers and advisers; the Foyer Social indigène d'Elisabethville (1933) for the formation of healthy families in healthy environments. The A. already held two congresses (1930, 1935) with particular reference to the problem of races; it even founded an association for an understanding among them, whose main activity consists in introducing students from Asia and Africa into Catholic families. The A. also has its periodicals: the Carnets de l'A., begun in 1926, took from 1931 the title of Revue de l'A., today a quarterly; Réponse, begun in 1946, aims to keep the committees united with the members.