JEUNESSE ÉTUDIANTE CHRÉTIENNE (J.E.C.) - Founded in 1927, it brings together under itself in the various French-speaking countries all young students with the threefold purpose of: 1) helping them to live as Christians; 2) making them understand the true meaning of study, which prepares them to serve, in a privileged position, their own country; 3) seeing to it that recreations and amusements too are educational.
For this reason the principal activities that the J. É. C. promotes are: spiritual retreats, collective religious demonstrations, both at the parish level and at the school level, literary competitions, cultural lectures, visits to industrial establishments, correspondence with young people of other countries, camps, etc. These are activities that are designated as "services" placed at the disposal of the entire student body, and grouped under the name of "Student Friendship." Moreover, annually, during the holidays, the J. É. C. holds sessions for instructors of physical education. The various student circles are grouped into sections that depend directly on regional federations. The sections are attached to a school or to a parish. Together they constitute the national Movement directed by the National Council.
The periodicals published by the organization are: Le blé qui lève (for secondary-school students); Messages (for members of the Movement); Directives (for leaders); Lettres aux aumôniers. The badge is a small shield with the inscription J. É. C. and an ear of wheat twining around the Cross placed at the center. Parallel to this movement there exists an analogous one for female students.
Bibliography
Ernesto Talentino