Joseph Cardijn first learned of the Sillon while a seminarian at Mechelen.
In 1907, he visited Sillon groups in Lille, France, and attended a lecture delivered by Marc Sangnier during the Social Week at Amiens that year.
Appointed vicar (curate) at Notre Dame parish in Laeken at Easter 1912, he immediately linked up with others who had been influenced by the Sillon including Victoire Cappe and Fernand Tonnet.
In February 1921, he delivered the welcome address to Marc Sangnier on his visit to Brussels, explicitly stating all that he owed to the Sillon.
In 1922, he attended an International Democratic Congress for Peace organised by Marc Sangnier in France.
Read more
Joseph Cardijn, Welcome to Marc Sangnier (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library)
Stefan Gigacz, Le Sillon and the YCW