5 Founding Tenets

by André Regnier, CCO Founder

My motivation to start CCO did not only come in response to a need on university campuses; rather it came from God’s clear call. CCO is God’s vision for how His work can be fulfilled on university campuses.

What is that vision? It has always been and will continue to be important that we as a movement are clear on what God has called us to do. In order to keep our focus and to stay faithful to that calling, we have developed five tenets. These tenets serve as a compass or guide for what we do and how we do things. These tenets or principles are more than just good ideas, they are prophetic words spoken to CCO by God over the years.

In my last year of university, I went through the "Life in the Spirit Seminar". I was expecting to receive extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, and at the time was disappointed to only receive these simple words of prophecy: "You will be an evangelist of the youth." I now, however, realize the power of these words. It is because of these words and because CCO focuses on youth at university campuses that our first tenet in CCO is to be "evangelists of the youth."

CCO believes there cannot be a more strategic and important group of people to focus on in order to make the greatest impact on the world. The next generation of leaders: of doctors, of lawyers, of teachers, of politicians, and of those making decisions that will lead our country into the future, will be coming from our universities.   If we fail to focus on them at this critical time of discovery and development, we fail to impart the value and the power of the gospel to the future generation. Consequently, leadership in this country will continue to lack the influence and formation of Jesus Christ and His Church.

University students are in a period of life where they desire to make a difference in the world. They have the energy, the freedom, the enthusiasm and the idealism to make a difference. History has shown the impact young people can have (communism, hippie movement) when they believe in something and put their natural God-given energy into making it happen.

The vision for CCO expanded further when I attended a conference in my last year of university.   One of the speakers at this conference quoted Philippians 1:18 "all that matters is that in any and every way...Christ is being proclaimed! That is what brings me joy." These words had a profound impact on me. I felt as if they had been spoken directly to me. This scripture has formed the second tenet and it is one of the most defining elements of the ministry.

The Holy Father says "many (Catholics) do not know Christ or do not know him well enough". This is a reality on university campuses across the country. Since our faith is based on a personal life giving experience of Christ, this lack of knowledge and experience of Christ cripples the spiritual life of Catholic young people. Without this experience many young people find that their faith has little to no value. It is not that they are abandoning their faith, it is that they are unaware of the importance of knowing the person of Jesus Christ. When young people have a living encounter with Christ, their faith comes alive. Their connection to the Church becomes real and life giving. They have a great desire to share that faith with friends, family and classmates. Seeing the effect that a clear proclamation of Christ’s gospel has on students and reflecting on Philippians 1:18, the second tenet became obvious: "proclaim Christ clearly and simply".

The first few years were an exciting time of growth for the ministry. In spite of the growth, I would find myself in the Chapel crying out to the Lord for all the nations of the World. "What can I do for the Church in Russia, China, Africa, and South America? How can I reach out to these people?" One day I received an answer: "One person at a time". I realized that the individual student is of great value and holds great potential to accomplish great things for God’s glory.

CCO knows that the greatest impact young people will make will not be at university.   They generally only spend four or five years of their lives on campus. The greatest impact will be felt as they go out into the world to work and raise a family. If we can prepare them to take leadership in sharing their faith they will take that learning experience and continue to be leaders for the rest of their lives. If the Catholic Church is going to have an impact on the world, its individual members have to be missionaries in the communities around them. That is why we believe that every CCO member is a missionary and our third tenet is that we are all called to reach one person at a time.

Coming out of the chapel, another impression I had was that we must look beyond our families, our cities and our countries and ultimately to the ends of the earth. This was the call to the disciples in Matthew 28. Their heart was for the whole world and they were aware that the salvation offered through Christ was for all people. It is true that we may not all be missionaries in a foreign country, but our heart and concern is for all people to be saved by Christ. This is Christ’s heart, so it must also be ours, therefore CCO ’s fourth tenet is to "reach the whole world." CCO imparts a vision to students to have an impact on the world.

Over the years God has done great things in our midst. Each year seems to bring new opportunities for the ministry. We are excited and encouraged by these opportunities, but it should not surprise us. Early on, the Lord often directed my attention to Ephesians 3:20: "God is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine."  

Our fifth tenet is to have great expectations.   He is showing us what our expectations should be. Whatever we do, however small or large, we should always have an attitude of great expectation. We expect that God is going to use events and initiatives for His glory. God never fails to answer our prayers. He has taken CCO from a small group of enthusiastic young people to a national movement having international influence. Is there a more wonderful or more hopeful place to be than in the midst of young people who are working for the kingdom, expecting God to work powerfully through them?

It is the hope and intention of CCO to serve the Church on university campuses as long as God calls us. It is essential that we stay focused on what God has called us to do. Sometimes it is easy for us to forget what impact we can have in people’s lives. However, these five tenets will assure us that as we continue to strive for what we have been called to do we will have a great impact.

Our five tenets have shaped the movement to what it is today and with God’s guidance, it will continue to grow! We will continue to be a movement that is defined by being evangelists of youth whose mission is to proclaim Jesus’ name clearly and simply, one person at a time. CCO’s mission is to have a major impact on the world and with our attitude of great expectation it is possible.   "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37.