The International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) in Kathmandu has been granted full membership status by its European parent body, according to a statement received by the group yesterday. The IMCS secretariat in Paris granted membership during its world assembly meeting last month in Germany, but only recently announced the decision because of staff members’ involvement in World Youth Day activities in Madrid, which ended on August 21. The Kathmandu branch of IMCS was informed by email yesterday of its acceptance. Jesuit Father Paul Chemparathy, a former parish priest in Kathmandu who founded IMCS in Nepal and now serves in Moscow, said he was heartened by the announcement. “I share in your joy to see the ‘tree’ that I planted and watered now growing and blossoming.” IMCS is the student wing of Pax Romana, founded in 1921 as a continuation of the International Union of Catholic Students first established in Switzerland in 1887. Adrian Pereira, a former coordinator for IMCS in the Asia-Pacific region, has visited Nepal and made contributions to the recognition of the local chapter. “I am excited that after many years of seeking formal recognition, the Catholic students of Nepal are now officially part of the Pax Romana family. I hope it will further inspire all of them to work harder to fulfill the mission and vision of IMCS, not only at the grassroots level but also on the global level.” IMCS actively promotes student apostolates through its national federations in more than 85 countries.