Eccleria

Eccleria is a French Christian movement of business leaders and executives, formerly known as the Mouvement chrétien des cadres et dirigeants (MCC). It is an Ignatian-inspired lay organization that seeks to bring the Gospel message into the world of work and the economy, to build shared reflection on social questions, and occasionally to take public positions. The movement is organized as an association under the French law of 1901 and is open to Christians of all tendencies as well as to people who are not necessarily Christian but share Christian values. It brings together nearly 3,000 people in France, including about 300 young professionals aged 23 to 35. The name Eccleria evokes both the verb "éclairer" (to enlighten) and the early Christian communities that gathered in homes, the Domus Ecclesiae. In monthly team meetings, members listen to one another and share professional experiences in order to enlighten their decisions and reconcile their Christian values with their professional challenges. This collective discernment, inspired by the pedagogy of Saint Ignatius, is facilitated by spiritual accompaniers. The movement also runs a Recherche Emploi group (GRE), created in 1975 out of the MCC, which offers training cycles three times a year for executives in professional transition and, since 2019, for working executives wishing to change companies. Eccleria's history reaches back to 1892, when the young Jesuit Henri-Régis Pupey-Girard formed a union of prayer and apostolate that became the Union des ingénieurs catholiques (UIC). After the 1905 separation of Church and State, the UIC became the Union sociale des ingénieurs catholiques (USIC) in 1906. In 1937 a new movement, the MICIAC (Mouvement des ingénieurs et chefs d'industrie d'action catholique), was born in the orbit of the USIC, with branches for executives and for leaders. In 1966 the Mouvement des cadres, ingénieurs et dirigeants chrétiens (MCC) was created from the merger of the USIC and the MICIAC. In 1998 the movement adopted the name Mouvement chrétien des cadres et dirigeants. In 2025 it changed its name again to Eccleria. The movement has held national congresses and published works, including Dieu s'intéresse-t-il à notre travail ? La réponse du MCC in 2015 for its 50th anniversary. In 2016 its national congress in La Plaine Saint-Denis gathered more than 1,600 participants around the theme "Accélérer, jusqu'où ? L'homme au cœur du mouvement." In 2018 it joined the collective "Promesses d'Église," which aims to review governance modes in the Church. Eccleria is governed by national leaders, typically serving three-year terms, and its archives are held by the Centre national des archives de l'Église de France.

The history of Eccleria begins in 1892, when a young Jesuit, Henri-Régis Pupey-Girard, formed a union of prayer and apostolate that would become the Union des ingénieurs catholiques (UIC). In 1906, after the French law separating Church and State, the UIC transformed into an association called the Union sociale des ingénieurs catholiques (USIC). In 1937, a new movement was born in the orbit of the USIC: the MICIAC (Mouvement des ingénieurs et chefs d'industrie d'action catholique), which had two branches, one for executives and one for leaders. In 1966, the Mouvement des cadres, ingénieurs et dirigeants chrétiens (MCC) was created from the merger of the USIC and the MICIAC. In 1998, the movement changed its name to Mouvement chrétien des cadres et dirigeants. In 2015, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the MCC published the book Dieu s'intéresse-t-il à notre travail ? La réponse du MCC, addressed to all those who question how they exercise their responsibilities, especially professional ones. In 2016, the MCC national congress held on 12–13 November gathered more than 1,600 participants around the theme "Accélérer, jusqu'où ? L'homme au cœur du mouvement" in La Plaine Saint-Denis. In 2018, the MCC joined with leaders of communities, associations, and Church movements in the collective "Promesses d'Église," an initiative aimed at reviewing governance modes in the Church. In 2025, the movement changed its name to Eccleria, a name evoking light and the Ecclesia (Church).

• 2025

  The movement changes its name to Eccleria.

• 2019

  The GRE opens to working executives wishing to change companies.

• 2018

  The MCC joins the collective "Promesses d'Église."

• 2016

  The MCC national congress gathers more than 1,600 participants in La Plaine Saint-Denis.

• 2015

  For its 50th anniversary, the MCC publishes Dieu s'intéresse-t-il à notre travail ? La réponse du MCC.

• 1998

  The movement changes its name to Mouvement chrétien des cadres et dirigeants.

• 1975

  The Recherche Emploi group (GRE) is created out of the MCC.

• 1966

  The Mouvement des cadres, ingénieurs et dirigeants chrétiens (MCC) is created from the merger of the USIC and the MICIAC.

• 1937

  The MICIAC (Mouvement des ingénieurs et chefs d'industrie d'action catholique) is born in the orbit of the USIC.

• 1906

  After the separation of Church and State, the UIC becomes the Union sociale des ingénieurs catholiques (USIC).

• 1892

  Henri-Régis Pupey-Girard forms a union of prayer and apostolate, later the Union des ingénieurs catholiques (UIC).

A Christian movement of business leaders and executives seeking to reconcile Christian values with professional life.

1. 1Accueil - Eccleriaeccleria.fr
2. 2Eccleriafr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Eccleriawikidata.org