On 13 November 2025, the Australian Cardijn Institute hosted the fifth annual Cardijn Lecture, delivered by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth and President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. The theme, Faith in Action/Life; Action in Faith/Life, invited participants to reflect on how faith and action intertwine in a Church committed to synodality.
Returning to Cardijn Roots
Archbishop Costelloe began by recalling his formative years in the Young Christian Students (YCS) and Young Christian Workers (YCW) movements, where he first encountered Joseph Cardijn’s See–Judge–Act method. This approach, he said, remains a powerful tool for discernment and mission, resonating deeply with the Church’s current synodal journey.
“Synodality is not a passing trend,” Archbishop Costelloe emphasised. “It is a style, an attitude, an openness that promotes authentic participation and communion. Every member of the Church has a voice and a role to play.”
He noted that this vision echoes Pope Leo’s June address to the Synod Council, ensuring continuity with Pope Francis.
“Synodality is a style, an attitude that helps us to be Church by promoting authentic experiences of participation and communion… each and every member of the Church has a voice and a role to play, always through dialogue and respect for one another.”
Synodality: More Than Structures
Drawing on insights from the recent Synod on Synodality and Australia’s Plenary Council, Archbishop Costelloe stressed that renewal must go beyond structural reform. Quoting Archbishop Mark Coleridge, he reminded listeners that “culture eats structures for breakfast.” True transformation, he said, requires a conversion of attitudes grounded in the Gospel.
He warned against creating a new “elite class” of highly active members, insisting that every baptised person has a voice and a role, even if life circumstances limit formal involvement.
Harmony Between Synodality and See–Judge–Act
The Archbishop highlighted the deep connection between the synodal process of listening, reflecting, and discerning and Cardijn’s See–Judge–Act method. Both approaches, he noted, help communities avoid ecclesial introspection and foster an outward-looking, missionary Church.
“If acting is only for ourselves, we’ve missed the point,” he said. “Our mission is always for others.”
A Call to Formation and Action
Archbishop Costelloe urged dioceses, parishes, schools, and Catholic agencies to invest in formation for synodal leadership, noting that synodality is learned ‘by doing‘. He also called for patience and persistence, acknowledging the challenges of embedding this approach across the Church.
The Culture of the Gospel
At the heart of his lecture was a simple but profound question: “What do you think God is asking of the Church at this time?”
This question, central to the Plenary Council, remains vital for any renewal. Archbishop Costelloe concluded by inviting all Catholics to embody the mind and heart of Jesus, citing the Gospel story of Zacchaeus as an example of Christ’s pastoral method—meeting people where they are with dignity and hospitality.
About the Cardijn Lecture Series
Launched in 2021, the Cardijn Lecture honours Joseph Cardijn’s legacy and explores themes of synodality, social justice, and lay leadership. Previous speakers include:
- 2021: Professor Rafael Luciani – The Emergence of Synodality
- 2022: Cardinal Michael Czerny – Siblings All, Sign of the Times
- 2023: Dr Alana Harris – Reform or Revolution? The English YCS in ’68
- 2024: Dr Patricia Jones – Patrick Keegan, First Lay Auditor at Vatican II
Videos of past lectures are available on the ACI YouTube Channel.
Read more and join the conversation: Cardijn Community Australia
Contact: Mark Ager for more information, markager4@gmail.com