Apologies for the long interval between newsletters. Please note that the first three events are nearly upon us.

Wally Dethlefs: “The Role of the Church: Yesterday, Today and the Future”

You are warmly invited to this talk by former Brisbane YCS chaplain Wally Dethlefs. The event will include the Melbourne launch of his book ‘Just Compassion: A Priest’s Quest for Human Rights’. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

The Cardijn methodology and Twelve Steps programs were the foundations of Wally’s various ministries among prisoners and homeless & disadvantaged young people, in education, and in establishing a welcoming parish. His tireless and successful work to redress the blatant lack of legal rights and community support for young offenders (and suspects) has been recognised nationally.

When: 3 pm – 5 pm, Sunday 28th May
Where: YCW House, 537 Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy. (Beside the Lord Newry hotel tram stop.)
Admission: free; we would appreciate an RSVP for catering purposes to wmcmmcgough@bigpond.com, or 0408 505 356

‘New Pentecost 2018’: Ecology Study Days

Each year, the Cardijn Community hosts ‘New Pentecost’ events to remember Pope John XXIII’s call for Vatican II to lead to a New Pentecost for the Church and the world. This year, in solidarity with Cardijn Community International, we have developed programs chosen to focus on the ecological challenges facing the world.

Adelaide: at St Augustine’s church Salisbury, this coming Sunday, 20th May, at 7 pm. The gathering, led by Joseph Delle-Nogare, will consider Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si using the See Judge Act methodology and challenge attendees to consider the encyclical’s application in their daily lives.

Melbourne: Staff Room, Catholic Regional College,10 Theodore St, St Albans, next Thursday 24th May, at 7.30 pm. The gathering, on ‘Meeting the World’s Ecological Challenges: Let’s Start Local’, will hear from Katie Pahlow (Sustainability Victoria), Marilyn Bellett (Conservationist, YCW Worker) and Jade Gigacz (high school student, and member of the Young People for Development network). These short presentations will be followed by a discussion on what steps we, as individuals, as people of faith, and as local communities, can take in response to today’s environmental challenges.

Cardijn Institute

A second meeting will be held to further consider the role of the proposed Cardijn Institute and to approve and adopt rules for the proposed “non-distributing co-operative with share capital”. All are welcome; copies of the minutes and draft rules are available to those interested.

When: this coming Sunday 20th May, at 3 pm.
Where: All Saints Church Hall, King William Street, Fitzroy. (Tram from Brunswick Street, or parking is available on King William Street in front of the hall.)

Extension Activities

With the assistance of YCW Holdings, Joe Magri and Elizabeth McFarlane of the AYCW have successfully located YCW extension workers in Adelaide (Martin Delaney) and now Melbourne (Marilyn Bellett). Early signs of their efforts are very promising, and we wish Martin and Marilyn well and offer them all the support we can. Connections have been made with potentially interested CCA members in Queensland and New South Wales.

Adelaide AGM

CCA’s AGM was held at the Queen of Angels Church Hall, Thebarton, Adelaide, last October. A very full program included meetings with YCW and some very enthusiastic YCS members. Parish priest Fr Charles Gauci, a long-time YCW supporter, offered to use the parish’s beautiful old stone church as a CCA centre. The president’s report and financial report are attached. Minutes forthcoming to members.

Perth Celebration of Cardijn 50th Anniversary

An anniversary Mass for the 50th anniversary of Cardijn’s death was celebrated in Perth in August 2017, very soon after the last newsletter was distributed. Some of the photos sent by Vicky Burrows are attached.

‘Appreciate Your Local Priests’

In the wake of the Royal Commission, these are difficult times for good priests. Actions taken as part of a CCA ‘Appreciate Your Local Priests’ campaign include the distribution of dozens of Wally’s Dethlef’s books to Melbourne diocesan priests.

Aboriginal Males Healing Centre ‘Sons of Fathers Family Violence & Sexual Abuse’ Conference, November 2017, was one of the sponsors of the conference:

http://amhc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CONFERENCE-SUMMARY-REPORT-AMHC-2017-PDF-FINAL.pdf

Past CCA president Guido Vogels reports that despair and suicide among the young in the Pilbara are all too prevalent. He has been appointed (on a handshake) by the Noongar-Martu and Nebula Elders of Newman, WA, to be the clinical director when the 28-bed AMHC centre opens in 2020-21. In the meantime, he and Rosina have just moved to Newman to get to know the Aboriginal people, develop programs for perpetrators of family violence, and train future workers. This is unpaid work until 2020, financed by some local counselling.

Seaford Housing Action Coalition

SHAC, started by a parish CCA group in conjunction with the local community, has continued to submit to Councils and State government regarding homelessness and is becoming better known and regarded. Frankston City Council has invited us to discuss ideas for crisis and transitional housing on surplus government land; models being considered range from mixed-use developments with multiple stories to our preferred lower-density cabin park model. We also endeavour to stay in touch with community groups such as the local Unemployed Workers Union.

Parish Expos

CCA is working on a Catholic Social Services Victoria’s planning committee for further ‘Parishes as Centres of Service’ expos in Melbourne. One regional event is planned, and another two events will bring together parishes interested in specific issues: asylum seekers and (new) parish environmental programs to implement Laudato Si.

Eternal Life

CCA offers its condolences to the families and friends of YCW, YCS and CCA leaders and supporters who have died recently. Those who have come to our notice are Anthony Steel (Sydney ACU), Denis Sheehan (former YCW national chaplain and AYCW mentor), Paul Willy (former Melbourne YCW Boys Chaplain and AYCW mentor), and Fr Ernie Smith (Melbourne YCW diocesan leader, and founder of Sacred Heart Mission St Kilda).

Very recently these good Cardijn formed people were joined by Leonard (Len) Faulkner (retired Archbishop of Adelaide, and retired Bishop of Townsville) whose episcopal ring was emblazoned with the YCW badge. He had loyally supported the YCW among Australian bishops in difficult times and had been a supporter of CCA since its inception.

Their work is gratefully and warmly remembered. ‘May the souls of these, and every worker who died on labour’s battlefield, rest in peace.’

Cardijn History Research

Stefan Gigacz recently submitted his PhD thesis, supervised by Bruce Duncan CSsR, to the University of Divinity: “The Leaven in the Council. Joseph Cardijn and the Jocist Network at Vatican II”. It provides a compelling new understanding of Vatican II. We look forward to its publication.

David Moloney’s PhD candidature was approved in a recent University of Divinity confirmation panel. Supervisors are Rev Max Vodola and Katharine Massam, and the thesis working title is: “The YCW in Melbourne 1960 – 1993: Formation and Transformation”.

Of Labour and Liberty

Dr Race Mathews, whose University of Divinity thesis (also supervised by Bruce Duncan) was published last year by Monash University Publishing as Of Labour and Liberty: Distributism in Victoria 1891 – 1966, is now available in the USA, having recently been published by Notre Dame University Press.

Upcoming USA Cardijn History Conference

A conference on the history of the Cardijn movements in the USA will be held at Mount St Joseph University, Cincinnati, on 6-7 July 2018. For further information:

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