Cardijn Community Australia (CCA) promotes all forms of lay apostolate—diverse expressions of faith in action that emerge when ordinary Catholics respond to the challenges of their time. Whether or not they are directly influenced by the See–Judge–Act method or the legacy of Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, such initiatives reflect the vitality of the lay vocation and the shared responsibility of all the baptised.
Two recent examples—VIBE and RESTORED—stand out as powerful, contemporary expressions of lay initiative. Both are fully initiated, led, and sustained by lay people, not clergy or diocesan offices. Both speak to real needs within the Church today.
VIBE: Faith and Belonging for a New Generation
VIBE (Vision, Identity, Belonging, Evangelism) is a new young adult Catholic group at St Anne’s Parish in Seaford, Victoria. Created by local lay leaders in response to a growing need among young people for a more grounded and open spiritual community, VIBE offers:
- Honest conversations about faith, doubt, and Catholic identity in a secular culture.
- Scriptural reflection and Church teaching shared in accessible ways.
- A strong sense of belonging and peer support.
VIBE is not part of a diocesan youth ministry programme or a national movement. Its strength lies precisely in that: it is a grassroots lay initiative, responsive to local needs, rooted in lived experience, and open to the questions and hopes of a new generation.
RESTORED: A Community of Faith for Divorced Catholic Men
RESTORED is a community for Catholic men who have gone through the trauma of separation or divorce. Created and facilitated entirely by men who have lived through these experiences, RESTORED offers:
- Weekly online gatherings centred on prayer, Scripture, and mutual support.
- A safe space to share stories without judgement.
- Encouragement to remain engaged with the Church and deepen one’s relationship with Christ.
Inspired by the story of King David—a man who sinned, failed, yet remained “a man after God’s own heart”—RESTORED provides a message of healing, reconciliation, and ongoing discipleship. It is a lay-led response to a gap in pastoral care, born not from policy but from personal conviction and fraternal compassion.
Visit: www.restoredcatholic.life