Tuesday 14 April 2026 | 7:00–8:30 pm AEST | Online via Zoom
The Australian Cardijn Institute invites you to a public webinar with Dr Val Noone AM, leading historian and long‑time YCW collaborator, exploring the origins of the Melbourne Young Christian Workers in 1941.
Drawing on his new book Melbourne YCW Origins 1941, Dr Noone unpacks long‑standing questions about the early development of the YCW in Australia—particularly the roles of B. A. Santamaria, Archbishop Daniel Mannix, and the YCW Priests’ Committee. Drawing on fresh sources and personal experience, the session sheds new light on Church–working-class relations, the political tensions of the 1930s–40s, and the decisive contributions of lay leaders and chaplains.
This webinar will be of interest to:
- Current and former YCW and YCS members
- Adult Cardijn movement members
- Students of Australian, labour, religious, and political history
- Anyone interested in Catholic social action and lay movements
About the Speaker
Dr Val Noone AM is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, a recognised authority on Irish‑Australian history, and a former YCS member and YCW collaborator. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009 and an honorary Doctor of Literature by the National University of Ireland in 2013.
Date: Tuesday 14 April 2026
Time: 7:00 pm AEST
Platform: Zoom
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lfA9ZRNSQymH2LZFqLDN-g
Learn more about the book and background:
https://australiancardijninstitute.substack.com/p/webinar-melbourne-ycw-origins-1941