Cardijn Community Australia is pleased to announce a Conference, to be held
Melbourne 4th – 6th November 2011.
The Conference
A conference to explore how the methods of Joseph Cardijn have been, are and can be used to deepen our faith and change our worlds.
Cardinal Joseph Cardijn’s exhortation – “You can make a difference!” – and his “See Judge Act” method empowered generations of youth around the world in the twentieth century. Melbourne once had the biggest Young Christian Worker movement in the world and, although their histories are not widely known, Cardijn youth movements made significant marks on Australian society.
At the same time Cardijn was also conscious of “the urgent need for an apostolate among adults without which, he said, “all the efforts of the young people will lead to a dead-end”. While Cardijn’s ideas were incorporated into some Vatican II documents, and continue to be incorporated in official church statements to the present time, there have been few attempts to form groups of adult lay Catholics to put his ideas into practice.
This conference will explore means by which Cardijn’s proven “See Judge Act” method might be developed among adults in parishes and elsewhere. Catholic parishes provide a strong platform for community leadership; a place to ask the question “Who is my neighbour?”
The conference will begin by looking back at the impressive achievements of the Young Christian Worker, Young Christian Student, and National Catholic Girls movements in Australia. This session will culminate with a presentation to Melbourne’s Archbishop Denis Hart of records of original YCW secretary Ted Long, a pioneer of Australia’s credit co-operative movement.
On Saturday our keynote address will be delivered (by video due to a late cancellation of his Qantas’ flight) by Bishop Eugene Hurley of Darwin. Panellists and speakers will tell of present-day experiences and initiatives, stimulating discussion and moving us on to our exercises in the Cardijn method.
Saturday and Sunday will mostly be given over to workshopping a Cardijn Training Manual, which has been specially drafted for the conference. We will see what a “Social Inquiry” looks like, find out how we can judge in the light of the gospel, and discover how common action can engage, empower and change. Together we will identify three issues at the heart of our local communities, and use the “See Judge Act” method to explore how these themes might become a part of our mission as church.
On Sunday we will conclude with a short review of the past few days, and look at ways by which we can go forward.
We hope you can join us.
The Place
Jump on a tram and you will find 2km east of Melbourne’s CBD, is the Thomas Carr Centre in East Melbourne. The central location makes it easy to get around and enjoy the sights of the city.
There are a number of accommodation options, ranging in price and ratings, nestled in the CBD, all within walking distance of public transport and the venue.
When
2.00 PM Friday 4th November – 3.00 PM Sunday 6th November 2011
Where
Friday 4th and Sunday 6th November:-
Cardinal Knox Centre (Diocesan Centre), Albert Street East Melbourne
(Note: The Cardinal Knox Centre is situated on the south-west corner of Albert and Lansdowne Streets East Melbourne. Entry via the carpark on Lansdowne Street. Parking available in the carpark on Sunday.)
Saturday 5th November:-
Thomas Carr Centre (Catholic Theological College), Victoria Parade, East Melbourne.
(Note: The Thomas Carr Centre is situated on the south-west corner of Victoria Parade and Eades Street East Melbourne. Entrance on Victoria Parade, parking available on surrounding streets.)
Map
Venue and accommodation options
We look forward to seeing you there!
Registration
Download forms here:
Registration
Conference Program
For more details, please write to us at: contact@cardijncommunityaustralia.org
Or contact
Ph: Miss Emma Jennings on 8392 9540
Email: conference@cardijn.catholic.edu.au
Accommodation
For those seeking budget priced and convenient accommodation during the conference, here are some possibilities:
- The Nunnery, 116 Nicholson Street Fitzroy, ph 1800 22 55 88. Budget accommodation (about $30 per day, share rooms). Opposite Exhibition Gardens, about 2 km from conference venue. http://www.nunnery.com.au/
- Melbourne Metro YHA, 78 Howard Street Melbourne, ph 03 9329 8599. Budget, near Victoria Market, a tram trip from conference venue (about 3 km). http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/vic/melbourne/melbourne-metro/
- For locations and rates of other nearby hotels (upwards of $110 per night), search the web under “Hotel Club” (Melbourne). The Metropole Hotel is about 400 metres from the venues.
- Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, located about 150 metres from both of the venues, also has several well-appointed two-bedroom apartments available, with parking and self-serve breakfast provided: http://www.mmhc.org.au/
Download this file for more info: Accommodation and maps
* Cardijn Community Australia is a national group instituted at a 2008 post ‘World Youth Day’ seminar in Melbourne, and which has since held a conference and also a workshop in Adelaide. CCA is supported by, but is entirely independent of, the Young Christian Worker and Young Christian Student organisations.
