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Australian Catholic Students Association

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Australian Catholic Students Association
MottoVia Veritas Vita (The Way, The Truth, The Life)
InstitutionCatholic Church
LocationAustralia
Established1942
PresidentShawn Mitchell
AffiliationsAustralian Catholic Bishops' Conference
Websitehttps://www.auscatholicstudents.com/

The Australian Catholic Students Association or ACSA is the peak body of Catholic students in Australia.[1] The body was founded in 1942 as the University Catholic Federation Australia (UCFA), and has been renamed several times. In 1974 it became known as the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA) and in 1990 it was renamed the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA). The body has been known as the Australian Catholic Students Association since 2001.[1]

ACSA is made up of Catholic tertiary students, predominantly from the eastern states of Australia. ACSA affiliated societies have a presence in many universities, including Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and the Australian National University.[2] It is officially supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference.[1]

The National President as of February 2025 is Shawn Mitchell.[3] The national patrons of ACSA are Tracey Rowland, head of the Australian John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, and Anthony Fisher, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney.[4]

History

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Background

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In 1921, Catholic student leaders from 23 countries met in Fribourg, Switzerland to create the International Movement of Catholic Students (ICMS).[5] Compelled to form an international union for peace after the events of World War I, national representatives were selected from Europe, the United States, Argentina, and Indonesia.[5]

While studying at the University of Paris in 1938, Australian theologian Rosemary Goldie was commissioned to bring the ICMS to Australia by the General Secretary Rudi Salat.[1] The Catholic Students' Society of the University of Sydney, the Newman Society, was affiliated in 1938, and intended to attend the 1939 World Congress.[1] However, the outbreak of World War II limited both the actions of the ICMS and the ability of Australian Catholic students to interact with their international counterparts.[1]

University Catholic Federation of Australia: 1942–1973

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The loose connection to the ICMS inspired Australian Catholic university students to organise more formally. Plans for a 1940 national conference of all Catholic students were delayed due to World War II. The inaugural national conference was held in 1942 under the name of the University Catholic Federation of Australia (UCFA).[1] Founding members included philanthropist Thomas Burke, neuroscientist John Eccles, and Rosemary Goldie.[1]

Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia: 1974–1989

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In 1968, the movement was restructured and its focus moved from social activities to community building and social justice issues. In 1974, it was decided to re-structure the movement to make it more relevant to university students at the time and it was renamed the Tertiary Catholic Federation Australia (TCFA).[6]

International Movement of Catholic Students Australia: 1990–2000

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The Movement then went through another restructuring period in 1990 when it was renamed the International Movement of Catholic Students Australia (IMCSA).[1]

Australian Catholic Students Association: 2001–today

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Since 2001, the organisation has been called the Australian Catholic Students Association and has been hosting national conferences and various other activities.[1]

Events

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National Conference

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ACSA hosts an annual national conference. This conference involves a series of theological and philosophical talks, a celebration of the Mass, and the Mannix Ball. The Ball is named after Daniel Mannix, a former Archbishop of Melbourne.[7]

List of National Conferences[7]
Year Theme State Venue Mannix Addressor
2003 N/A Victoria (state) VIC Janet Clarke Hall, Melbourne Most Rev. Mark Coleridge SSD, Auxiliary Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne
2004 N/A Queensland QLD St Leo's College, Brisbane Rev. James V. Schall SJ (cancelled due to illness)
2005 Be Not Afraid New South Wales NSW St John's College, Sydney No Mannix Address delivered
2006 How Can We Know the Way?[8] Victoria (state) VIC Newman College, Melbourne Most Rev. Barry Hickey OAM KC*HS, Catholic Archbishop of Perth
2007 The Church and the Next Generation Australian Capital Territory ACT Abbey Function Centre, Canberra Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, Auxiliary Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
2008 No conference held due to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. His Eminence George Cardinal Pell AC, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
2009 Renewing all things in Christ Queensland QLD Duchesne College, Brisbane Most Rev. Geoffrey Jarrett DD, Bishop of Lismore
2010 Rebuilding the Church and the World New South Wales NSW Lake Hume Resort, Albury Tracey Rowland DHS, Dean of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences
2011 Authenticity[9] New South Wales NSW University of Notre Dame, Sydney George Cardinal Pell AC, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
2012 Defending Human Dignity Victoria (state) VIC Queen's College, Melbourne Christopher Pearson, journalist and former proprietor of The Adelaide Review.
2013 Foundations of Faith Victoria (state) VIC The Women's College, University of Queensland, Brisbane Most Rev. Mark Coleridge SSD, Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane
2014 Build my Church New South Wales NSW Lake Hume Resort, Albury Tess Livingstone, journalist with The Australian
2015 For the Family. For the Faith. Victoria (state) VIC Ormond College, Melbourne Angela Shanahan, journalist with The Australian
2016 Providence in Plain Sight New South Wales NSW Benedict XVI Retreat Centre, Sydney Hon. Damien Tudehope, member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
2017 You Have Made Known to Me the Paths of Life Queensland QLD St Leo's College, Brisbane Hon. Matt Canavan, Australian Senator
2018 I Am With You Always Victoria (state) VIC Queen's College, Melbourne Tracey Rowland DHS, Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia
2019 Be Not Afraid New South Wales NSW St Joseph's College, Sydney John A. McCarthy KC GCPO KCSG, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See from 2012 to 2016
2020 No conference held due to COVID-19 restrictions in Australia. No Mannix Address delivered
2021 Who Do You Say I Am? New South Wales NSW Held online due to COVID-19 restrictions His Eminence George Cardinal Pell AC
2022 Fight the Good Fight New South Wales NSW University of Notre Dame, Sydney No Mannix Address delivered
2023 Be Not Afraid Victoria (state) VIC Queen's College, Melbourne Tracey Rowland DHS, Professor at University of Notre Dame Australia
2024 Lux Mundi New South Wales NSW St Joseph's College, Sydney Most Rev. Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE, Catholic Archbishop of Wilcannia–Forbes
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Our Mission & Identity". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  2. ^ "Affiliated Societies". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  3. ^ "National Executive". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  4. ^ "Our Patrons". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  5. ^ a b "A Brief History of IMCS-Pax Romana – Pax Romana IMCS AP". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  6. ^ "Newsletter". Retrieved 2025-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b "Annual Conference". Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  8. ^ "Breaking the Ice - The Catholic Leader". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  9. ^ "Catholic students embrace their faith - The Catholic Leader". Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
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