TOWARDS 2008
- activating students & young adults -
HOSTING BODIES
Towards 2008 is a joint project of the Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA) & the Australian Catholic Young Adults Network (CYA) with artistic & event management by Artes Christi Australia.
The Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA) is a national organisation of Catholic students from tertiary institutions and houses of religious/priestly formation. It also builds links with secondary students and graduates of tertiary institutions throughout Australia.
It is committed to witnessing to the Gospel message of hope as proclaimed by the Magisterium and Tradition of the Catholic Church, and it strives to support and liaise with tertiary institutions, Catholic organisations, tertiary chaplaincies and schools across Australia – seeking to foster close and unifying relationships.
ACSA entrusts itself to Holy Mary, Mother of God under the title “Sedes Sapientiae” (Seat of Wisdom), as assigned by Pope John Paul II as a gift to students in The Great Jubilee Year of 2000.
ACSA is affiliated to Pax Romana and the International Movement of Catholic Students, and enjoys the support of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
The Australian Catholic Young Adults Network (CYA) was launched in October 2006 as a project of the Australian Catholic Students Association. CYA has been specifically setup to serve young adults between the ages of 18-35. It is hoped that CYA will complement ACSA’s work by providing a community, network and place for those working as well as students, graduates, young professionals, single & married people. For more info contact Jovina Graham (Chair, CYA): mob. 0404 896 946 or email:
cya2008@gmail.com
Activating Students & Young Adults
An Introduction:
In early October 2006 the ACSA national executive (Australian Catholic Students Association) held its annual planning meeting to discuss how Catholic students in Australia might be activated in the lead up to WYD2008. After considering ACER’s research which found that in some parts of Australia almost 70% of school leavers are now pursuing tertiary study* and that many of these students are also studying part-time, the need for a broader young adult network to complement existing campus associations became very evident. * http://www.acer.edu.au/research/projects/lsay/documents/reference_guide.pdf
Consequently, in the lead up to WYD2008, ACSA has launched the Australian Catholic Young Adults Network (ACYA) specifically to serve young adults between the ages of 18-35: students, graduates, young professionals, single as well as married young people. It is envisaged that ACYA’s work off campus will complement the work of ACSA with university students on campuses across Australia.
An Australian network to serve local groups
In establishing the Australian Catholic Young Adults Network (ACYA), ACSA is seeking not so much to provide to the Church another local group but rather to contribute a national network for students and young adults. For this reason it will be possible to formally join ACYA in the same way that one can formally join ACSA, but it will also be possible for groups to affiliate to ACYA specifically for the purpose of working together towards WYD. In this way, you are able to contribute to ACYA simply by being involved in a local group of young adults whether through a parish, a movement, in your workplace or even with an informal group of your friends.
Over the next two years, many opportunities exist for ACSA & ACYA to serve the Church and working together it is hoped that some or all of the following projects could be pursued:
- Affiliation of student & young adult groups from parishes, associations & movements into the ACSA & CYA networks;
- Spiritual & social events for students & young adults in each major Australian city;
- The release of a weekly email, the creation of a website & the occasional release of a journal for students & young adults;
- Seminars & national gatherings of students & young adults;
- All of the above and more constituting “TOWARDS 2008” a national formational & promotional campaign for WYD2008 specifically targeted at students & young adults.
Affiliating Local Groups to ACSA & ACYA
Commitments of AFFILIATED GROUPS to the Towards 2008 Network:
# SPIRITUAL UNITY: at appropriate times, local groups should pray the WYD Prayer & / or the Towards 2008 Prayer as indicated below.
# INFO UPDATES: one or two members of local groups should be available to attend 2-3 meetings per year with all the Towards 2008 Network Groups as called by the local Towards 2008 Team.
# MAILING LISTS: twice a year at appropriate times, each local group should offer their members an opportunity to join the email / postal list of the Towards 2008 Network so that your members can receive the weekly network email & biannual journal.
# BIG EVENT PROMOTION: Local groups should participate in & promote the large Towards 2008 Network events within appropriate parameters as determined by each group.
Commitments of the TOWARDS 2008 NETWORK to Affiliated Groups:
# SPIRITUAL & PRACTICAL UNITY: The TOWARDS 2008 Network should provide opportunities for local groups to network spiritually & practically, encouraging a sharing of resources & the staging of local joint events in the lead up to WYD 2008.
# WEB PROMOTION: Provide a link page on the Towards 2008 website especially for each groups to update local activities etc.
# EMAIL & JOURNAL PROMOTION: Release a weekly email & biannual journal so that events & activities of local affiliated Towards 2008 groups are promoted, discussed & supported.
# BIG EVENTS: Provide occasional social & spiritual events so that local affiliated groups & individuals are able to effectively contribute to the Towards 2008 Network & campaign.
Activating Students & Young Adults for WYD2008
ACSA & ACYA have appointed Artes Christi as their
artistic & event consultants for Towards 2008
Artes Christi Australia a new association established in January 2006 from the Carnivale Christi committees across Australia. ACA is committed to seeking the Face of Christ through the arts especially by offering artistic, management and event support to Catholic groups & offices & by finding & promoting universal or ‘Catholic’ expressions of culture. For more info, contact: John O’Brien (National President) jobrien@arteschristi.org.au / ph. 9361 6378 or Anthony McCarthy (National Director) amccarthy@arteschristi.org.au / mob. 0410 51 3056.
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