Patrick Keegan, the International Young Christian Workers’ (IYCW) first president, in a speech, concluded that:
A Christian Australia is a worthwhile target for all members of the YCW. A Christian Australia is vital for the whole Pacific world. Australia is vital for the whole Pacific world. One knows that millions of people in the Far East are hungrily looking for an ideal of life pressed down as they are by an economic and social misery unknown in such intensity in Europe. In this setting, Australia must take her responsibility as the torch bearer of Christian values – geographically set as she is the springboard for the Far East.
Patrick Keegan, Australian Broadcast 26.6.51 (Joseph Cardijn Digital Library/Pat Keegan).
Christians are 44% of the Australian population, today with Catholics at 20% of the population.
Between 1991 and 2016, the number of Catholics attending mass regularly decreased by about 40%.
In 2016, only about 11% of Catholics attended mass in their parish each weekend.
Where should we begin the work of transforming the Australian milieu?
SEE
How important is attending mass?
How important is taking part in the parish community and life?
The Australian Catholic Church has 3,000 organisations employing approximately 220 000 people (in 2016) throughout Australia.
The Australian Catholic Church has 1,759 Catholic schools with 793,897 young people as students.
The Australian Catholic Church has over 11,400 parishes throughout Australia.
The Australian Catholic Church has an estimated wealth of AUD30 billion (in 2018).
JUDGE
Is my faith an ideology or a culture, and nothing more?
Am I an authentic Catholic?
Am I living out my call, to form consciences?
ACT
How can I live my today, to live out my Christian calling?