The Newman
Catholic Society has been at the University of Queensland for longer than any
other club or society. Like all societies, it has had highs and lows in terms
of membership, and like most interesting groups on campus, it has not always existed
without friction. The Newman Society is not alone, being one of Newman
Centres and Clubs around the world in secular universities – although each one
is autonomous.
The UQ
Newman Society (here on simply “Newman”) is first and foremost a Catholic society, and indeed the only
Catholic group at UQ. As we end the academic year and having elected the
executive group for next year, it is a pertinent question to ask: what is
Newman about, anyway?
I do not
know what the answer from a historical perspective might be, so instead I
propose to give my own vision. To be a Catholic group means to be a collective
of individuals who have been transformed and are being transformed with an
encounter with Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, the incarnation of the Gospel
of God. These individuals, through their incorporation into Christ in baptism, form
part of the People of God and so become part of a much larger group: the Catholic
Church. The term comes from the Greek katholike ekklesia, which literally
means “universal assembly,” or “universal church”. This point about what it
means to be Catholic also tells of what it means to have a Catholic society at
UQ: Newman will not be alone, but part of something greater, that is, the
universal Church. Nonetheless, part of the organizational brilliance of the
Church is that she has a diversity within herself, and so Newman is not merely
a sort of university congregation, but an organically distinct arm of the broader
Church.
In practical
terms, this means that Newman exists within the context of the Archdiocese of
Brisbane, and so my vision for Newman is that she be in close communion with
the person who oversees the archdiocese (that is, the [arch]bishop, from the
Greek episkopos or “overseer” – Archbishop
Mark Coleridge at present), and connected also with Catholic communities (in
particular: parishes and their youth ministries, as well as Catholic groups at
Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University and Australian
Catholic University).
The role of
the Newman Society is distinct from that of a mere university congregation, in
that she is a bridge between the sheltered environment of schools, often
Catholic schools, and the secular university environment of the University of
Queensland. Its modus operandi, therefore,
is shaped by its place in the mission of the Church.
Back to the
encounter with Jesus Christ, crucified and risen – what does that mean, how
does it relate to who we are, and what actions flow from this encounter? These
are not only good questions, but it is important that every Catholic know the
answer. To this end, part of the core of Newman is its catechetical drive, or
in other words, its teaching role. Noting that the move to university means a
shift from the more sheltered life at school, we seek to learn together and
deepen in knowledge of our Christian faith in a context which can at times be
very hostile to the unsuspecting Catholic at a secular university.
Equipped
with the message of the Gospel, and part of the broader universal Church, we
seek to carry out in our capacity the essence of the Church and live her
primary mission, which is the commission given by the risen Christ to his
followers: to proclaim Christ to the world and hence make disciples of all,
baptizing them and teaching them how to be followers of Jesus (cf. Matthew 28).
This proclamation of the incarnate Gospel is called evangelism and is motivated
by love of God and neighbour. We aim to bring our joy in Christ risen to others,
whilst at the same time being witnesses to the redemptive grace of Christ
crucified.
Yet we know
that missionary activity in the modern world takes on character different to earlier
forms of evangelism. Our apostolic nature means something different to what it
once was in the early days, where the apostles would arrive in a new city and announce
the good news at a synagogue or place of gathering. Furthermore, we understand
that not all are called to be witnesses to the Gospel in the same way: some may
be excellent orators, and others may witness more quietly throughout their
daily lives. In whatever way Jesus calls us, we say with St Paul: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.”
(1 Cor. 9:16)
By the light
of our faith we begin to see Jesus in in all people in need. Our dual commandments
to love God and love our neighbour compel us to go out of our way to become the
neighbours that others may need. This produces our profound concern with charity
(simply an anglicised form of the Latin for love),
which is a core component of what it means to be Catholic. For this reason,
Newman aims to have active participation in various ministries to alleviate the
evils of dehumanizing poverty in the archdiocese, as well as helping women
seeking safe haven from domestic abuse and caring for people who carry the
burden of mental health problems.
In summary,
the UQ Newman Catholic Society sets as its aims:
- To form a community of Catholics at the
University of Queensland, and to situate this community within the broader
context of the archdiocese of Brisbane and the universal Church.
-
From within this community, to deepen our
knowledge of our faith by coming together to learn from the Scriptures or the
teachings of the Church in a safe environment.
-
To partake of the apostolic nature of the Church
in witnessing to the Gospel as our hope and joy at the University of
Queensland, each in the manner in which they are called.
-
To serve any person who is in need of any kind, in
particular taking as our own the Church’s preferential option for those in need,
ministering to any material, spiritual, emotional or relational needs, all of
which are important to the full flourishing of the human person.
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