By Anna Krohn
Expanding and Deeping the Role of the University
What is the role of higher education and why is the presence of a Catholic University so important in our world and Church?
These questions have occupied the Trustees and senior leaders at Australia’s University of Notre Dame for many years. They were aired imaginatively and in different settings when Notre Dame hosted the visiting American Jesuit writer, educator and retreat master, Fr Christopher S. Collins SJ in July this year.
While visiting the United States in 2018, Notre Dame’s Associate Director (Faith and Formation) Anthony Coyte was deeply impressed by Fr Collins’ ability to communicate with ease and appealing impact with students, staff and people in the wider community.
As well as being a highly effective spiritual guide, Fr Collins serves as Assistant to the President of Mission and Identity at the Jesuit University of St Louis (SLU) in Missouri and is a lecturer in the SLU’s Theological Studies Department.
Fr Collins displayed his engaging style here in Australia and generously shared his experiences and thoughts over his 18-day tour in both Sydney and Fremantle.
He led discussions with Notre Dame’s leaders and staff about the challenges of his own university role but also demonstrated how a university such as Notre Dame could serve as a hub and partner in building spiritual capital and community engagement to the wider Church.
During his time in Perth, he gave presentations to the Archdiocese’s Youth Ministry, lead reflections with the Assistant Principals of Catholic Education WA and also gave a public lecture which was open to all.
Fr Collins also offered a reflection for the Founders’ Day Assembly Mass with staff and students at John XXIII College, Mount Claremont, and shared the story of his own vocation and the discipleship of St Ignatius. The students responded very enthusiastically to the immediacy of his clarity and joy.
One student, reflected the thoughts of many others when he wrote:
“Father Chris Collins’ homily was captivating and inspirational for all who listened. It showed how doing good for others brings back happiness that stays and does not fade like the happiness brought by material objects … gave us a deeper insight into what we truly want from our lives.”
Fr Collins provided a whole array of freshly appealing and accessible personal and spiritual resources. He was able to present the Ignatian method of discernment and “the Examen”- a stepwise practice which focuses on personal and Christ-centred mindfulness and imagination at the end of each day – in a very memorable and striking way. (Details of this can be found in Fr Collins’ book: 3 Moments of the Day, Ave Maria Press, 2014).
He also explained that this traditional method, with an injection of his own narrative style, much to his surprise-has an effective place in the process of personal, professional and organisational assessment in a way which allows receptivity, analysis and openness for all people (whether Catholic or not) working within a shared mission.
It is timely to note, that emphasis on this broadened vision of the role of a University, the importance of spiritual out-reach and personal authenticity, growth and integration which were highlighted so well by Fr Collins are reminiscent of the classic and enduring reflections by the great English public figure, philosopher, poet, writer, hymnologist and Cardinal canonised this October in Rome as Saint John Henry Newman.
Cardinal Newman’s contributions to the role of a university have been revisited by many universities today, both Catholic and secular as they struggle to find and distribute their resources and a sense of their purpose.
Newman’s papers and lectures from 1852 were later published as: The Idea of a University, a lasting classic for any serious discussion about education and his thoughts echo many of the lasting ideas which Fr Chris Collins brought to Perth.
Newman wrote that a good university can in-form in its staff, students and the community it serves, “a habit of mind which lasts through life- freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation and wisdom.”
Furthermore, a University’s faith life instils meaning, gratitude, hope and a lasting “mindfulness of times and seasons.”
Anna Krohn is a Special Advisor, Faith Formation to the Office of the Vice Chancellor.
From pages 16 to 17 of Issue 22: ‘The Church in Perth’ of The Record Magazine