By Emilie Ng
JESUIT Father Gregory Jordan has been appointed honorary chaplain “for life” of the Australian Catholic Students Association.
An ACSA statement said Fr Jordan’s appointment was “a small way in which ACSA can thank” the Jesuit priest for his involvement over the past 13 years.
Fr Jordan has been an official ACSA chaplain since 2006 but has been associated with the student-run organisation since it was initiated by Fr Nicholas Rynne, originally from Brisbane, in 2001.
Fr Jordan will continue advising and give spiritual direction to the ACSA executive.
Fr Jordan said he was “delighted” with the calibre of students who would be leading the coming year’s executive.
He said this year’s ACSA Conference, held last month in Albury, “was a new mark of excellence” in young Catholics.
“They are devout Catholics and they say their prayers, they know their faith, they explore their faith, and wish to know more and be more deeply involved,” Fr Jordan said.
Students at the ACSA conference also elected a new president for 2014, Christian Ellis, a student from the University of Sydney.
Reflecting on Fr Jordan’s appointment, Mr Ellis said the Jesuit priest had been a vital contribution to ACSA’s success.
“Fr Jordan has been a huge part of many Catholic’s lives throughout Australia,” Mr Ellis said.
“In terms of his work for ACSA, Father Jordan has been instrumental in enabling it to achieve its goals and objectives.
“Much of ACSA’s success in recent years can be attributed to Fr Jordan who as Chaplain has offered advice, spiritual direction, time and service for more than a decade.
“ACSA’s main objective of bringing the Truth of Christ to the world is embodied in our chaplain, Fr Jordan, who continues to present the realities and fundamentals of the Catholic faith,” he said.
Mr Ellis said he hoped ACSA would become “more internationally focused” in the coming year.
“We are hoping to connect with groups in England and America primarily,” Mr Ellis said.
Mr Ellis said ACSA would also organise more events throughout the year instead of focusing on one conference.
Former ACSA president Richard Lyons said Fr Jordan’s appointment would “cement his involvement in ACSA”.
“Fr Jordan’s really quite a beautiful person in dealing with students,” Mr Lyons said.
“It always encourages me and others in ACSA to see him with young people and kindly explaining the faith to them, and interacting with them and seeing their joy at that.”
