We lost a great Australian recently. James Power Snr was a businessman, a Catholic, a visionary and a philanthropist. He knew that prayer naturally resulted in works, and that praying was complemented by action – that God works through us to achieve His designs.
James also knew well that it was not necessary to be the person doing everything. As a good businessman, he knew it was often better to find someone else who could do the specific thing that needed doing and who could do it well – rather than try to be everywhere and do everything.
James was aware of the deficiencies in Australian education – especially when compared with the United States. The U.S. has many faithful Catholic liberal-arts institutions, anchored in the faith and dedicated to understanding the roots of the nature of the world through rigorous scholarship and fellowship.
Happy Meeting
Australia had none, none that is until Mother Veronica of the Ormiston Carmel in Brisbane introduced James to Karl Schmude, librarian at the University of New England and an ardent advocate for the sort of Catholic liberal-arts college that had been developing in the U.S.
Together these two men are the Founding Fathers of Campion College, Australia’s only Catholic Liberal-Arts College and a beacon in our educational landscape.
James was not a university man, but Karl was. Together they brought together a team of business and intellectual figures to create one of the great experiments in this country.
The Movement was an enthusiastic supporter of Campion from the beginning. The Thomas More Centre lent its lists and support via AD 2000 to help build interest.
Over the years, Campion has grown. Its students and graduates have gone on to make their mark on our world.
Organic Developments
Campion is a natural institutional growth of the early Campion Societies that gave birth to The Movement in the first place. There has been a lot of crossover. Many Movement staffers have been Campion students and graduates; and people like Anna Krohn, executive director of the Thomas More Centre and a person steeped in the Movement, have served on its board.
YPAT has been spearheaded by Campionites, who describe it as applied liberal arts, seeing how the principles they study in their degree apply to real social, political, and cultural challenges.
Our vibrant Democratic Club is based at Campion College, and its team took point on the day-to-day logistics of our fantastic Democratic Conference 2024 – held at Campion College itself back in February. None of that would have happened without the keen eye and support of James Power Snr for Campion.
Kingdom of God
We often wonder what best we can do to help the world. We see the challenges. We see the problems. It is easy to fall into catastrophising and despair, to be paralysed by analysis and desire for a comprehensive solution right now. But the problems we face are eternal and resolving them is a perpetual challenge – a challenge that is embraced by taking the necessary steps now.
Among the most important is formation. This is a lifelong process but every opportunity for formation is important. James understood this and understood that what he could do was provide the support that came from being a sharp businessman. He didn’t need to prod the formation himself to be crucial for it to happen.
We give thanks, O Lord, for your servant, James, and his work in building up your kingdom.
YPAT is on this week in Sydney – please keep the team and students in your prayers.
Featured image of James Power Snr from Campion College.
