As Christmas nears, it's time to reflect on the year's journey, writes ACU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Zlatko Skrbis.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas arrives as a feast of light amid winter's darkest days. Here in Australia, we experience something quite different – long days, increasing warmth, and the gentle pull towards summer rest. Yet beneath these seasonal differences lies a constant: the image of Jesus as a newborn child, entering a world marked by both wonder and uncertainty.
This image speaks to something deeper than cultural tradition or religious observance. It reminds us of the inherent worth of every human life from its very beginning, regardless of circumstance, ability, strength or weakness. It is this recognition that sits at the heart of ACU's mission.
This year, both the message and the timing feel particularly resonant. In October, before a homily at St Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo signed his apostolic letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, commemorating 60 years since the Second Vatican Council's declaration on Catholic education. His message to students of the pontifical universities of Rome that evening was striking in its directness: Catholic universities must not simply produce "experts in the smallest details of reality", but rather cultivate students under a broader vision – one capable of holding together faith, spirituality, and knowledge of the world.
In recent months, I have reflected deeply on these words. Pope Leo spoke of education that "does not simplify problems nor fear questions; that overcomes intellectual laziness and, in doing so, also defeats spiritual decay".
He drew upon a gospel passage where Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for 18 years, "bent double… and thus unable to look beyond herself". When healed, the woman could finally look up – toward others, toward possibility, toward God. This, the Pope suggests, is what Catholic education should accomplish. It should help people to lift their gaze, to see beyond their own experiences, to grasp "a new perspective, a broader vision" that might otherwise remain invisible.
This is precisely the type of education we aspire to provide at ACU – one that both informs and transforms, broadening horizons and producing graduates with the desire to serve the greater good.
These reflections arrive as we farewell a year of considerable achievement for our university community. Under Vision 2033, we reached our highest-ever student enrolment, while also being recognised as Australia's number one-ranked university for both employer satisfaction and research quality. In theology, divinity and religious studies, we stand first in Australia and 22nd in the world.
These are meaningful milestones, and we should take pride in them. Yet what impresses me most is not the results themselves, but what they represent: the passion and commitment of our staff, students, graduates and collaborators to the pursuit of excellence.
In my conversations across all our campuses over the course of the year, I have been continually inspired by the depth of our community's connection with ACU's mission and purpose. It is this dedication that brings to life an education that is both deeply rooted in Catholic intellectual tradition, and vigorously engaged with the challenges and opportunities of the modern-day world.
This year also marked the passing of Pope Francis, whose leadership has shaped the Church and inspired our university in countless ways. It was Pope Francis who opened the Jubilee Year, establishing its theme: "Hope does not disappoint." His passing during this sacred time adds poignancy to this message – that hope endures even in sadness and grief, that it's grounded in something deeper and more permanent.
Throughout the Jubilee Year, millions of pilgrims have passed through the Holy Doors in Rome, including many of our own staff and students. The symbolism is powerful: crossing the threshold represents not mere personal ambition, but deep commitment to faith, and to something larger than oneself.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I am struck by how aptly this image captures the work we do together. Every day, we help students to cross thresholds – from potential to achievement, from self-concern to the service of others. We help them to lift their gaze, to borrow Pope Leo's phrase, towards horizons they might not have imagined for themselves.
With December's light filling our days as we move toward rest and renewal, I want to express my gratitude to all those who contribute to this community. Whether you celebrate Christmas or observe other traditions this holiday season, I hope you find time to reflect on the goodness of the work we share.
May your celebrations bring you light and hope, a chance to enjoy time with loved-ones, and the space to be refreshed in anticipation of the coming year, and all of its potential.
This article part of the Vice Chancellor's Blog, which highlights stories, insights and perspectives from across the university.
