Aiming for Excellence, book celebrating 50 years of the Yarra Theological Union.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were one of the original congregations establishing the YTU in 1972. Except for the period, 1986-2000, all our students have been at YTU.  At the moment we have four, Trieu, Daniel, Vincent and Hoa while Nang and Long are in the course of English as a second language.

The book, edited by Peter Malone MSC, has 50 memories from staff and students from over the 50 years.

Aloysius Rego

Ann Lorkin

Anne Hunt

Anneliese Reinhard

Ben Ho

Bernadette Micallef

Brian Gallagher

Bruce Duncan

Carmel Posa

Catherine McCahill

Cecilia Francisco-Tan

Chris Chaplin

Claire Renkin

Daniel Magadia

Eva Dabasy

Gary Harkin

Gavin Brown

Janette Elliot

John Collins

John McDowell

John Mulrooney

Jonathan Rowe

Kathleen Williams

Margaret Bentley

Margaret Smith

Mark O’Brien

Mary Coloe

Mary Reaburn

Mary Scarfe

Maryanne Confoy

Matthew Beckman

Michael Hardie

Michael Kelly

Paul Beirne

Paul Chandler

Peter Whiting

Philip Malone

Pia Pagotto

Robyn Reynolds

Rose Marie Prosser

Rosie Joyce

Ross Fishburn

Stephen Bliss

Stephen Hackett

Sue Phillips

Sue Richardson

Tim Norton

Tom McDonough

Tony Kelly

Vincent Long

Foreword, Peter Sherlock.

Origins of YTU, Peter Malone

Looking Forward, Chris Monaghan

From the Coventry Press catalogue.

The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) was a time of great enthusiasm in the Catholic Church.  Major changes in liturgy, ecumenism and religious life proposed new ways of understanding the church's life, structure and ministry.

Reform and renewal affected many established institutions - including religious orders and congregations - inviting them to revisit their origins and traditions; and how they could adapt and reform in order to reflect the changes effected by the Council.

Among these was the need to revisit formation and education; and the establishment of what would become Yarra Theological Union reflects those exciting times.

Aiming for Excellence is the story of fifty years of YTU - a story of change and development in how theological education and formation began, adapted and transformed in that half century - and the gradual enrolment and significant contribution of religious sisters and lay people to the culture of the community. 

In a series of very personal reflections, the contributors - all former students or lecturers - recall key events, personalities, insights that grew their faith, deepened friendships, contributed to a keener understanding of the Council's challenge to witness the gospel in our times.

It is a book of remembrance and of celebration, an occasion for jubilee reflection on the extraordinary achievement of what has become a key educational institution in the life of Catholics and other Christians in Australia and beyond.