Stefan Gigacz is an honorary postdoctoral associate at Yarra Theological Union and the University of Divinity as well as the secretary of the Australian Cardijn Institute.

Originally a lawyer by training, he later studied canon law and completed a masters in legal theory in Europe.

For the last 25 years, his research has focused on Joseph Cardijn, the movement he founded, the Young Christian Workers (YCW) and his influence at the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church. He has also extensively studied the sources of Cardijn’s thought and methods, particularly in relation to the French movement of democratic education, Le Sillon, founded by Marc Sangnier.

He also created the Joseph Cardijn Digital Library as an online repository of Cardijn’s writings. In 2021, his PhD thesis was published under the title “The Leaven in the Council: Joseph Cardijn and the Jocist Network at Vatican II.”

Stefan is a Catholic involved at Mother Teresa Parish, Baldivis, WA. He is also a member of the Cardijn Community.

University Appointments

Honorary Postdoctoral Associate (Yarra Theological Union)

External Affiliations

• Australian Cardijn Institute (Secretary)