John Paul II House leading university students to the Catholic faith

John Paul II House in Grattan Street, Carlton, is located across the road from Melbourne University. Established by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in July 2022, it has become a place of welcome and friendship for many university students who drop in for a coffee or chat with each other, or with chaplain Fr Peter Fitzsimons, who is also based at St Mary Star of the Sea in West Melbourne. There is also Mass, and opportunities for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession.

For three students who regularly visit John Paul II House, however, it became the pathway to membership of the Catholic Church. In a spirit of great joy, two were baptised and one confirmed at St Mary’s in West Melbourne at the Easter Vigil Mass this year. One of the newly baptised, Zilon ‘Zeuxis’ Wu, shares how he came to the Catholic faith, and what it now means for him.

Zeuxis had two reasons to celebrate on Pentecost Sunday: he celebrated both the Church’s birthday and his own! The 21-year-old student from China is in his third year of an undergraduate degree in science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in civil engineering. He’s been living in Melbourne these past two and a half years.

Suddenly I just wanted to read this book called the Bible. It came out of nowhere. So I grabbed myself a Bible and started reading it.

He says being an international student and attending university in a new city and country is not easy. ‘It was very hard for me to make friends in the first year,’ he says. ‘I didn’t know many people. I didn’t talk very much to people, and so I felt very lonely and isolated. I felt very down.’

At that time he felt prompted to read the Bible. He and his family back in China were not religious, though his grandfather was Buddhist and his family would occasionally visit Buddhist temples, but more out of tradition than belief. Despite this, his family encouraged him to read widely, particularly philosophical books.

‘During that difficult time here, the thought came into my mind—suddenly I just wanted to read this book called the Bible,’ he says. ‘It came out of nowhere. So I grabbed myself a Bible and started reading it.

‘When I was reading it, I found a quote that I love very much from Joshua [1:9]: “Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”’

That was one of the very first quotes Zeuxis can remember reading in the Bible. He was so taken by the words that he posted the quote to his Instagram bio. One of his university friends (who is Catholic) saw the quote and contacted Zeuxis. When she asked if he was Catholic, he replied, ‘No, I was actually just trying to read the Bible because I’m interested in philosophy and I’m trying to see what the Bible can give me.’ Thinking he’d also be interested in ‘theological stuff’, she invited him to join the University of Melbourne’s ‘COSDO’ Catholic Society—Catholics of One Spirit Down Under. His friend was from Indonesia, and many of the groups’ members are also from overseas.

It’s all about those little details that I witnessed or experienced—not the big revelations or miracles. I really felt God had been watching all along, and that he’s doing all these little things to remind me of his existence—of his presence.

‘I went, and once I joined COSDU, things just changed,’ he says. ‘My mind was blown by what I learnt from the society, all these theological things. And most importantly, I learnt about God himself. And that’s how I slowly but steadily approached God. And at the end, I did eventually accept God and was baptised this Easter.’

Reflecting on his journey to being baptised, Zeuxis says it was ‘all the little things’ that he noticed along the way that made a difference. ‘For me, it’s all about those little details that I witnessed or experienced—not the big revelations or miracles. I really felt God had been watching all along, and that he’s doing all these little things to remind me of his existence—of his presence.’

Zeuxis also credits his journey to his involvement in CODSU, which led him to John Paul II House opposite the university. University chaplain, Fr Peter Fitzsimons, provided faith formation lessons and catechism classes for Zuexis, along with two other students (one at RMIT and the other at Monash) who were also welcomed into the Catholic faith at Easter.

‘I frequently went to JPII house,’ says Zeuxis, ‘so Fr Peter just kept being in touch with me, seeing how I was going. I wasn’t Catholic, but I was interested in it. So, slowly, he taught me the ropes. I learnt a lot from him.’

JPII House is a very good place to meet other Catholics, to be with people who believe in the same thing, and to practise your faith.

Fr Peter has been chaplain at JPII House since the beginning of last year. He says it’s called JPII House as distinct from ‘a centre’ because it aims to provide a ‘home atmosphere’ for Catholic students. ‘We aim to accompany and encourage the students who visit in living out their faith,’ he says, ‘and, in that context, to help them to grow in their faith, to grow in the knowledge of their faith and in the practice of their faith.’

Each day, roughly 10—20 students visit JPII House, which hosts regular talks on the faith. A weekly meal is also served, and tea and coffee are always on offer. Fr Peter leads Mass each day from Monday to Thursday, and the chapel also houses the Blessed Sacrament. Confession is available too.

Zeuxis says that JPII House has been ‘a very good place for Catholics on university campuses to meet up’. Rather than just catering to students from the University of Melbourne, ‘it’s for students from all the other universities, too, and even people who are just in the city.’

As well as providing a good place to study and attend daily Mass, he says, ‘It’s a very good place to meet other Catholics, to be with people who believe in the same thing, and to practise your faith.’

I think the most important thing is to always keep God in my heart, no matter what I’m doing.

Having been baptised for over a month, Zeuxis has already noticed a ‘very big change’ in his life, although he realises that becoming a Catholic is not about being perfect.

‘When I first got baptised, I tried to be perfect, but I realised I cannot. And that’s the point. Fr Peter once told me in one of his talks that being Catholic is not about not falling down. It’s about falling down and standing up again ... That’s what I have been experiencing since I’ve become a Catholic.

‘I think the most important thing is to always keep God in my heart, no matter what I’m doing. And if I’m doing it for God, it makes me feel a lot better, in whatever I’m doing (even when I’m struggling or doing things I don’t like). If I remember that I’m doing it for God, it makes everything much easier. It’s made a very big difference in my life.’