The Australian Foundation for the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross exists for one single purpose: to help the University carry out its mission of forming future leaders for the Catholic Church.

The Australian Foundation for the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross’s main offices are in Sydney, Australia. Read more ...The foundation‘s Executive Director is Frank Casadesus. He may be reached at:

Gifts to the Foundation can be in the form of a bank transfer, planned giving and other asset contributions. Please call us at +61 2 9411 3888 to discuss how you can help.

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, affectionately known as Santa Croce (Sáhn-tah Cró-chay), addresses one of the world's most critical needs—the formation of priests who will lead the Church in the 21st century.

That's the mission of Santa Croce in a nutshell: to give the priests and Bishops of tomorrow the formation and education they need to serve the Church.

That's why Santa Croce exists. Read more It also educates many lay and religious students who will go on to serve the Church in many different capacities. But the heart of its mission is the formation of priests to serve the universal Church.

Conceived in the heart of St. Josemaria Escrivá and founded, with the encouragement of John Paul II, by his successor Bishop Álvaro del Portillo (who was made Blessed in Madrid, Spain, on September 27, 2014), the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross has already given to the Church 41 Bishops and one Cardinal.

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is supported financially by the contributions of many benefactors, including non-Christians, from all over the world. The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross Foundation assists the University in its financial needs and grants scholarships to students from poor dioceses wishing to attend the University. The Foundation accepts gifts from donors within APAC Region. Read More ...

The cost per student for just one academic year (including academics as well as residential) is A$24,000. Add to that the fact that many of the students come from very poor dioceses in the developing world. They could never afford to pay the whole cost of their education. Yet that education is vitally necessary precisely because of the poverty. The Church needs its strongest and best leaders where there's the most work to be done.

Helping provide these necessary resources is the mission of the Foundation.

In the video below, you will meet some of Santa Croce's students, professors, and alumni, who'll tell you a little about their own personal experiences at the University.

Because you care about the future of the Church.

When the Church faces challenges from every direction, she needs strong leaders to keep her on the right path. She needs leaders with a firm foundation in the faith and a deep knowledge of Catholic teaching.

Because you care about the truth.

Santa Croce is dedicated to the Magisterium. The future leaders who pass Read More through the University come out with not just a knowledge of what the Church teaches, but also a thorough understanding of why the Church teaches it.

Because you care about people.

The knowledge the graduates acquire in Rome is passed on to the people of their dioceses increasing their faith and apostolic zeal, and making the local churches focuses of Christian life.