Qualifications

• Doctor of Sacred Theology, Collège universitaire dominicain (1996)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Theology), Collège universitaire dominicain (1992)
• Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Catholic Institute of Sydney (1986)
• Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, Catholic Institute of Sydney (1980)

Research Interests

• Ecclesiology, with a particular focus on Christian unity
• Baptism and Eucharist, and their significance for the unity of the Church.

Personal

I am a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney and was ordained in 1980, after studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney at St Columba’s College, Springwood and St Patrick’s College, Manly.  I joined the academic staff of CIS in 1986, and was given study leave in 1988 to pursue doctoral studies at the Collège universitaire domincain in Ottawa, Canada.  I returned to CIS at the end of 1992.

I was President of the Catholic Institute of Sydney from 2004 until the end of 2017. In addition to teaching course units at both undergraduate and graduate level, I have also supervised research degree theses in systematic theology. I am currently the editor of the Australasian Catholic Record.

My research interests in ecumenism have seen me involved in theological dialogue. I am currently the Catholic co-chair of the Australian Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue. In addition, I also chair the Faith and Unity Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

Select Publications

• “The Sacraments: Signs of Salvation.” In Theology and the People of God: So We Pray, So We Believe, So We Live, edited by Anthony M. Maher, 287–306. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2021.
• “Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church.” In Baptism: Historical, Theological and Pastoral Perspectives, edited by Gordon L. Heath and James D. Dvorak, 26–52. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2011.
• “Episkope: A Recent Study of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Australia.” One in Christ 44, no. 2 (2010): 153–67.
• “To Keep in True Lent.” Australasian Catholic Record 86, no. 1 (2009): 33–44.
• “The Place of the Church in Christian Spirituality.” Terra Spiritus 5, no. 1 (2009). www.terraspiritus.com.au.
• “Called to be the One Church: A Step on the Ecumenical Journey.” Phromena 23 (2008): 11–21.
• “The Relationship between Mission and Identity: A Case Study from Theological Education.” Australasian Catholic Record 84, no. 1 (2007): 35–44.
• “Pioneers, not Problems: Interchurch Families.” Terra Spiritus 3, no. 1 (2007). www.terraspiritus.com.au.
• “A Papacy Communicated: John Paul II.” Compass 40, no. 3 (2006): 12–16.
• “The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the Church.” Australasian Catholic Record 82, no. 4 (2005): 445–53.
• “Lutheran-Roman Catholic Agreement on Justification: Suggestions for Talking about God Today.” Pacifica 17, no. 2 (2004): 184–96.
• Williamson, Ray and Gerard Kelly, eds. Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup: Eucharistic Practice in Australian Churches. Sydney: NSW Ecumenical Council, 2004.
• “The Sacramental Church and its Sacrament of Penance.” In A Hunger for Reconciliation, edited by Gerard Moore, 67–82. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2004.
• “Baptism—Sacrament of the Birth of the Church.” In Prayer and Spirituality in the Early Church, Vol. 3: Liturgy and Life, edited by Bronwen Neil, Geoffret D. Dunn and Lawrence Cross, 159–65. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2003.
• “Future Directions in Theological Education and Formation.” Australasian Catholic Record 79, no. 2 (2002): 164–75.
• “The Eucharist as Jesus’ Farewell Gift.” In The Eucharist: Faith and Worship, edited by Margaret Press, 11–26. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2001.
• “The Eucharistic Doctrine of Transubstantiation.” In The Eucharist: Faith and Worship, edited by Margaret Press, 56–74. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2001.
• “Intercommunion and Eucharistic Hospitality.” In The Eucharist: Faith and Worship, edited by Margaret Press, 109–27. Strathfield, NSW: St Pauls Publications, 2001.
• “Spirit, Church and the Ecumenical Endeavour.” In Starting with the Spirit. Task of Theology Today II, edited by Gordon Preece and Stephen Pickard, 153–76. Hindmarsh, SA: Australian Theological Forum, 2001.
• “Baptismal Unity in the Divided Church.” Worship 75, no. 6 (2001): 511–27.
• “Milestone to Unity: Lutheran–Roman Catholic Declaration on Justification.” Compass 35, no. 2 (2001): 27–36.
• “Local Dialogue on Interchurch Marriages.” Ecumenical Trends 30, no. 4 (2001): 15–16.
• “Church Unity! How Do We See It?” Sharing 59 (2001): 27–36.
• “Intercommunion—Critical for the Future of the Ecumenical Movement and Church Unity?” One in Christ 34, no. 4 (1998): 307–19.
• “Recognition of Ministries: A Shift in Ecumenical Thinking.” One in Christ 30, no. 1 (1994): 10–21.
• Recognition: Advanced Ecumenical Thinking. New York: Peter Lang, 1996.
• Borg, Robert, Gerard Kelly and Brian Lucas. Celebrating with Children. 2 vols. Sydney: E.J. Dwyer, 1990.