Governance

The Senate is the governing body of Catholic Theological College and comprises the residential bishops of Victoria and Tasmania, the provincials of religious orders whose seminaries are affiliated with the College, the Master, the Deputy Master, two representatives of the Academic Board, and up to six appointed members.

Most Rev. Peter A. Comensoli DD	Archbishop of Melbourne, President
Most Rev. Julian Porteous DD	Archbishop of Hobart
Most Rev. Paul Bird CSsR DD	Bishop of Ballarat
Most Rev. Gregory Bennet DD	Bishop of Sale
Most Rev. Assoc. Prof. Shane Mackinlay DD	Bishop of Sandhurst
Very Rev. David Blowey OFM Conv.	Provincial Delegate, Conventual Franciscan Friars
Very Rev. Dominic Murphy OP	Provincial, Dominican Friars
Very Rev. Stephen Fletcher MGL	Moderator, Missionaries of God’s Love
Very Rev. Christian Fini OMI	Provincial, Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Very Rev. Peter Hoang SDB	Provincial, Salesians of Don Bosco
Very Rev. Quyen Vu SJ represented by Rev. Assoc. Prof. Dan Madigan SJ	Provincial, Australian Jesuits
Very Rev. George Kolodziej SDS	Regional Superior, Australian Salvatorians
Very Rev. Dr Kevin Lenehan	Master
Dr Catherine Playoust	Deputy Master
Dr Frances Baker RSM	Academic Board Representative
Very Rev. Prof. Ian Waters	Academic Board Representative
Ms Audrey Brown	Appointed Member (2018 – 25)
Mr Tim Coyne	Appointed Member (2019 – 25)
Rev. Dr Cameron Forbes	Appointed Member (2023 – 24)
Prof. Mary Galea AM	Appointed Member (2019 – 25)
Emeritus Prof. Anne Hunt OAM FACE	Appointed Member (2017 – 24)

The Academic Board is responsible for the development and implementation of academic policy regarding learning, teaching and research, within the framework of UDiv policies and regulations.

Very Rev. Dr Kevin Lenehan	Master
Dr Catherine Playoust	Deputy Master
Rev. Dr Simon Wayte MGL	Academic Dean
Dr Paul Sharkey	Postgraduate Coordinator
Rev. Dr Max Vodola	Associate Dean (Research)

Department Representatives

Dr Callan Ledsham	Head of Philosophy Department
Rev. Dr Chris Mulherin	Philosophy
Rev. Dr Kris Sonek OP	Head of Biblical Studies Department
TBA	Biblical Studies
Rev. Dr Max Vodola	Head of Church History Department
Assoc. Prof. Adam Cooper	Church History
Dr Birute Arendarcikas RSM	Head of Systematic Theology Department
Rev. Dr Paul Connell	Systematic Theology
Dr Paul Sharkey (Interim)	Head of Pastoral & Spiritual Studies Department
Dr Denise Goodwin OAM	Pastoral & Spiritual Studies

Co-Opted Members

Em. Prof. Margot Hillel OAM	Australian Catholic University
Rev. Dr Christopher Monaghan CP	President, Yarra Theological Union

Student Representative Council

Br Adrian Sura MGL

to February 2025

In 1971, the Archdioceses and Dioceses of Victoria and Tasmania, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Missionary Society of St Paul, the Society of St Paul (Publications) and the Confraternity of Christ the Priest agreed to act together in a confederated body in academic matters. In 1972, the central body of this federation was then formed and is known as Catholic Theological College. In 1973, the College became a College of the University of Divinity, which was then known as the Melbourne College of Divinity. Since then, six other Religious Institutes have become affiliated members of the College: the Conventual Franciscan Friars (1996), the Dominican Friars (2009), the Missionaries of God’s Love (2014), the Jesuits (2016) and the Salvatorians (2017). The Society of St Paul (Publications) and the Confraternity of Christ the Priest have ceased to be affiliated members of the College. To read the whole Constitution, click the button below.