Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian – An Australian Perspective

Fr Christopher Monaghan CP
Chris Monaghan is a Passionist who studied at YTU and then at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Jerusalem. Since 1987 he has been lecturing at YTU in both Old and New Testament. The major focus of his teaching throughout these years has been Matthew, Luke-Acts and the letters of Paul.

During this period Chris has been engaged in adult education programs through schools, parishes and ministry to priests. Making the Bible in its richness accessible to people at all levels is an enduring passion.

Fr Peter Jones OSA
Fr Peter was born in 1959 and grew up in Manly Vale, NSW, as the eldest of five children. His family has been acquainted with the Augustinians since his childhood – Fr Peter was even baptised by an Augustinian priest – and he attended primary school at St Kieran’s Parish, Manly Vale, before proceeding to St Augustine’s College, Brookvale and completing his studies in 1976. In 1979, while studying his Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney, Fr Peter applied to join the Augustinians. He was professed in 1981 and in 1983, he travelled to Rome for three years of theological studies; it was there that he met Robert Prevost for the first time. Fr Peter professed his final vows in Rome in 1985 before returning to Australia, where he was ordained a deacon in August 1986 in Echuca, VIC and served in the parish there. He was ordained a priest in July 1987 at St Kieran’s Church in Manly Vale. Following his ordination, Fr Peter ministered in Echuca and Kyabram, VIC, served as a teacher and chaplain at St Augustine’s College, Brookvale, and as a chaplain at Villanova College, Brisbane. He travelled to the United States, where he completed a course in formation, and ministered in formation and spirituality in Greystanes, NSW, and as the Order’s formation director. Fr Peter was elected Provincial of the Order in Australasia in 2018.

Fr Peter’s hope for this webinar is that people will understand the Augustinian dimension of Pope Leo’s ministry. He expresses gratitude for the election of Pope Leo XIV, and he recognises the opportunity it presents for renewal for the Augustinians and the responsibility to live up to the qualities of fraternity and community that Pope Leo represents.

Br Mark O’Connor FMS
Br Mark is Vicar for Communications for the Diocese of Parramatta, a Marist Brother from the Star of the Sea Province, a Member of the Marist Association, and the Pope Fellow at Newman College, University of Melbourne.

As editor of Catholic Outlook (the official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta), Br Mark has written extensively about the Vatican and was in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral and subsequent Papal Conclave.