New director for Centre for Liturgy

Dr. Clare Johnson has been appointed the Foundation Professor and Director of the Centre for Liturgy at ACU and will commence her appointment on 1 June 2015.

Professor Johnson was previously Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at ACU. Prior to this, she has worked in a number of academic appointments in universities both here in Australia and in the USA, including the University of Notre Dame du Lac (South Bend, USA), Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle).

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said the Centre for Liturgy at ACU seeks to support, promote and enhance the liturgical life of the Catholic Church through tertiary education, scholarship and pastoral formation.

“The Centre will provide high-quality academic programs in liturgical studies and sacramental theology through ACU’s Faculty of Theology and Philosophy and LaSalle Academy for Religious Education,” Professor Craven said.

“It will also provide practical professional training and development in liturgy and the sacred arts through ACU’s Directorate of Identity and Mission.

“I look forward to working closely with Professor Johnson. Her leadership will be of great value to the establishment of the ACU Centre for Liturgy.”

Professor Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Theology (Hons) from the Melbourne College of Divinity.   She went on to complete her Master of Arts in Theology (Research) at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, before completing a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame du Lac (USA) and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (ACU). She holds a Mandatum to teach Catholic Theology.

Professor Johnson has over 15 years teaching experience in the areas of liturgy, sacraments, liturgical music, preaching and systematic theology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels both in Australia and abroad. In 2013 ACU awarded her a teaching citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. She has published widely and presented papers at international conferences and specialises in the fields of liturgical inculturation, liturgical contextualization, liturgical music and the theology of childhood.

Professor Johnson is a member of Societas Liturgica, the North American Academy of Liturgy, the Catholic Academy of Liturgy (USA), the Australian Academy of Liturgy, the Australian Catholic Theological Association and the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network.  She is also a member of the National Liturgical Council advising the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.