The Episcopal Trustees of Corpus Christi College, the regional Seminary for Victoria and Tasmania, have today announced the appointment of Rev Dr Cameron Forbes as the new Rector of the College, commencing next year.
Father Forbes will succeed Very Rev Denis Stanley as the 18th Rector of the College from January 2023, following the completion of Father Stanley’s extended term in the role.
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, on behalf of the Trustees, has warmly welcomed the appointment saying, ‘I wholeheartedly thank Father Cameron for his gracious and willing acceptance of this critical responsibility in the life of the Church.
‘Father Cameron comes to us eminently qualified and with much experience already in priestly formation.
‘The life-long formation of our future priests requires a broad and discerning vision. We are confident that Father Cameron has those unique qualities of heart and mind that will ably prepare and grow our young men to be good shepherds in the service of Christ’s faithful.’
Born and raised in Melbourne in the Anglican tradition, Father Forbes completed degrees in Arts and Law at the University of Melbourne and became a Catholic following discernment during his time working in both governmental and legal fields. He undertook his formation for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, and was ordained in 2009, serving in the parish of Werribee before completing a licentiate and doctorate in moral theology at the Alphonsianum Academy in Rome. Father Forbes also holds a Masters in Liturgical Music.
A member of the Corpus Christi Seminary staff from 2016, Father Forbes became Vice-Rector in 2018 and served at the College until the end of the 2020 academic year upon taking up an appointment as Parish Priest of Mentone–Parkdale East. He is currently Head of the Department of Moral Theology and Canon Law at Catholic Theological College (CTC) and is a lecturer with research interests in the development and relevance of Christian just war principles; and the relationship between authentic friendship; and social media use. Father Forbes is also Chaplain to the Melbourne Catholic Lawyers’ Association, and to the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
In accepting the appointment, Father Forbes said, ‘I am grateful to Archbishop Comensoli and the Bishop Trustees for placing their trust in me with this appointment.
‘I would very much like to express my thanks to Father Stanley, for his pastoral and paternal leadership as Rector for the last six years.
‘Serving the local and universal Church in this role is a great privilege, and one that I take very seriously. I look forward to working with a dedicated team of clergy and laity in continuing the vital mission of supporting our seminarians as they discern God’s call to the priesthood.’
Father Denis Stanley also expressed his welcome for the appointment, ‘In 2023 Corpus Christi College will celebrate its Centenary Year. This marks a long history in the discernment and formation of men for priestly leadership. I am confident that Father Cameron will bring commitment and his own remarkable gifts to the role of Rector as the seminary moves into the future.’
The Trustees extended their deep gratitude to Father Denis Stanley for his service to priestly formation and theological education over the past seven years, noting that there will be opportunities to thank him more formally in due course.
Father Forbes will start preparing for his new role from 22 November, including plans to visit seminaries across Australia and beyond before taking up his appointment on 22 January 2023.
Media enquiries to: Annie Carrett, Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Melbourne, on 0439 600 233 | annie.carrett@cam.org.au
