On Thursday 8 June, Catholic Theological College celebrated its Annual Mass and Prize-Giving Ceremony at the Catholic Leadership Centre, East Melbourne.
The Mass, with presiding celebrant Archbishop Comensoli and other bishops and religious provincials affiliated with CTC, was part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebrations. At the end of Mass, this year’s graduates were recognised and academic prizes were awarded.
CTC academic faculty and official guests from the University of Divinity processed in academic regalia at the opening of the Mass, with liturgical music led by the Schola of Corpus Christi College and friends. The Student Representative Council gave the welcome and acknowledgment of country and presented gifts to the 2023 graduates.
During the Mass, homilist Fr Daniel Szewc OMI, a recent doctoral graduate of CTC, spoke of the significant contribution theological study makes to the mission of the Church and to the formation of Christian communities that could be an authentic ‘creative minority’ in society today.
CTC Master, Fr Kevin Lenehan, congratulated the 2023 graduates and academic prize-winners and thanked all members of the College community for their generous contribution. He also paid tribute to the founding Master of CTC, Professor Austin Cooper OMI, for fifty years of outstanding service to the College. Professor Cooper has been a leader of vision and wisdom and ‘truly a man of the church, of the university, and of genuine humanity’, Fr Lenehan said.
The Master also acknowledged another guest marking a milestone achievement. Professor Gerald O’Collins celebrates his 65th anniversary of ordination this year.
2023 CTC Academic Prize Winners
Duc Ngoc Tran SDB—The Master’s Prize in recognition for outstanding contribution by a student to the College
Bei-En Zou—The Archbishop’s Prize for an outstanding essay in Systematic Theology
Leander Gonsalves MGL—The Gerald O’Collins Prize for an outstanding undergraduate essay in Systematic Theology
Jessica Parsons—The Archbishop Coleridge Prize for an outstanding essay in Biblical Studies
Michael Last MGL—The Rod Doyle Prize for an outstanding undergraduate essay in Biblical Studies
Michael Last MGL—The Baronius Prize for an outstanding essay in Church History
Michael Last MGL—The Guilford Young Prize for an outstanding essay in Liturgy
Michael Last MGL—The Leslie Tomlinson Prize for an outstanding essay in Moral Theology
Donna Mihos—The Austin Cooper Prize for an outstanding essay in Christian Spirituality
Huong (Joseph) Viet Vu SDB—The Salesian Prize for the most outstanding result by a student whose first language is other than English
Joshua Nash OMI and Joshua Whicker MGL (co-winners)—The Roma Mitchell Prize for an outstanding Minor Thesis
Christopher Coney—The Erasmus Prize for the most outstanding result by a student in Biblical or Ecclesiastical Languages
Main image: Archbishop Comensoli presents an essay prize to Jessica Parsons. Photo courtesy CTC.
Catholic Theological College (CTC)
CTC is committed to the highest standards of teaching and research in philosophy and theology, within the Catholic tradition. It collaborates in the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel, and provides academic formation for people committed to the pastoral service of the Church.
