Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has paid tribute to Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ, who died on August 22 aged 93. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
“The recent death of Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ brings to a conclusion a remarkable life, marked by faithful and faith-filled service to the Catholic Church in Australia and around the world and, indeed, through his teaching and scholarship, to the wider Christian family in Australia and beyond,” Archbishop Costelloe said in a statement.
“As a Jesuit priest, teacher and scholar, Fr O’Collins’ constant focus was to share his faith in Jesus, crucified and risen, as the fulness of God’s self-revelation.
“He was well-equipped to do so, because of his remarkable ability to hold in tension the very best of biblical scholarship and the richness of the Church’s living and developing tradition.
“His skills as a writer and communicator enabled him to express this powerful synthesis in an attractive and accessible way.”
Fr O’Collins was born in Melbourne in 1931 and joined the Society of Jesus in 1950. He was ordained on January 2, 1963, in Ballarat by his uncle, Bishop James O’Collins.
He became a theologian of global significance, teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome for 33 years and publishing more than 70 books as well as countless articles. He taught many future bishops, supervising their dissertations.
After leaving the Gregorian in 2006, Fr O’Collins was research professor at St Mary’s College, University of Surrey, London, before returning to Australia in 2009, where he was adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University and research fellow at Catholic Theological College and taught at the Jesuit College of Spirituality in Melbourne.
“Through his many books and articles, and through his lasting impact on his students, his friends, his colleagues and his religious and natural families, he will continue to be a source of inspiration and faithful discipleship of Jesus for a long time to come,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
FULL STORY
Bishops conference remembers Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ (ACBC Media Blog)
Vale, Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ AC (Australian Jesuits)
RELATED COVERAGE
The reverse interview (Australian Jesuits)
Vale Reverend Professor Gerald Glynn O’Collins SJ AC (University of Divinity)
