Sr Dr Margaret Beirne RSC

Associate Professor Sister Margaret Beirne is a Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies at St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College. After thirty years of teaching and administration in secondary education, Margaret went to École Biblique in Jerusalem in 1995 to begin research for a doctoral thesis on the Gospel according to John. On her return to Sydney, she began lecturing at the Centre for Christian Spirituality, Randwick, while continuing to work on her doctoral thesis. In 2000, she graduated with a Doctorate in Theology (DTheol) from Melbourne College of Divinity, and has published her thesis as a book, as well as chapters in books and articles in peer reviewed journals. In 2009, she joined the faculty of St Andrew’s where she continues to teach Biblical Studies course units. In 2014, Sr Margaret was elected to the General Council of her religious congregation, the Sisters of Charity where she served as the Congregational Vicar. On the completion of her six-year term, she returned to full-time ministry at St Andrew's. In December 2021, Sr Margaret was promoted to the level of Associate Professor by Sydney College of Divinity. 

Academic Classification: DTheol (MCD, 2000), MEd (UNSW, 1986), BD (MCD, 1984), MA (BC, 1978), BA (UNE, 1973), MACE

Employment Status: Full Time 

Subject Area: Biblical Studies

Current Research: New Testament Studies; Ignatian Spirituality; Synodality in the Catholic Church; Future of apostolic religious life in Australia. 

Books

Women and Men in the Fourth Gospel: A Genuine Discipleship of Equals. JSNT Supp series 242; London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003.

Chapters in Books

            “Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis, A Personal Tribute,” in Vassilis Adrahtas et al (eds). Archbishop Stylianos, Pastor, Theologian, Poet. Sydney: St     Andrew’s Orthodox Press, 2020, 125-132.

"Women Leadership in the Church: Foundations in the New Testament", in Towards Just Gender Relations. Rethinking the Role of Women in Church and Society. Gunter Prüller-Jagenteufel et al (eds.) Vienna: Vienna University Press, 2019, 91-101.

"Scripture in the Works of St Gregory the Theologian," in Cappadocian Legacy. Doru Costache & Philip Kariatlis (eds.), Sydney: St Andrew’s Orthodox Press, 2013, 275-288.

"Spiritual Enrichment Through Exegesis: St Gregory of Nyssa and the Scriptures," in Cappadocian Legacy. Doru Costache & Philip Kariatlis (eds.), Sydney: St Andrew’s Orthodox Press, 2013, 395-409.

Articles in Refereed Journals

"Acts 15. A Spirit-led Model for the Synod process", Gregorianum Roma 2024 - 105(2), due for publication April 2024. 

""St Irenaeus and the Scriptures", Phronema 43:2 (2019), 59-86.

"'Breathing with Both Lungs': Bringing East and West Together in Biblical Scholarship", Phronema 32:2 (2017), 31-48.

“St Athanasius and the Scriptures, Exemplified in His Letter to Marcellinus", Phronema 28:2 (2013), 89-106.

"Spiritual Enrichment Through Exegesis: St Gregory of Nyssa and the Scriptures", Phronema 27:2 (2012), 83-98.

‘Scripture in the Works of St Gregory the Theologian,’ Phronema 26:2 (2011), 47-62.

Book Reviews in Refereed Journals

Reasoner, Mark. Five Models of Scripture. Grand Rapids: Wm Eerdmans, 2021. Phronema 37(1), 2022, 117-124.

Coloe, Mary L. God dwells with us: Temple symbolism in the Fourth Gospel. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2001. ACR 3/79 (2002): 380-381.

Byrne, Brendan. The Hospitality of God. A Reading of Luke’s Gospel. Strathfield: St Paul’s, 2000. ACR 3/78 (2001): 382.

Conferences Attended

SAGOTC Theology Symposium. 'For the Life of the World: The Church's Missional Identity and Witness Today', 8-10 August 2023.

ACBA Conference, Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney. 6-8 July 2023.

SAGOTC Patristics Symposium. 'St Maximus the Confessor within 7th Century Christianity: Theology and History', 2-3 September 2022.

ACBA Conference, Australian Catholic University Melbourne. 14-16 July 2022.

ACBA Conference, online only, 8-10 July 2021.

SAGOTC Theology Symposium, 'The Importance of Christology in the 21st Century'. 20-21 September 2019.

ACBA Conference, Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney NSW, 4-6 July 2019.

CRA Conference, Novotel Hotel, Parramatta NSW, 17-20 June 2019.

SAGOTC Patristics Symposium. St Irenaeus: History, Theology and Significance. 24-25 October 2018. 

ACBA Conference, Australian Catholic University (ACU) Melbourne, 5-8 July 2018.  

International Pre-Synod Youth Congress, Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome, 1-3 December 2017.

International Conference: “Integral human development: challenges to sustainability and democracy”, Gregorian University, Rome, 24-25 November 2017.

ACBA Conference, Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney, 6-9 July 2017.

CRA Conference, Melbourne, 20-22 June 2017.

DaKaTeo-ET Confernece, Tagatay Philippines, 13-17 July 2016.

CRA Conference, Leura NSW, 20-23 June 2016.

ACBA Conference, Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney NSW, 2-5 July 2015.

CRA Conference, Brisbane, 22-25 June 2015.

Conference Papers

"The Mission of the Churches in Today's World", SAGOTC Theology Symposium. 'For the Life of the World: The Church's Missional Identity and Witness Today', 8-10 August 2023.

"Proposal to the ACBC to adopt the Revised New Jerusalem Bible as the new lectionary for Australia." ACBA Conference, Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney. 6-8 July 2023.

"Introduction and translation of the article by Christoph Schönborn, 'Plaisir et douleur dans l'Analyse de S. Maxime, d'après les Quaestiones ad Thalassium'  SAGOTC Patristics Symposium. 'St Maximus the Confessor within 7th Century Christianity: Theology and History', 2-3 September 2022.

“'Christ is alive!' – Pope Francis’ Apostolic Invitation to Youth." SAGOTC Theology Symposium, 'The Importance of Christology in the 21st Century'. 20-21 September 2019.

"St Irenaeus, the Scriptures and the Contribution of Fr Antonio Orbe SJ", St Irenaeus: History, Theology and Significance. SAGOTC Patristics Symposium, 24-25 October 2018.

"The Trinity in the Fourth Gospel", SAGOTC Theology Symposium, The Mystery of the Trinity: Implications for Daily Living", 1-2 September 2017.

"Women Leadership in the Church: Foundations in the New Testament", DaKaTeo-ET Conference, Tagatay Philippines, 13-17 July 2016

"Pastoral concerns around marriage and divorce: Gregory of Nazianzus and Matthew 19:1-12." ACBA Conference, North Sydney, 4 July 2015. 

“Ecclesial Life into the future: some Biblical perspectives from Lumen Gentium, fifty years on”, Joint Session, Australian Catholic Biblical Association / Australian Catholic Theological Association Conference, Parkville Vic, 5 July 2014.

Governance and administrative roles within SCD

SCD Council, 2000-2010

SCD Academic Board, 2010-2014. As chair of the SCD Postgraduate Studies Committee, and Discipline Coordinator of Biblical Studies, I served as a member of the Academic Board from 2010 to 2014.

SCD Discipline Coordinator, Biblical Studies, 2008 – 2014

SCD meetings of Discipline Coordinators for curriculum development and strategic planning. In 2012-2014, in collaboration with Biblical Studies faculty from member institutes, review, re-writing and implementation of the curriculum.

SCD Distance Education Committee, 2010-2012

Acting Director of Research at SCD(0.4 FTE), 2011-2013

Service to the church and/or wider community

Within the wider Catholic Church

2023. At the invitation of Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen, I was one of four 'periti' ('experts') at the  Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Parramatta, 13 -15 October,

2002-2008, and again from 2014-2021, I was elected to the General Council of the Sisters of Charity of Australia, a full-time role of governance and administration of our apostolic works in education, health, and pastoral care, including the St Vincent’s Hospitals in the eastern states and four secondary Colleges.

Participation in Academic Program Reviews

SCD Discipline Coordinator, Biblical Studies, 2008-2014

Role in the Organisation of Conferences, Lecture Series and Speakers

Australian Catholic Biblical Association Conference (ACBA), President; 2015 conference, prepared and led morning prayers and co-chaired joint session with Australian Catholic Theological Association. 

Australian Catholic Biblical Association Conference, Vice-President; acting secretary, 2013 conference.

Organisation and facilitation of:

Church Occasional Lectures

"Upholding the Sacrament of Marriage in a Changing World", SAGOTC, 27 January 2016. 

"Year of Consecrated Life" Symposium, invited speaker and panel member, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, 15 April 2015. 

‘Discernment in the Ignatian tradition’, Kairos program: Epping, 19 May and Ashfield 14 July 2010.

Media Commentaries

ABC TV, Channel 24, 27 April 2014, 5.30-8.30pm. Canonisation of St John XXIII and St John Paul II, St Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Member of commentary panel on the live telecast of the canonisation ceremony and Eucharist celebrated by Pope Francis.

ABC National radio, 14 June 2009, 11pm. Evenings with John Cleary. Interview: The Trinity, First broadcast, 14 June 2009; repeat broadcast, 26 May 2013.