News
Angela Pyke
4 April 2012
Dr Anne Tuohy was formally welcomed in March 2012 to her new role as the inaugural director of The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand (TCI).
Members of Dr Tuohy’s family, with Bishop Peter Cullinane, representatives of the local Maori community, TCI staff and board members and interim principal Paul Ferris attended the whakatau in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Originally from Wellington, Dr Tuohy was appointed director of TCI last November while she was a senior lecturer at the Australian Catholic University’s School of Theology in Strathfield.
At the whakatau Dr Tuohy said she felt honoured and a little overwhelmed at the open-hearted welcome from the community and thanked everyone who had ‘made this exciting job a reality’.
‘I am also deeply appreciative of the love and support of my family and, in light of the recent death of my father, this ‘coming home’ is for me even more timely’.
Chairperson of The Catholic Institute Council Patrick Waite welcomed Dr Tuohy and Bishop Peter Cullinane thanked Paul Ferris for his work in establishing the institute’s foundations.
Staff members then lit candles in the colours of TCI logo at a commissioning and anointing ceremony.
Dr Tuohy said she looked forward to ‘working together to help foster and nurture the work of the institute – work that we pray brings the “living water” of John’s gospel to the Catholic community of Aotearoa New Zealand’.
Dr Tuohy has had a distinguished career in teaching and research in Catholic theology and in the formation of leaders of institutions in a pastoral and educational outreach and response. She has taught at all levels of the education system in New Zealand, England and Australia. She is currently the assistant head of school at the Australian Catholic University and is on a number of committees and professional associations.
Dr Tuohy holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian Catholic University, a Master of Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity and a Diploma of Teaching from Victoria University of Wellington. She was a recipient of the Brian Murray Scholarship for Theological Studies and the Catholic University Post-Graduate Award for Doctoral Studies Scholarship.
She teaches mainly systematic or foundational theology with a particular emphasis on theologies of social critique and sacramental theology. More recently, Anne has become involved in the relationship between theology and the social sciences and is currently working with initiatives in the Catholic health care sector.
Dr Tuohy’s publications include On Being Pastoral which she co-authored with Associate Professor Patrick McArdle. Her conference presentations and workshops have explored themes such as religious education ‘beyond the school gates’, new models of formation, the discipleship of equals and maintaining the dignity of the human person in disability services.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference established TCI to provide formation for those involved in education and pastoral ministry in Aotearoa New Zealand and the opportunity to engage in research and discussion in all areas of the Church and its ministries. The six diocesan bishops are the trustees of TCI.
Images: Right: Cathedral parish priest Fr James Lyons anoints Dr Anne Tuohy during the whaka while acting TCI director Paul Ferris looks on.
Above: Dr Anne Tuohy thanks family, friends and the staff of TCI who welcomed her.