Pope Francis has appointed two auxiliaries for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, who will join two other auxiliaries in assisting 73-year-old Archbishop Denis Hart.
Msgr. Terence Curtin and Fr. Mark Edwards, O.M.I., will join Bishop Peter John Elliott and Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, O.F.M. Conv.
Melbourne has a population of some 4 million, about a quarter of whom are Catholic. They are served by some 500 priests and a little over 2,000 religious, with eight permanent deacons.
Terence Curtin was born in Cremorne, Australia, in 1945 and ordained a priest in 1971. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Melbourne. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including chaplain and director of the School of Religion and Philosophy of the Australian Catholic University in Oakleigh; director of the department of religion and philosophy of the Australian Catholic University, Victoria; director of the department of theology of the Australian Catholic University, Victoria; and vice-president and subsequently president of the Melbourne College of Divinity. He is currently director of the Catholic Theological College, Melbourne, parish priest of Greythorn, and episcopal vicar of Melbourne for the East Region. In 2012 he was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
Mark Edwards was born in Balikpapan, Indonesia, in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1986. He holds a doctorate in philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in letters and education from the Monash University of Melbourne. He has held a number of roles in the Congregation of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, including vice-rector of the Iona College of Brisbane; master of novices at the St. Mary’s Seminary, Mulgrave; professor at the Catholic Theological College of Melbourne; and head of scholastics at the St. Mary’s Seminary, Mulgrave. He is currently rector of the Iona College, Brisbane.
