Rev Brendan Leahy, BCL, DD, Barrister at Law

Professor of Systematic Theology

Tel: +353 (0)1 708 3498
E-mail: brendan.leahy@may.ie

Office Location: Room 10, Dunboyne House

Office Hours:
Wednesdays, 4.00 pm – 5.30pm

Biography:
Priest of the Diocese of Dublin, ordained in 1986. Undergraduate studies in University College Dublin (1977-1980), Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin (1980-1981), Clonliffe College, Dublin (1980-1983) and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1983-1986). Professional studies at King’s Inns, Dublin (1981-83). Graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1983-1991). Curate in Clonskeagh parish (1991-1992), member of the staff of Holy Cross Seminary (1992-1999) and Mater Dei Institute of Education (1992-2006); member of college of consultors of Dublin diocese (1998-2004); parish chaplain in Lusk, Dublin (1999-2004); registrar of Mater Dei Institute (2004-2006); confessional lecturer at Irish School of Ecumenics (1999–present). Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Ecumenism of the Irish Bishops’ Conference (1999–present); member of Inter-Church Meeting (1999- present) and of Three Faiths Forum of Ireland (1999–present); chairman of Dublin diocesan ecumenical committee in Dublin diocese (1999–present); member of ITA (2005- present); corresponding member of the Pontifical Theology Academy (2004- present); Co-chair of the Theology Forum of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting (2010-) (www.irishchurches.org); Visiting lecturer at the Sophia University Institute, Loppiano, Flornence (www.iu-sophia.org).

Research Interests:

• Ecumenical Dialogue with particular reference to Ecclesiology.
• Ecclesiology with particular reference to the Marian Principle in the Church
• Christology
  

Current Research:

• New Ecclesial Movements – Ecclesiological Perspectives
• Theology of Priesthood in the light of Vatican II’s ecclesiology
• The Marian Principle in the Church in the light of Bulgakov’s Sophiology
• The Marian Principle and Inter-Religious Dialogue

Select Publications:

• Priests Today: Reflections on Identity, Life and Ministry, Hyde Park: New City Press, 2010 (Co edited with Monsignor Michael Mulvey).
• "What are they saying about Mary, Grace and Hope in Christ?" in Irish Theologicak Quarterly 75, 2010, 45-55.
• "The Winter of Ecumenism - A response to Michael Hurley's proposal of a Practical Ecumenics," in Furrow, vol. 61, 2010, 37-40.
• “A Spirituality of Communion: Spirituality for the Diocesan Priest,” Spirituality 16, January/February 2010, 27-33.
• “Ecclesiology in the light of Vatican II’s Trinitarian Anthropology,” Sophia 1, 2009, 171-182.
• “What the Family, Icon of the Trinity, has to offer the Church and Humanity”, in Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae, The Family: A Good for Humanity, Atti del I Forum Europeo Cattolico-Ortodosso, Trento, Italia, 11-14 dicembre, 2008, Bologna: EDB, 2009, 161-174.
• “St Paul and the Spirituality of Communion” in The Pastoral Review 5, 2009/4, 16-21
• “Where is Ecumenism at Today?” The Furrow 60, 2009/7, 25-31.
• Inter-Church Relations: Developments and Perspectives, Dublin: Veritas, 2008
• “The Achievements and Challenges of Mary, Grace and Hope in Christ,” Louvain Studies 33, 2008, 117-135.
• “John Paul II and Hans Urs von Balthasar” in Gerald O’Collins and Michael Hayes, eds, The Legacy of John Paul II, London: Continuum, 2008.
• “Inter-Religious Dialogue,” The Furrow 59, 2008, 432-436.
• “’Christ Existing as Community’: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Notion of Church,” Irish Theological Quarterly 73, 2008, 32-59.
• “The Adventure of Obeying the Word,” Spirituality 14, 2008, 341-346.
• “What were they saying about Ecumenism at Sibiu?” Doctrine and Life, 57, 2007/9, 31-41.
• “Between Logos and Nothingness: Piero Coda’s Theology of Religions,” in John F. O'Grady, John D'Arcy May, Peter Schüttke-Scherle, eds,  Ecumenics from the Rim: Explorations in Honour of John D’Arcy May Münster: Lit Verlag, 2007, 253-260.
• Vatican II: Facing the 21st Century: Historical and Theological Perspectives, Dublin: Veritas, 2006 (Co-edited with Dermot A. Lane).
• "The Spirituality of the Vocation to Priesthood” in Seminarium 46, 2006, 423-454.
• "Pastoral Councils: Making Communion Visible" Doctrine and Life 55, 2005/4, 11-21.
• Christianity: Origins and Contemporary Expressions, Dublin: Veritas, 2004 (with Thomas Norris).
• The Marian Profile in the Ecclesiology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, New York and London: New City Press, 2000.

Courses:

• Jesus Christ – the Living Way to God [ST 202]
• Evangelisation, Mission & Dialogue [EL 297]
• Mission, Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue [STL Reading Course]

Links & Other Interests:

• Irish Inter-Church Meeting
• Irish Theological Association