Yarra Theological Union

Yarra Theological Union is an inclusive and welcoming community, Catholic by tradition and ecumenical in spirit. We are committed to being a community of scholarship, prayer and pastoral care.

Welcome

Yarra Theological Union is an inclusive and welcoming community, Catholic by tradition and ecumenical in spirit. We are committed to being a community of scholarship, prayer and pastoral care.

We offer theological education and ministerial formation, open to those who seek educational and personal transformation in changing contexts.

Our mission is to equip people for various ministries in the churches: parishes, schools, hospitals, church agencies and in the world at large.

History

Yarra Theological Union (YTU) was originally founded in 1971 by the Carmelites, the Franciscans, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Passionists. Over the years other orders joined: the Redemptorists (Australian and New Zealand Provinces), Pallottines, Dominicans, Divine Word Missionaries, the Discalced Carmelites and the Blessed Sacrament Congregation. Graced by the generosity of the Franciscan Friars YTU is located at St. Paschal Friary.

On 18th January 1973, YTU was granted formal recognition as an institute of priestly formation by the then Archbishop of Melbourne, James Cardinal Knox. In September 1973, YTU, together with the Catholic Theological College in Clayton and the United Faculty of Theology in Parkville, was approved by University of Divinity (then MCD) as a College with the right to teach for the degree of Bachelor of Theology. This was extended to approving the right to teach towards the postgraduate degrees of Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology in 1975.   Over recent years YTU, together with the other college members of University of Divinity (UD), has extended its teaching program to provide postgraduate units for candidates for the degrees of Master of Theological Studies and, from 2000, Graduate Diploma in Theology, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy.

YTU Campus

YTU is located within the tranquil grounds of the Franciscan Friary of St Paschal in Box Hill. The three downstairs classrooms, student common room and impressive Chapel all open onto the beauty of the cloister. The administration section is located upstairs with offices for faculty and two further classrooms.

YTU is located on the sovereign and unceded country of the Wurundjeri nation. We pay our respects to their elders, who have cared for this country since its creation, and commit ourselves to work towards a more just settlement for all Indigenous people.

Facilities available to students

• Student common area
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Individual study spaces for quiet work are located in the library
• Free WiFi available throughout the campus
• St Paschal Chapel: Open to students and staff for private prayer throughout the week. Option to attend Wednesday lunchtime Masses 12.40pm, and other celebrations.
• Outdoor common areas
• An on-site college Chaplain (Jill O’Brien) whose office is in the YTU Study Centre

St Paschal Library

St Paschal Library is the main resource centre for Franciscan studies within Australia. Its comprehensive collection of Catholic theological material is also available to faculty and students from the University of Divinity. As well as the friars’ own library resources, St Paschal Library houses two additional collections: in 1988 the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) placed their missiology collection (currently 3482 books) into the St Paschal Library; and in 1995 the Yarra Theological Union library collection (currently 4836 books) was similarly integrated.

Heart of Life’s library of spirituality resources is accessible online via the St Paschal library catalogue and University of Divinity Library Hub websites.

Collection Strengths and Specialties

The collection of about 47,500 monographs and 150 journal titles is strong in: Ancient and classical languages, Art history and spirituality, Catholic theology, Missiology, Patristic and medieval studies.

Special collections

Franciscana, Celsus Kelly Collection on Spanish and Portuguese discoveries of the Pacific, Pre-Vatican II Canon Law collection, rare books.

Redemptorist Seminary Library

Off-site: Redemptorist Monastery, 10 Majella Court, Kew VIC 3101
The main collection is housed at Kew, with approximately 20,000 books and journals. It is a general theological library with particular strengths in systematic theology, moral theology, Old Testament and the sociology of religion. This library is not open to the public but books may be borrowed on interlibrary loan or by arrangement with the librarian.

Collection Strengths and Specialties

Systematic theology, Moral theology, Old Testament, Sociology of religion.

Social Justice Library

34 Bedford St, Box Hill, Vic 3128

The Social Justice library, approximately 4,500 books, focuses on the history and theory of social justice, Catholic social teaching and movements, the environment, economic development, war and peace. The library is accessible by appointment with the librarian or with Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR of the Redemptorist Community.

Collection strengths and specialties

Catholic Social teaching, Social ethics, Population and food sustainability, Social policy and ethics, Global financial crisis and economics, war and peace.