Bishop TIMOTHY COSTELLOE SDB

Timothy Costelloe was born in Melbourne on 3rd February, 1954.

After primary education at St Peter’s School, East Bentleigh, and secondary education at Salesian College, Chadstone, he joined the Salesians in 1977.  After two years he spent time completing teacher training and made his Final Profession as a Salesian on 8th September, 1985.

The following year, after completing his theological studies at Salesian Theological College and Catholic Theological College, Clayton, he was ordained to the priesthood at St Peter’s Church, East Bentleigh, on 25th October, 1986, by Archbishop T. F. Little.

In 1987 he was Religious Education Co-ordinator at Salesian College, Chadstone.  At the beginning of 1990 he went to Rome to study for a Licence in Sacred Theology at the Salesian University, returning to Melbourne at the beginning of 1992 as Director of Retreats at Salesian College, Lysterfield, and lecturer at Catholic Theological College.  During this time he commenced doctoral studies, transferring to Oakleigh in 1994.  At the beginning of 1996 he was Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Parish, Victoria Park in the Archdiocese of Perth, continuing doctoral studies part-time.

In November, 1998, he accompanied Archbishop Barry Hickey, who was the general rapporteur at the Oceania Synod, as personal theologian.

In 1999 he completed his D.Theol. at the Melbourne College of Divinity, returning after a short time to the Salesian Theological College and Catholic Theological College.

At the beginning of 2000 he was Rector of the Salesian House of Studies at Oakleigh and subsequently at Clifton Hill, and since 2004 he has been Director of Formation and a member of the Salesian Provincial Council for the Australian Province.

Previously he had taught Systematic Theology at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia and at Murdoch University.  Currently at Catholic Theological College he teaches Systematic Theology, Theology and Revelation, Ecclesiology and Ecumenism, Theology of the Human Person, History and Theology of Marian doctrine and devotion and the Sacrament of Orders: History and Theology.

While remaining Rector of the House of Formation he was appointed Parish Priest of Clifton Hill and Collingwood on 1st January 2007.

On 30th April, 2007, Pope Benedict named him as Titular Bishop of Cluain Iraird (Clonard) and Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne