We seek to promote and support collaborative research and advocacy by Jesuit scholars and our colleagues in Australia and abroad in the areas of our apostolic priorities.

These priorities include: the Church and human rights – including reconciliation with Indigenous Australians – disability concerns, a just refugee policy, social services, ethics and public policy, contemporary Catholic theologies, comparative theology and interreligious engagement, mission formation for Catholic institutional leadership, research and training in spiritual direction and facing the challenges of the clerical abuse crisis.

Our current research and projects exist within six streams:

  • Christian theology in conversation with Islam
  • The Church and human rights
  • The Church and theology for the 21st Century
  • Teaching and training in Ignatian spirituality and ministry supervision
  • Laudato Sì reconciliation with creation
  • Rethinking theological formation for the contemporary Church in collaboration with ACU’s Xavier Centre for Theological Formation

Our people  

Reverend Professor Daniel Madigan SJ is Director of The Loyola Institute.

Our wider research team consists of:

David Braithwaite SJ
Adjunct Professor Frank Brennan SJ
Professor Brendan Byrne SJ
Associate Professor James Calder SJ
Dr Dinh Trung Hoa SJ
Dr Justin Glyn SJ
Dr Andrew Hamilton SJ
Dr Robin Koning SJ
Dr Richard Leonard SJ
Professor Daniel Madigan SJ
Dr John Martis SJ
Dr Brian McCoy SJ
Dr Philip Moller SJ
Brett O’Neill SJ
Dr Pham Van Ai SJ
Dr Matthew Pinson SJ
Dr Iain Radvan SJ
Dr Michael Smith SJ
Dr David Strong SJ
Dr William Uren SJ
Dr Christopher Willcock SJ

Call for Papers

The Loyola Institute and the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry invite papers for "Idol Talk? In the Image of the Disabled God Disability, the Imago Dei and Practical Consequences" to be held on 22-23 May 2025 at ACU's Melbourne Campus.

More information can be downloaded here (PDF, 195KB)

Coursework study opportunities

Master of Spiritual Direction

Graduate Certificate in Supervision

Graduate Diploma in Supervision

Media

ACU and Australian Jesuits announce research partnership

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