Faculty Directory

Richard Lennan, who is Professor of Systematic Theology in the STM and Professor Ordinarius, grew up in Newcastle, on the east coast of Australia, and has been a priest of the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Australia) since 1983. Richard has a degree in history from the University of Newcastle, a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic Institute of Sydney, a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford and a doctorate in theology from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, where his dissertation was on Karl Rahner’s ecclesiology. From 1992 to 2007, he taught Systematic Theology in the Catholic Institute of Sydney; from 2005–07 he was President of the Australian Catholic Theological Association. Richard taught at Weston Jesuit School of Theology (2007–08), before becoming part of the Boston College Theology and Ministry at its foundation in 2008; from 2010–13, he was chair of the STM’s Ecclesiastical Faculty. He currently directs of the STM's S.T.L. program, serves on the editorial board of Theological Studies, and chairs the steering committee of the "Karl Rahner Society." Richard has authored two books and edited five others.

Beyond theology, Richard’s interests are movies, politics, modern history, and trying to get fit (or less unfit) by running. On weekends, he assists with the liturgy in Sacred Heart parish in North Quincy, MA.