Professor Clare Johnson
Director of the Centre for Liturgy, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Areas of expertise: liturgy; sacramental theology; liturgical music; liturgical inculturation; modern liturgical history; liturgical theology; theology of place
HDR Supervisor accreditation status: Full
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7389-8008
Phone: +61 039230 8186
Email: Clare.Johnson@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
Clare Johnson is Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy and Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology at Australian Catholic University. She holds undergraduate honours degrees in music (University of Melbourne) and theology (Melbourne College of Divinity), a research Master of Arts in Theology (Catholic Theological Union Chicago), a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies (Notre Dame USA) and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (ACU). In previous appointments at the University of Notre Dame (USA), Michigan State University (USA) and the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle), she taught liturgical studies, sacramental theology, liturgical music, preaching, and foundations in theology. She joined ACU in mid-2009 as a specialist in liturgical studies and sacramental theology. Her academic research in liturgy, liturgical music, ritual studies, liturgical theology and liturgical inculturation has been widely published in refereed journals and books. She holds a Mandatum to teach Catholic theology (2004 – ). Within ACU’s Faculty of Theology and Philosophy Clare has maintained a heavy teaching load, and established the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (Liturgy) in 2012 and a concentration in liturgical studies within the Master of Theological Studies in 2020. She directs higher degree research students in liturgy, sacraments and the sacred arts at masters and doctoral levels.
Clare was appointed as Professor and Foundation Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy (2015) and coordinates the Centre’s academic, formation, and consultation programs for dioceses, Catholic Education Offices, schools, parishes, and other Catholic agencies throughout Australia. Clare served a 9-year term as a member of the National Liturgical Council advising the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Liturgy (2009-2018). She currently serves as Chair of the National Liturgical Music Council (2015 – ) and consultant to the Bishops’ Commission for Liturgy (2018 – ).
Select publications
- “From Organic Growth to Liturgico-Plasticity: Re-conceptualizing the Process of Liturgical Reform.” Theological Studies 76/1 (March 2015): 87-111.
- “Bridging the Cartesian Chasm: A Radical Empiricist Perspective on Liturgical Inculturation.” Studia Liturgica 40 (2010): 208-223.
- “Researching Ritual Practice.” Studia Liturgica 35/2 (Fall 2005): 204-220.
- “Portals to Transcendence.” At the Heart of the Liturgy. Eds. Maxwell E. Johnson, Timothy P. O’Malley and Demetrio S. Yokum. Collegeville: Liturgical, 2014, 87-98.
- “A Deep and Vast Renewal of the Church’s Inmost Life.” Vatican II: Reception and Implementation in the Australian Church. Eds. Neil Ormerod, Ormond Rush, David Pascoe, Clare Johnson and Joel Hodge. Mulgrave VIC: Garrett, 2012, 20-46.
- “Relating Liturgical Time to ‘Place-Time’: The Spatio-Temporal Dislocation of the Liturgical Year in Australia.” Christian Worship in Australia, eds. Stephen Burns and Anita Monro. Strathfield NSW: St. Pauls, 2009, 33-45.
- “Liturgical Intelligibility in Sacrosanctum Concilium.” Vatican Council II: Reforming Liturgy. Eds. Carmel Pilcher, David Orr and Elizabeth Harrington. Adelaide: ATF Press, 2013, 43-60.
- “Sacrosanctum Concilium at Fifty: Reports from Five English-Speaking Countries – 1. Australia.” Worship 87/6 (November, 2013): 482-9.
- “Embracing Local Ecology in Liturgical Expression.” Liturgy 27/2 (2012): 31-39.“At the Crossroads of Change: Theological Ramifications of Liturgical Translation” Lutheran Theological Journal 45/1 (May 2011): 51-59.
- "Inculturating the Easter Feast in Southeast Australia." Worship 78:2 (March 2004): 98-117.
Projects
- Australian Research Theology Foundation Inc. Grant, 2012-13
- ACU Teaching Development Grant, 2013
Accolades and awards
- Vice Chancellor's Staff Appreciation Award 2012 ACU
- ACU Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2013) ACU
- Commendation for Teaching Performance (August 24, 2009) The University of Notre Dame Australia
Appointments and affiliations
- Senior Lecturer in Sacramental Theology and Core Unit Coordinator, The University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle) 2005-2009
- Adjust Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame du Lac (USA) 2004-5
- Lecturer, University of Notre Dame du Lac (USA) 2003-2004
- Member, North American Academy of Liturgy, 2003 -
- Member, Catholic Academy of Liturgy 2005 -
- Member, Societas Liturgica, 2008 -
- Member, Australian Catholic Theological Association, 2011 -
- Member, Australian Academy of Liturgy, 2008 -
- Member, Australian Pastoral Musicians Network, 2011 -
Editorial roles
- Assistant Editor, Studia Liturgica (2011-2015)
- Member of the Editorial Board, Australian Journal of Liturgy (2009-2014)
Grant agency review panel
- European Science Foundation College of Expert Reviewers (April 2021 - )
Public engagement
- Keynote Lecture: “So let us all with one accord: music as ecclesial glue.” Australian Pastoral Musicians Network Conference, Perth WA, Oct. 6, 2017
- Keynote Lecture: “Stargazing and Future-Proofing: the necessity of formation in charting liturgy’s forward trajectory.” National Biennial Liturgy Conference, Melbourne VIC, Mar. 25, 2017
- Keynote Lecture: “Unearthing a Treasure of Inestimable Value: Liturgical Music and the Ars Celebrandi.” Lift Up Your Hearts, National Liturgy Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Jan. 17, 2014
- Facilitator for half-day discussion on “Liturgical Formation in Australia: Present Needs and Future Directions,” for the Biennial Meeting of the Bishops Commission for Liturgy, National Liturgical Council and Consultants, Wollongong NSW, Jan. 15, 2014
- Keynote Lecture: “The Liturgy Constitution: Implementation in Australia” Celebrating 50 Years of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Conference, Diocese of Ballarat, VIC, Nov. 23, 2013
- Keynote Lecture: “Managing Liturgical Change.” National Liturgical Council Conference, Perth, WA, Feb. 7, 2010
- Facilitator for a two-day Change Management consultation with the Bishops’ Commission for Liturgy, National Liturgical Council and Consultants on the Implementation of the Missale Romanum editio tertia, Melbourne, VIC, June 28-29, 2010
