Doctoral students

Fr. John is a priest of the Archdiocese of Benin City, Nigeria, ordained in 2014. He is currently serving as Parish Administrator at St. Kessog’s Parish in the Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh, Scotland. He holds a Licentiate in Patristics from the Augustinian Patristic Institute (Augustinianum), Rome. 

PhD title: Truth and Tolerance in Augustine’s Anti‑Donatist Writings: The Role of Episcopal Collegiality.

Fr. Auro is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri, currently serving in the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, in San Diego, California. He studied at Christendom College, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, and at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. After serving in Archdiocesan parishes for some years, he was appointed to the faculty of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, where he taught Philosophy and administered the Pre-Theology Program of Priestly Formation. In August of 2025, he was released for a term of service to the Chaldean Eparchy, where he serves in the parishes and assists in the formation of the seminarians. He is currently studying the historical, spiritual, and theological contribution of the Church of the East.

PhD title: The Ecclesiology of Mar Narsai of Nisibis

Fr. Harrison is a priest of the Diocese of Victoria, currently serving at St Peter's Parish in Nanaimo, BC. He is currently studying the relationship between history and ontology in the thought of Joseph Ratzinger.

PhD title: History Mediates Salvation - The Sacramental-Apocalyptic Character of Joseph Ratzinger's Theological Project.

Fr. Bruce is a retired priest of the Portsmouth diocese. He has had several parishes in the Diocese and was at one time Dean of the Isle of Wight Episcopal Vicar for Religious and later Dean of Guernsey. He enjoys history and music. And now lives in Winchester.

PhD title: Trinitarian Kenosis at the Heart of Hans- Urs von Balthasar's Christology: Theo-Grammatik and Theo-Dramatik

Bo has been a professor and lecturer in Philosophy, Theology, and Literature for nearly two decades at various Colleges and Universities, is a member of the Church Communication Ecology Project at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at University of Notre Dame, and is the Co-Host of The UnCommon Good radio show and podcast. He is currently researching the resources of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, especially Catholic Social Teaching, to resist the technocratic paradigm in the digital age.

PhD title: Establishing Foundational Principles for Catholic Social Teaching on Digital Technology: Pope Leo XIII, Newman, and McLuhan.

Rafael is a psychologist who graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. He obtained his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Psychology at the University of São Paulo. He develops research, projects, and interdisciplinary work that bring together psychology and themes such as dreams, the sacred, transcendence, and spirituality.

PhD title: A Study of Vocation through St. John of the Cross´s ‘Symbolic Ground’

Esteban ministers in the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (US) while preparing for the priesthood and completing his doctoral studies.

PhD title: Great Secrets: The Eucharistic Charisms of St. Teresa of Ávila

Joao is a lay Catholic theologian, catechetical leader, and formation practitioner serving in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA). Rooted in his baptismal calling to make disciples, he brings over 25 years of joyful, faith-filled ministry within multicultural migrant communities, particularly at St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish, Abu Dhabi, where he coordinates post-Confirmation teen ministry for over 450 young people and leads teams of volunteer catechists. He holds a Bachelor of Divinity and a Master of Catholic Applied Theology (Spirituality) from the Maryvale Institute, alongside earlier degrees in Zoology, English, and an MBA.

PhD title: The Font of Love and Mercy that Sustains the Migrant Church:

A Socio-Theological Study of Lived Interreligious Encounter in the Middle East

Bernadette is based at the Benedict XVI Centre within the School of Theology, and currently works for Caritas in England and Wales. She has worked and volunteered in various capacities in the Archdioceses of Westminster and Liverpool and the Diocese of Nottingham.

PhD title: Towards a Counter-Secularisation through Voluntarist Religious Identities: How Catholicism is thriving in British Higher Education.

After teaching English as a second language for over a decade, Richard is now pursuing a PhD in Christian theology. For his Master’s, which was an M.Phil. in Christian theology, he wrote my thesis on the virtue of prudentia in political action. He is now expanding this research to explore how this virtue might be applied to ethics and artificial intelligence.

PhD title:  Practical Wisdom in the Age of AI: The Virtue of Prudentia and Artificial Intelligence Ethics.

Thomas is a psychotherapist, who also works within the field of UK government public health consultancy. He specialises in the field of sociology of religion, with a particular interest in Muslim communities in the UK.

PhD title: A call to Faith: How do Islamic faith communities contribute to counternarratives that oppose extremist violent ideologies in the UK?

Tim is the Executive Director of Amazing Parish, which coaches hundreds of pastors in order to renew their parishes. He was previously the CEO of the United States' new National Eucharistic Congress organization and has led organizations working toward the renewal of the pastoral life of the Church in various contexts for fifteen years.

PhD title: A Recovery of the Nouvelle Theologiae's Vision for Renewal and Contemporary Application in the Church

Rachelle's life has always been contextualized within protracted ethno-religious conflicts. After years of working and studying division and war in the Levant, she now focuses on reconciliation and integrated diversity. Her research on the Greek-Latin reunion in Antioch brings together both her interest in socio-political complexity and passion for Catholic History.

PhD title: Antioch Between Schism and Unity: A Historical Contextualization of the Melkite Catholic Reunion and its Implications for Modern Ecumenical Dialogue.

Brian is a husband and father living in the United States (AZ). He loves the theology of marriage and the theology of nature and grace; he has an MTS from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute and has served in diocesan and parish settings for nearly 25 years.

PhD title: A Theology of Marriage Within A Theology of Nature and Grace: Theological, Metaphysical and Pastoral Perspectives.

After completing an MA in History at the University of Wales, Swansea under Professor John France, Mike Hanley went on to found a boarding school and coach four Olympic medalists from three different countries. In addition to pursuing his PhD at St. Mary's Twickenham, he continues to serve as Head of School at Wy'East Academy as well as serving on the Sport Education National Faculty for the United States Ski and Snowboard Association and coaching professional skiers. He has a passion for languages and holds certificates in Spanish and French but has also studied Latin, Basque, Welsh and Mandarin.  

PhD title: The role of Anglo-Saxon missionaries in the Pippinid usurpation of the Merovingian Dynasty.

Kimberley is an award-winning journalist for an international Catholic news wire service. Her earlier career was spent in performing arts management and cultural diplomacy. Kimberley earned her Master of Theological Studies (thesis defended With Distinction) from Washington Theological Union, is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and belongs to the Mariological Society of America.

PhD title: When We Love, We Can’t Go There: St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s Transformative Perspective on the Doctrine of Purgatory

Samantha completed her MA in Theology with Distinction at St Mary’s University in 2018. Her passion for medieval mysticism has been strongly influenced by The Cloud of Unknowing, the writings of Dionysius the Areopagite and the Carthusian Order.

PhD title: An investigation into the influence of Jan van Ruysbroeck on Denys the Carthusian’s mystical writings.

Cherryl completed her BA Divinity and MA Catholic Applied Theology at Maryvale Institute following her retirement from a long career in nursing. She serves in a Parish in the Southwark Diocese (UK) as a Parish Lead for Formation and involvement in Sacramental preparation of parishioners including Confirmation.

PhD title: Does a greater understanding of the relationship of God with human beings and the perfection of relationality of the Divine Persons help young Catholic confirmandi deepen their faith?

Thomas is an educator and instructor living in Canada, passionate about Scripture, Catholic theology, and ecological justice. He supports students and faith communities through teaching, mentoring, and theological formation, helping them grow in faith, moral responsibility, and intellectual depth. His work is shaped by a strong commitment to the People of God, especially in contexts facing social, environmental, and pastoral challenges. These interests have led to his current doctoral research in contextual ecotheology, integrating African eco-spirituality, postcolonial realities, and biblical insights from the Psalms and the Letter to the Romans. Photo attached.

PhD title: Toward a Contextual Ecotheology: African Eco-Spirituality, Postcolonial Realities, and Insights from Psalms and Romans

Fr. Ituah is a Discalced Carmelite priest of the Anglo-Irish Province. He is the Sub-Prior of St. Joseph’s Carmelite Priory, Gerrards Cross and is the Promoter of Vocations and Young Adult Ministry for the Discalced Carmelites in the UK. He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome.

PhD title: The Desperation of Elijah (1 Kings 19): A Model for Resolving Traumatic and Post-Traumatic Problems.

Louise teaches history of art at the Legion of Christ College of Humanities in Cheshire, Connecticut; a seminary of the pontifical Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.  She is an oblate of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey; a Benedictine community belonging to the Solesmes Congregation.

PhD title: Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890): Sacred Art as an Instrument of Ascent to God through the Senses.

Andrew graduated with a BA in Philosophy and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and an MA in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. His academic interests lie in the field of fundamental theology. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where he runs his own company, and enjoys reading, running, and traveling.

PhD title: The Catholic Notion of Revelation: A Theological Analysis of the Traditional Notion of Revelation in Light of Shifting Perspectives in 20th-Century Catholic Theology.

Rachael is a wife, mother, and nonprofit executive who received her BA and MA in Theology from Ave Maria University. Her primary work is leading an organization supporting women seeking recovery from sexual addiction and unwanted sexual behavior. Her research interests include the personhood of women, hylomorphism, technological ethics, memory, and virtue ethics in light of addiction. 

PhD title: An Inquiry into the Personhood of Woman and the Fittingness of a ‘New Feminism’

Valerie has recently retired from a long career as a social worker specialising in managing services for people with substance misuse issues .She was also a Mental Health Officer for Edinburgh Council and worked with service users who were experiencing acute mental health crisis. Following her retirement she enrolled on the MA Course in Applied Catholic Theology run by St Mary’s at Gillis campus. While studying she rediscovered her love for Scottish History and was able to research the re-emergence of the Scottish Catholic Church following the Jacobite rebellions.During her spare time she is Chair of her parish PPC and the Safe Guarding Co-ordinator and enjoys looking after her five year old twin grandchildren.

PhD Title: The re-emergence of the Scottish Catholic Church in the post Culloden Years 

Fr. Steve is a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts (USA).  At the current time he is the pastor of St. Columba Parish, the Chaplain and Dean of Mission of Anna Maria College (where he also teaches), conducts psychological evaluations for prospective seminarians and deacon candidates, and maintains a private counselling practice in the city of Worcester.  He has a significant interest in the interactions between psychology and spirituality and the reconciliation between science and faith.

PhD title: Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition as a Scientifically Consistent Means of Reaching Ultimate Human Fulfillment 

Sarah has a BA in English Literature from University College London, and is also a fluent German speaker. She has worked as a university librarian and for various charities including Age UK, Anthony Nolan and UNICEF. Her research interests are Church history, with an emphasis on the twentieth century, the relationships between the Abrahamic faiths, and the role of interfaith dialogue in peacebuilding.

PhD Title: The Abomination of Desolation: Modernism, the Occult and the Rise of Nazism.

Theresa is the wife of Peter G. Martin and a mother of eight. She lives in Wisconsin, U.S. She is the Executive Director of the Wojtyła Community & Institute (WCI), an international non-profit marriage ministry. She received her Master's degree from Maryvale Institute in 2019. She spends her days educating her children, studying, and running the WCI, which supports couples throughout the U.S. and eight countries worldwide. One of her favourite quotes from St. John Paul II is: "Man cannot live without love."  

PhD title: Conjugal Spirituality: Understanding Karol Wojtyła/ St. John Paul II's insight into the spousal spiritual union through sacramental grace, its power of authentic personhood reintegration, and his Rule that makes this accessible universally.

Trenton lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Mackenzie. He is a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and holds a BA in English from Bellarmine University and an MA in Theology from the University of Notre Dame through the McGrath Institute for Church Life. Trenton is particularly interested in catechesis, patristics, and political theology, especially as it relates to Catholic social doctrine. He currently works in automotive supply chain management and design. 

PhD title: John Henry Newman Amongst the Post-liberals

Tomasz Matuszny is a Polish national who moved to the UK in 2010. He is an altar server and lectionary reader in the diocese of Wrexham and also a street pastor who patrols Wrexham city centre on Saturday nights. His interests are pastoral and historical theology.

PhD title: History of Catholic theology on addiction recovery.

Zoe lives in Belfast, where she works as an English tutor and a support worker. She has an MPhil in English Language and she is interested in applying the theories and methodologies of linguistics to religious texts.

PhD title: A stylistic analysis of the role of metaphor in the writings of the Middle English mystics.

Nancy McCarthy is a Floridian with a background in journalism and publishing, complemented by a decade of experience in stage performance. These diverse experiences laid the foundation for her interest in spiritual theology and her vocation of service to Christ.

PhD title: In Union with God: How the Spiritual Theology of Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange and the Mystical Charism of St. Pio of Pietrelcina's Stigmata Intersect in the Pre-Conciliar Church.

Fr. Alan was born in Lancashire and ordained to the priesthood in July 2011 for diocese of Dallas. He is Vice Rector of Redemptoris Mater Diocesan Missionary Seminary, Dallas.

PhD title: The Paschal Banquet: Food for Eternal Life.

Fr. PJ is a priest of the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, currently serving as pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church and Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic/Multicultural Ministry. He is studying the role that symbols play in the transmission of the faith, especially in the context of the sacred liturgy and preaching. He is a fellow of the Saint John Paul II Foundation and provides continuing education, preaching formation, and coaching for clergy across the United States and internationally. He can be heard weekly on Be Not Afraid, a podcast produced by Iowa Catholic Radio.

PhD title: Sign, Symbol, and Sermons: Liturgy, Epistemology, and the Practice of Preaching

Daniel lives near Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Kayla. He has a BA in Business from Kennesaw State University and an MA in Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. Daniel’s research interest is in Mercersburg theology, 19th century American theology, and the reformed understanding of Union with Christ.

PhD title: Organic Development of the Written Word? An Analysis of John Williamson Nevin’s Understanding of Scripture.

Originally from Galway City, Ireland, Fr. Murphy was ordained to the priesthood in 1996. He now serves in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in the Parish of Our Lady and the Saints of Sussex, covering the communities of Chichester, Bosham, The Witterings, and Selsey.

PhD Title: The analogia entis as a foundational concept for a living Christian philosophy within a theological context, particularly in harmonising faith and reason in the contemporary setting of a synodal church.

Michael lives in Toronto, Canada. He has a MA in Theology from University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto and a BA in Great Books and Catholic Studies from St. Thomas University, New Brunswick, Canada. His research interests include the moral theology of St. Thomas Aquinas and Søren Kierkegaard, Christian anthropology, and ancient and Catholic political thought. Michael married Olivia, in 2023 and currently works as a high school religion teacher at Villanova College in King City, Ontario where he greatly enjoys sharing the faith and exploring big ideas with his students.

PhD title: The Life of Love: A Comparative Analysis of the Moral Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas and Søren Kierkegaard.  

Marcus is Director of Theology for Ave Maria Radio and the Kresta Institute, radio host of the daily EWTN drivetime program Ave Maria in the Afternoon, TV host of Unveiling the Covenants, a prolific author, biblical theologian, culture commentator, and international speaker. He has published with Catholic Answers, Emmaus Road, Crisis Magazine, Catholic World Report, Acton Institute’s Religion and Liberty, The Catholic Herald (UK), Catholic Insight (Canada), and The New Oxford Review. Follow his work at marcusbpeter.com. His area of research is the Biblical Covenant Theology of the Royal Priesthood and an examination of Ratzinger's reception of the doctrine.

PhD title: Priest-King of the Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Study of the Royal Priesthood from Genesis to Revelation

David is married with one son and is expecting his first daughter. He holds his BA in history and his MA in philosophy. He has one work of fiction available, Goat-Song and Other Stories, one work of nonfiction that is currently under contract and one journal article titled "Measuring, Judging and the Good Life: Aquinas and Kant," published by Studia Gilsoniana. His PhD research is a continuation of a paper he presented at the American Catholic Philosophical Association's 2022 conference. He currently teaches humanities and lives in Edwards, Colorado.

PhD Thesis: Meaning in Life Is a Sign of the Trinity.

Michelle is the Archdiocesan Archivist at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Ohio, US). She received her Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University and has been working as an archivist for 15 years. 

PhD title: Wandering Toward Rome: Xavier Donald MacLeod and the Tensions of Religious Identity in Nineteenth Century America.

Anthony Rowley is an active Deacon, and part time RE teacher. He studied at Heythrop College University of London for a Bachelor of Divinity degree and an MA in Catholic Social Teaching here at St Mary's. 

PhD title: How can the Acts of the Apostles inform a current approach to the catechesis of Baptism.

Mary lives in Eagle River, Alaska (USA).  She has a Bachelor's in Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master's in Teaching Secondary Education from the American University in Washington, DC. In addition to being a small business owner, Mary has worked as a catechist in a variety of settings for approximately thirty years. She developed a deep interest in Biblical Studies and the development of doctrine in the early Church through her Master's in Catechetics and Evangelization from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

PhD title: An Intertextual Exploration of the Mother of Jesus as Gebira in the Biblical Texts and Epiphanius' Panarion. 

Dom IldeIphonse is a monk of the Monastere Saint Benoit in Brignoles (Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon), where he professed vows in 2017. His reading of theology started before entering the monastery but with only incidental studies alongside his usual work. Within the monastery, the monks live a classical life integrating intellectual and manual work with the sacred liturgy from which the daily rhythm is derived.

PhD title: Theology of the Church Fathers according to monks of the twelfth century

Carlos served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for thirteen years as a senior staff theologian overseeing the doctrinal review of religion textbooks for conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church on behalf of the bishops. He has taught theology at three universities and numerous (arch)dioceses throughout the United States.

PhD title: The Relationship between Faith and Piety in Bonaventure's Collationes de septem donis Spiritus Sanctus and the Breviloquium.

The Role of Affection in Eucharistic Faith in Bonaventure and Newman (Paper given at the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Convention, September 2025, Arlington, Virginia)

Sean is a Litigation Executive, who graduated from Ryerson University (now the Metropolitan University of Toronto) with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He obtained his Masters in Theological Studies from St. Augustine’s University (University of Toronto) and a Bachelors of Legal Letters from the University of Dundee. Sean currently works as a litigation executive, defending personal injury claims resulting from road traffic accidents.

PhD Title: A Study of the Archdiocese of Münster and Bishop Clemens Augustus von Galen from 1928 - 1945.

Mick completed his MA in Catholic Applied Theology with Maryvale Institute in 2024. He is particularly interested in understanding the reasons why adult parishioners engage, or don’t engage, in catechesis and ongoing formation. He is also interested in improving his own catechetical practice as well as proposing a methodology that can be shared with other catechists. A key aspect of this is using questioning to improve the effectiveness of small group discussions.

PhD title: Adult engagement in catechesis and on-going formation: what are the issues and can they be overcome with an appropriate catechesis and formation programme?

Fr. Jojappa was ordained to the priesthood in the diocese of Vijayawada, India in April 20210. Since 2014 he has been working as a missionary in the diocese of Passau, Germany.

PhD title: Eucharist is the source of union with God: a comparative study with the mysticism of Abhishiktananda.

Fr Johannes is a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, with a Masters from the ITI in Austria, several years of pastoral experience in The Netherlands, and several years of Licentiate Studies in Thomistic Philosophy in Italy, now in ministry in parishes outside of Maastricht, The Netherlands. It is a real privilege to combine it with theological research.

PhD title: What is Pope John Paul II’s contribution to Theology regarding the Sacrificial Character of the Holy Mass?

Holly is an Irish author and Lecturer in Theology at the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland in Dublin, who holds a PhD in Irish Literature and Medical Humanities from University College Cork in Ireland. She is a leading expert on the Irish Revival and representations of traditional medicine and healing practices in the work of W. B. Yeats, Augusta Gregory, and J. M. Synge. She holds a Master’s Degree in Gaelic Literature (MA), also from University College Cork, as well as a Master’s Degree in Theology (MTh) from St. Patrick’s Pontifical University in Maynooth and the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland in Dublin. She illustrates her own work and has published books, narrative, poetry, illustrations, and academic journal articles. She is the author of the illustrated book Traditional Medicine in the Irish Literary Revival: The Works of W. B. Yeats, Augusta Gregory, and J. M. Synge (2025), which is published by Palgrave Macmillan in New York.

PhD Title: The Christ of Divine Healing: Trauma in the Life and Works of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Matthew lives in the United States, where he has just retired from military service. He has a Master of Arts in Theology from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, where he researched the influence of liturgy and scripture on First Crusade motivation and ideology. His research interests include medieval church history, the Crusades, the military-religious orders, and the Latin East.

PhD title: The Influence of Crusading Memory and the Military Religious Orders on English Chivalric Identity 1377-1540.

Syahryl Norman bin Yazid is married with two daughters. He currently teaches theology and philosophy at Notre Dame Riverside High School in Riverside, CA, USA. He is a convert to the Catholic faith.

PhD title: Examining Sergius Bulgakov’s Sophiology Through Christology: Examining the Centrality of Christ to Metaphysics. 

Fr. Geoffrey is a priest of the Diocese of Saskatoon, currently serving on the Formation Team at St. Joseph Seminary and Professor of Theology at Newman Theological College (Edmonton, Canada). He obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy – graduating from the Pontifical Institute for Liturgy at Sant’Anselmo, Rome. 

PhD title: Memoriam and Convivium: Rites, Narrative Remembering, and Meal as Expression and Source of Identity in Catholic Liturgical Inculturation together with Canada’s Cree, Dené, Métis Peoples.

Marthina is a faith-driven entrepreneur, author, and public speaker,  passionate about ministry, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She supports other Christian leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives to build themselves and their brands with biblical principles of integrity and excellence. Marthina also works as a mentor going into schools across London to support them in their career and personal development.

Thesis title: A Church in Crisis: Examining the Link Between Failing Spiritual Discernment and Recurring Sexual Abuse Scandals in the Church

Barbara has a background in teaching psychology and graduated with an MA in Theology at St. Mary's University in 2019.  Her interest in exploring aspects of Church in rapidly changing times has led to her current study on the Professional Doctorate in Ministry programme.

Thesis title: Worship Through Corporeality: Assessing the Importance of Touch to Worshippers at the Roman Catholic Mass

Tapiwa is an ordained minister from a charismatic Pentecostal church background. He holds a BA in Theology from Oral Roberts University and an MA in Christian Spirituality from St Mary's University, Twickenham.

His PhD research is titled: The Synodal Catholic Church and the Contemporary Learning Organisations Question: Examining the Synod on Synodality Process as a Mechanism for Organisational Learning and Change Management in the Catholic Church: A Case Study of the 2024 Synod on Synodality in the Archdiocese of Southwark, London, UK.

Kirsten was born in the Netherlands and moved to the UK in 2004. After a 20-year career in dentistry, she gained a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from St Mary’s in 2022. She lives in the Scottish Highlands, researching the domestic church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen. She is also actively engaged in parish ministry and ongoing formation and is a freelance writer.

Thesis title: Soil for Mustard Seeds: The Lived Experience of Domestic Church Leaders in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen