About the Author

Fr Andrew Doohan is a presbyter (priest) of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, and currently serves as the Parish Priest of St Francis of Assisi Parish, Dungog Gresford.

Andrew was ordained in February 2007, and has served in a number of parishes across the diocese in the intervening years. Before coming to what is now St Francis of Assisi Parish, Andrew served as the Dean and Rector of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newcastle West.

Andrew holds the degrees of Master of Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity (having studied at the Catholic Institute of Sydney) and Master of Arts (Liturgy) from Australian Catholic University (in conjunction with the Catholic Institute of Sydney). He has interests in liturgical theology and praxis, particularly in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation, and served as a member of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Liturgy Council for many years, including as the Council’s Chair.

Andrew has served as the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies since 2012 and in that role is responsible for assisting in the preparation and celebration of major liturgical occasions in the life of the Church of Maitland-Newcastle. Notably he has been instrumental in preparing for the Episcopal Ordination of the late Bishop Bill Wright, and the Liturgical Reception and Installation of Bishop Michael Kennedy.

As part of his role as Master of Ceremonies, Andrew is available as a liturgical resources to parishes and agencies across the diocese, assisting and advising on a range of liturgical issues, and facilitating formation for parishes in a range of liturgical matters.

At a national level, Andrew is a consultant to the National Liturgy Council of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and is a member of a working party preparing a new edition of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults for the Australian Church.

In his spare time, Andrew enjoys reading and landscape photography.