Dr Angela McCarthy

BA, BEd, M.Ed(RE), M.Theol., PhD.
Senior Lecturer Theology

Email: angela.mccarthy@nd.edu.au
Phone: 9433 0138

  • Biography

    Dr Angela McCarthy is a senior lecturer in theology at The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle campus. Her first degree from Sydney University included work in Biblical Studies and Fine Arts and was followed by the beginnings of a teaching career in Catholic secondary education. After time spent rearing a family, Angela resumed secondary teaching and also further studies in theology and education beginning in 1993 at Notre Dame. Having secured further degrees in education and theology, she was awarded her PhD in 2007. Since then she has completed a further Research Masters in Theology in the field of Scripture, art and theology. Angela has published in the areas of liturgy, icons, art and theology, liturgical music, educational practice and theological aesthetics. She is editor of the Australian Journal of Liturgy, WA convenor and immediate Past President for the Australian Academy of Liturgy, Chairperson of the Mandorla Art Award, Member of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, and an editor of Pastoral Liturgy.

  • Teaching areas

    Liturgy, Sacraments, Scripture, Core Unit of Theology

  • Research expertise and supervision

    2014 Completed PhD: Neil Ferguson - Practice-Led Theology or Thinking Theology Through Practice
    Current students:
    Vicky Burrows, M.Phil
    Chris Kan, M.Phil
    Kellie Costello, M.Phil
    Stephen Fearnley, M.Phil
    Anne Frawley-Mangan, D.Ed
    Jin Yoon, M.Phil

  • Book chapters

    • McCarthy, A. M. (2010). Art for God, or to God through Art? In D. Cohen & M. Parsons (Eds.), In Praise of Worship (pp. 162-175). Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications.

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • McCarthy, Angela. "Integration of Visual Art for Small Worshipping Communities." Australian Journal of Liturgy 12, no. 4 (2011): 197-210.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Renewability of Liturgical Spaces." Australian Journal of Liturgy 13, no. 2 (2012): 71-77.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Mary Magdalene: Perfect Penitent... Or Not?". Pastoral Liturgy 44, no. 3 (2014): 13-16.
    • McCarthy, Angela M. "David Cohen: Why O Lord?". Pastoral Liturgy 44, no. 2 (2014): 7. [Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. ""Liturgy: The Illustrated History" by Keith F. Pecklers." Pastoral Liturgy 45, no. 1 (2014).[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. ""The Prayers of the New Missal" by Anscar Chapungco." Pastoral Liturgy 45, no. 1 (2014): 22-23.[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. ""Sacred Music in Secular Society" by Jonathan Arnold." Pastoral Liturgy 45, no. 1 (2014): 25.[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. "A Significant Anniversary: Book Review." Pastoral Liturgy 44, no. 3 (June - November 2014): 18-20.[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. "Tom Scirghi: Everything Is Sacred." Pastoral Liturgy 44, no. 2 (March - June 2014): 6.[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela M. ""Unbelievable: Why We Believe and Why We Don't" by Graham Ward." Pastoral Liturgy 45, no. 2 (2014): 14-15.[Book review]
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Visual Language and the Religious Aesthetic in the 21st Century." Interface Theology 1, no. 1 (2015): 55-70.
      McCarthy, Angela. "Sacred Treasure and Religious Education." In,  DAN (2015). Published electronically May 2015. http://www.dialogueaustralasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Sacred-Treasures-and-RE-by-Angela-McCarthy.pdf.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Preaching the Word in an Aboriginal Context." Australian Journal of Liturgy 14, no. 4 (2015): 161-72.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Feast of Mary Magdalene." Pastoral Liturgy 47, no. 3 (2017): 9-13.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Let There Be Light." Tjurunga 89, no. 2017 (2017): 40-52.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Word Expressed in Art: The Mandorla Art Award and the 21st Century." Tjurunga 89, no. 2017 (2017): 53-63.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "A Body Broken for a Broken People; Divorce, Remarriage, and the Eucharist." Pastoral Liturgy 48, no. 1 (2017): 15.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Christian Art for the 21st Century." Pastoral Liturgy 47, no. 1 (2017): 11-12.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Mandorla Art Award 2016." Melbourne Catholic February (2017): 6-11.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Irwin, Kevin W.: The Sacraments: Historical Foundations and Liturgical Theology, New York: Paulist Press, 2016 [Book Review]." Marriage, Families & Spirituality 23 (2017): 254-55.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Moloney, Francis J.P: A Body Broken for a Broken People: Divorce, Remarriage, and the Eucharist, 3rd Ed., New York: Paulist Press, 2015 [Book Review]." Marriage, Families & Spirituality 23, no. 2017 (2017): 258-59.

  • Conference papers

    • Alliex, S., & McCarthy, A. M. (2005). Reflective Practice: Retrospective Reality and Rhetoric or Strategies to Enhance Clinical Practice? Teaching and Learning Forum. Retrieved from H:\Publications\Referred conference papers\TL
    • Forum 2005 Alliex and McCarthy - reflective practice - rhetoric or strategies to enhance clinical practice.htm
    • McCarthy, A. M. (1999). Getting Serious About Grounded Theory. Paper presented at the Western Australian Institute of Educational Research Forum, Perth. http://www.waier.org.au/forums/1999/mccarthy.html
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2000). Choosing Catholic Secondary Education: a Study in Progress. Paper presented at the Western Australian Institute of Educational Research, Perth.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2001). Choosing Catholic Secondary Education: a grounded theory study. Paper presented at the Forum for Research and the Future of Catholic Schooling, University of Queensland.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2001). Educational Choice, a Grounded Theory Study. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education, Perth.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2002). Parallel Systems of Education: the Advantage of Choice. Paper presented at the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Forum, Perth.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2004). Choice of Schooling: a Qualitative View. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education, Melbourne University.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2004). Exploring Teaching as a Team. Paper presented at the Teaching and Learning Forum, Murdoch University.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2005). Mentoring in Action. Paper presented at the Royal College of Nursing and Mentoring Australia Conference, Canberra.
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2007). Realising Family Potential Through Choice of Schooling. AARE Conference Papers. Retrieved from
    • McCarthy, A. M. (2011). Integration of visual art in worship. Paper presented at the Australian Academy of Liturgy National Conference, Melbourne.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Expressible and the Inexpressible: The Work of Mons John Cyril Hawes, Priest and Architect." In Biennial Conference in Philosophy, Religion and Culture. Sydney, 2012.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Jesus the Gardner: A View of the Garden Scene through Text and Image." In Theological Colloquium. Fremantle WA, 2012.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Work of Mons John Cyril Hawes, Priest and Architect, and the Liturgical Movement." Paper presented at the Australian Academy of Liturgy, Hobart Tasmania, 2013.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Visual Language and the Religious Aesthetic in the 21st Century." Paper presented at the Addressing the Sacred through Literature and the Arts, Australian Catholic University Strathfield, 2013.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Belief in the Sacred 'Other' and Its Expression in the Arts." In Addressing the Sacred through Literature and the Arts. Strathfield NSW: Australian Catholic University, 2015.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Let There Be Light!" Paper presented at the Benedictine Union Day, Holy Trinity Monastery New Norcia, 2015.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Liturgy and the Arts." In With Burning Hearts: WA Liturgy Conference. Perth, 2015.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Seeing the Word in a Contemporary World." Paper presented at the Australian Academy of Liturgy, Brisbane Queensland, 2015.

  • Recorded or rendered works

    • McCarthy, Angela. "Christmas Blessings." In Touch the Sky. Wanneroo Western Australia, 1988.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "The Kingdom of Heaven." In Touch the Sky. Wanneroo Western Australia, 1988.
    • McCarthy, Angela. "Whispers." In Touch the Sky. Wanneroo Western Australia, 1988.
    • Psalm 137 "By the Rivers of Babylon", Music by Christopher Willcock SJ.  Recorded by Marceline Ciputra (Piano), Clare Johnson, Katie Healy, Angela McCarthy (sopranos), Patricia Spencer, Angela Bendotti (altos), Noel Chow (tenor), Matthew Bouwman, David Clark-Murphy (bass). Directed by Christopher Willcock. Recorded by Chris Kern at the University of Notre Dame Australia, January 2005.http://www.nd.edu.au/news/media-releases/2018/014

  • In the media

    • McCarthy, Angela. "Geraldton Cathedral Bucks Gothic Trend." In Cathnews, 2012.
      Mandorla launches religious art award 2016. 13 Feb 2015 by Marco Ceccarelli E:\Mandorla Art Award Committee\Exhibition 2016\Promotion of Award\The Record » Mandorla launches religious art award 2016.htm
    • McCarthy, Angela. "How to Put 'Christ' Back into Christmas." In,  ABC Religion and Ethics (2016). Published electronically 16 Dec 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2016/12/16/4593536.htm.
      First Benedictine-commissioned Bible in 500 years hosted at Notre Dame: Jesus’s life and message explored in stunning detail. http://www.nd.edu.au/news/media-releases/2018/014. Monday 9 April 2018.
      Quillo 286 February 2018 page 15, SAINT JOHN’S BIBLE STUDY DAY With Sue Hopkins and Barb King.

  • Professional affiliations

    Fellowship of Biblical Studies
    Chamber of Arts and Culture
    Australian Academy of Liturgy, Immediate Past Present, Convenor WA Chapter

  • Community engagement

    Chairperson, Mandorla Art Award
    St Thomas More Parish Liturgy Committee
    Director, St Thomas More Parish Music Ministry

  • Awards

    2007 West Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER) Postgraduate Researcher Award
    2002 West Australian Institute for Educational Research, Notre Dame University Medal
    2000 Australian Postgraduate Award – Australian Federal Government
    1985 West Australia Week YMCA Mothers' Award - inaugural recipient