Internationally recognised Dutch theologian, ecumenist and consultor to several Vatican bodies, Dr Myriam Wijlens will be coming to Australia as part of the “Bishop Vincent Presents” Series to deliver a free public lecture on ‘The prophetic voice of the laity in the renewal of the Catholic Church.’

Dr Myriam’s lecture will precede the second assembly of the Synod on Bishops on Synodality in Rome in October. Dr Myriam is a consultor to the Synod and is a member of its Coordinating Commission. She has a unique perspective and insights on how synodality is practised around the global Catholic Church.

She is also a canon lawyer and expert in the Church’s response to clerical sexual abuse with her work dating back to the 1980s where she first issued guidelines for the Catholic Church in Canada in 1987. She then drafted guidelines for The Netherlands in 1994 and since 2002, has had served on over 100 cases in Germany and worked with the Church in Ireland. In 2018, Pope Francis made her a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and she has published several books and articles on the topic.

In February 2024, Dr Myriam was elected Vice Moderator of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, which is the first time a Catholic woman has been elected to this prestigious role. The Council is currently focusing on ethical issues faced by all religions.

Overall, Myriam’s work focuses on reform of Church structures and institutions in the area of ecclesiology and ecumenism, sexual abuse of minors and the law on consecrated life in religious institutes. Since 2004, Myriam Wijlens has served as co-moderator of the international research group Peter and Paul Seminar, which focuses on necessary reforms of canon law in light of Vatican II.

Her public lecture in Parramatta will be on Monday 5 August at 6pm and is titled: “The prophetic voice of the laity in the renewal of the Catholic Church.” The lecture will be given again in Melbourne at Newman College on Wednesday 14 February at 5pm. Places are limited, so please register today!