The overall aim of the Australian Lonergan Centre is the furtherance of Lonergan’s achievement in the Australian context, especially by supporting Australian scholarship in Lonergan’s legacy and Australian scholars eager to promote that legacy and develop it further.

Particular aims are:
(1) to establish and maintain a research library or libraries in Lonergan Studies for Australian students,
(2) to offer financial assistance for other projects promoting the Centre’s aims, and
(3) to provide a Fellowship, the Peter Faber Travelling Fellowship for Lonergan Studies. for emerging Australian Lonergan scholars pursuing doctoral studies.

In 1979, Fr Peter Beer SJ received permission from Lonergan himself to open a Lonergan Centre in Australia with advice and support from Fr Fred Crowe SJ, Director of the Toronto Lonergan Institute. Fr Peter’s brother, Dr John Charles Beer Esq. FRCS(Eng,) FRACS, F.A.Orth.A, wishing to honour their parents, Charles William and Mary Eva Catherine Beer, decided to endow a fund, to be administered by the Australian Jesuit Province, which would provide for the Australian Lonergan Centre.

Fr Peter Beer SJ was appointed the Centre’s first Director and has been instrumental in promoting Lonergan Studies in Australia. Dr John Beer also provided a further endowment to provide for the Peter Faber Travelling Fellowship in Lonergan Studies.

In 2022, before Fr Beer retired from his role, a revised charter was established and a new director and committee appointed to oversee the Centre. under the auspices of the Australian Jesuit Province. The current director and committee members are: Rev. Dr Robin Koning, SJ (Director), Professor Matthew Ogilvie, Dr John Little and Dr Sean McNelis.

Currently, the Centre continues its work in keeping with its founding vision:

• Develops and maintains the Lonergan Collection at the Veech Library
• Sponsors and supports the biennial Australian Lonergan Workshop
• Sponsors and supports the publication of papers by Australian Lonergan scholars
• Sponsors doctoral fellowships – previous recipients are Daniel Monsour, Matthew Ogilvie, John Little and Rohan Curnow, and
• Sponsors travel to international Lonergan conferences as well as to the Australian Lonergan Workshop.