Michael Costigan (writer)
Australian Roman Catholic writer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Michael Costigan (writer)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Michael Eugene Costigan (born 1931) is an Australian Roman Catholic writer, editor, former priest, senior public servant and social justice advocate.[1][2] He studied for the priesthood in Melbourne and Rome and was ordained in 1955. He left the priesthood in 1969.
Dr Michael Costigan | |
---|---|
Born | 1931 Preston, Melbourne, in Victoria |
Alma mater | |
Notable works | Doctoral Thesis in Civil and Canon Law |
Spouse | Margaret Costigan (née Collis) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives |
|
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) was a significant event in Costigan's career, dominating, as he writes, "ten of the fourteen years [he] spent in the priesthood", and reporting on it was "the biggest professional challenge" in his twelve years as a journalist.[3] While he was the editor of the Melbourne weekly Catholic newspaper, The Advocate, the publication provided extensive coverage of the Council.[4] Costigan was sent to Rome as a priest-journalist to cover the Council's second session; he counts his attendance at the Council as a defining experience in his life.[5] He continued working as a journalist after leaving the priesthood, until 1973, writing for both secular and religious publications.
After his journalistic career, Costigan went on to several senior public service appointments. He was the first Director of the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts and the inaugural secretary of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales.[6] He was appointed Executive Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Committee for Justice, Development and Peace in 1987, staying in the role until his retirement in 2005.[7]