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Very Rev. Peter Williams

Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia, Diocese of Parramatta

The Very Reverend Father Peter G Williams was born in Melbourne and educated at Clifton Hill State School and Ivanhoe Grammar. He was brought up in the Anglican Church. He holds a BA (Medieval Studies and Philosophy) from Australian National University, a BTheol from the Australian College of Theology, a BEd from La Trobe University, an MTheol from the University of Sydney, and a MA (Liturgical Studies) from the Catholic University of America. In 2014 he was awarded the Doctor of the University from ACU.

Peter was ordained a Catholic priest in 1992 and has held appointments in many parishes in the Diocese of Parramatta, serving as Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish in Parramatta (2004–2006). From 2011–2014 he was Vicar General in the Diocese of Parramatta and Episcopal Vicar for Social Welfare. Peter is currently Moderator of the Curia (appointed 2011), and the Director of Liturgy (appointed 1998) in the Diocese of Parramatta. In November 2014 Peter was elected by the College of Consultors as the Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta.

In August 2006, Peter was appointed Director of Liturgy for World Youth Day Sydney, 2008 and was responsible for the planning of the liturgical celebrations surrounding WYD and the Papal visit. He served as Executive Secretary of the National Liturgical Commission from 2000–2011 overseeing the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal. He was elected Fellow of St John’s College, Sydney in 2009 and a Member of the NSW Chapter of ACU in 2010. He served as Chairman of the National Liturgical Music Board (2005-2016) overseeing the publication of the Catholic Worship Book II. He is also a member of the National Liturgical Art and Architecture Board (2010 –).

Father Peter teaches at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and lectures and runs workshops on liturgy.