By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Nov 28, 2021: The national forum of Catholic theologians in India on November 28 mourned the death of Salesian Father Dominic Veliath as a great loss for the Church in the country.
The 79-year-old internationally reputed theologian died November 27 in Bengaluru.
The Church in India has lost “a great theologian who lived Christian faith with deep commitment” in the death of Father Veliath, says a condolence message from the Indian Theological Association. Father Veliath was the executive secretary of the Doctrinal Commission of the Indian bishops that organized annual dialogues between theologians and prelates.
The message also noted with gratitude Father Veliath’s long association with the theologians’ forum. He was its secretary during 1989-1992 and the president from 1992 to 1995. “It is a great loss for the members” of the association, says the message issued by the forum president and executive board members.
Father Veliath was also a member of the International Theological Commission for two to five-year terms.
“He wrote and spoke with conviction and made theology relevant to the complex contexts of India,” the message recalls.
The theologians point out that the Salesian’s clarity of thought and ability to communicate it effectively had come not only from his academic achievement of holding doctorates in philosophy and theology but also from his competence to inspire and challenge his listeners.
The priest had taught at the Salesian Institute, Kristu Jyoti College, for more than 40 years, the theologians said.
Father Veliath will be remembered for his rootedness in faith, simplicity, scholarship, nobility and above all for humanness, the theologians say.
The Salesian theologian had contributed much to the development of an Indian theology through his books and articles. “His life was an inspiration not only to his numerous students of theology and philosophy but also to all those who came in contact with him,” the association added.