Noted Salesian theologian of international fame dies

Matters India Reporter

Bengaluru, Nov 28, 2021: Salesian Father Dominic Veliath, a Indian theologian of international repute, died November 27 in Bengaluru, southern India. He was 79.

Funeral is scheduled for November 29 at Kristu Jyoti Theological College, a Salesian seminary in Bengaluru, where he had served as principal for three terms and rector for two terms.

Pope John Paul II appointed Father Veliath as member of the International Theological Commission for a five-year period starting 2004. Pope Benedict XVI reappointed him for another term.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India appointed Father Veliath as the Indian theologian representative to the Office of Theological Concerns of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.

He also served as the executive secretary of the Doctrinal Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

Father Veliath was a member of the “Indian Theological Association,” and served as its president for a term.

“Starting theology teaching career in 1975 Veliath was able to avoid extremes and chart a middle course, without jettisoning the central theological affirmations that the faith upholds,” says Salesian Father Jude Joseph Pooppana of Kristu Jyoti College, who was his his student and colleague.

Among Father Veliath’s major accomplishments in theology include publications such as volumes, edited works, scholarly articles and seminar presentations. One of his books is being used as a text book in the seminaries in India.

His success in preaching and retreat direction was attributed to the insights of a creative theologian, his capacity to articulate them with utmost clarity, his in-depth knowledge of doctrinal system and his faith in it, is primarily due to his deep rootedness in the person of Christ and trusting surrender to God.

Veliath was born on February 25, 1942, to George, a doctor, and Dharma Veliath. One of his five brothers is Jesuit while others are medical doctors.

Father Veliath became a Salesian om 1962 at Yercaud. After philosophical studies at the Retreat, Yercaud, he was sent to Rome to complete Bachelor in Philosophy from the Pontifical Salesian University. He then pursued doctorate in Philosophy from the same University.

He studied theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pun, and was ordained a priest on October 31, 1973, by Archbishop Selvanather of Pondicherry. After completing masters in theology from the same Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune, in 1975, he began his teaching at Kristu Jyoti College.

Father Veliath obtained second doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome in 1985.