By Ivin Tomy
New Delhi, Nov 14, 2022: A leading Jesuit theology college in India has prepared 72 lay theologians to carry forward Christ’s mission in the world.
Their graduation took place November 13 at Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Old Delhi.
The college has been preparing lay theologians through its distance education program for the past four years.
The latest graduates belonged to two batches – 17 in the first and 55 in the second. Besides India, some students were from Malaysia, where Vidyajyoti has an overseas branch.
A large number of Catholics of the archdiocese of Delhi attended the graduation program.
In his opening address, Archbishop Felix Machado, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and an expert on ecumenical dialogue, highlighted the importance of the mystery of communion as the basis for Ecumenism.
Archbishop Anil J T Couto, another veteran in ecumenism, traced the trajectory of ecumenical initiatives of the Catholic Church before and after the Second Vatican Council. He urged the gathering to imbibe a spirit of ecumenism, which is essentially an important mission of the Church today.
Jesuit Father Nirmal Raj, rector of the college, and principal and confrere Father P R John (stressed the need for laity theology and the spirit of ecumenism today.
At a panel discussion with lay Christian theologians, panelists Sylvia Fernandes from Goa and Gloria D’Souza from the national capital, explained how learning theology through Vidyajyoti’s distance learning program helped them grow in their understanding of God.
Jesuit Father Rajkumar Joseph, director of the distance education program, said the goal of the annual seminar is to build a “Laity-Theological Circle.” He invited the Christians to visit the Vidyajyoti-theologate regularly, read books and together to create a Laity-Theological Culture in the participatory-inclusive-Synodal Church.