By C M Paul
Siliguri, January 8, 2025: Theologians in India are saddened at the passing of a multidimensional contextual theologian and Professor of Theology Fr. Felix Wilfred on January 7, 2025. His unexpected demise leaves a void in the hearts of his students and peers. He was 76 years old. Funeral is scheduled for January 9 at St James Church, Puthenkadai.
Born in 1948 in Puthenkadai, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Felix was the second child of B. Arogyam, a local school headmaster, and Mary Josephine. Completing his schooling at 16, Felix journeyed to Rome in 1965 to undertake his philosophical and theological studies, training to become a Catholic priest.
He earned degrees from Pontifical Urban University, studied Italian literature at the University of Perugia, and French philosophy and literature at the University of Caen, France. Even as a student, he won three gold medals for academic excellence. Felix mastered classical languages like Latin and Greek, and several European languages including Italian, Spanish, French, and German.
His formative years coincided with the post-Second Vatican Council era. Recalling his arrival in Rome in 1965, Felix witnessed the closing function of Vatican II at St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis invited him as a theological expert to the Synod on Synodality 2024.
Upon completing his studies, Felix returned to Tamil Nadu in 1977 as a theological educator at St. Paul’s Major Seminary. There, he began the transformative process of theological education, incorporating secular concerns and experiences. His vision significantly impacted theological publications and set a new horizon for the discipline.
Felix’s early publications, such as “Talirkum Pizhambukal,” addressed themes from the Second Vatican Council, including the ‘signs of the times’ and the ‘importance of laity’. In 1983, at just 35, he was elected President of the Indian Theological Association. International recognition followed when he served on the Vatican’s International Theology Commission from 1986 to 1991. His contributions extended to the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic Centre for UNESCO.
In 1993, Felix joined the University of Madras’s Department of Christian Studies, where he bridged the secular and sacred. He published extensively, presented papers globally, and edited journals. In 2000, he became the department head, invigorating academic programs and guiding numerous doctoral students. He also held significant positions at IIT Chennai and Anna University.
Felix was a member of the journal “Concilium” and, in 2007, became its President, moving its office to Chennai. He founded the Asian Centre for Cross-cultural Studies in 2004 and the International Journal of Asian Christianity in 2018, which has since been indexed in the prestigious Scopus list.
Felix’s life was dedicated to the pursuit of transformative knowledge, a mission he upheld until his passing. He was a prophetic intellectual, redefining knowledge boundaries with a dynamic understanding rooted in reality. As a contextual theologian, Felix addressed multiple issues, including Dalit empowerment, human rights, secularism, and inter-religious dialogue, among others.
Felix’s legacy as a theologian who seamlessly integrated contemporary realities into theological discourse will continue to inspire. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of intellectual rigour, compassion, and transformative knowledge.