Vorstellung der Stipendiaten

Fr. Shijo Chacko VC 

I am Fr. Shijo Chacko VC and I belong to the St. Joseph Province of the Vincentian Congregation. I was born on 07 October 1986. I joined the Vincentian Congregation on 15 June 2002. I was ordained a priest on 31 December 2013. Then I served the Congregation as Vice-Rector, Vice-Principal of a school and as Rector of a seminary. I came to Germany on 20 June 2019 and was appointed as the Asst. director of the Vincentian Retreat Centre, Berlin.

I am very blessed and privileged to receive the scholarship and do my doctoral studies under the guidance of Rev. Dr. George Augustin SAC at the John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre in Vallendar, Germany. I joined the Institute in October 2021. I am writing my doctoral thesis on “The Working of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Catholic Church and in the life of the Individual”, drawing on St. John Paul II’s teachings on the Holy Spirit. No Pope has ever written so extensively and comprehensively about the Holy Spirit as John Paul II. He had a deep understanding of the role of the Spirit in the Church. He was truly a man of the Spirit, a gifted and charismatic Pope. I am sure that this research will help me to continue my priestly ministry in Germany and in the Church with much anointing, authenticity and with more wisdom. I hope that the dissertation will help many to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit for the renewal of the Church and not in mere discussions and human ideas and ideologies.

Fr. Biston KS (Kuruthukulangarakoola Sebastian) CMI

I am Fr. Biston KS (Kuruthukulangarakoola Sebastian) CMI belonging to Devamatha Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) congregation. I was born on 11 July 1986. Later I joined the CMI Congregation on 24 May 2004. I was ordained as priest on 26 December 2016. I served as Assistant Parish Priest, Pro vicar and Vice Principal. I have completed my Bachelor Degrees in Functional English, Theology, and Philosophy, in India. I also did my Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Madras University in India and completed Licentiate in Theology from John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute of Family and Marriage Sciences Indian Session, Kerala affiliated to Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.

I am privileged to receive scholarship for my doctoral studies under the guidance of Rev. Dr. George Augustin SAC at the John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre in Vallendar, Germany. I joined the Institute in May 2022. My doctoral thesis is on Christian Family: Transmission of Values and Life in the Light of Chavarul and Familiaris Consortio (A Systematic Theological Study on the Role of Christian Family according to St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St. John Paul II). St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, one of founders of CMI Congregation was a staunch promoter for the well-being of the families. His service to the humanity is commendable and worth knowing. His concept on Christian family is very well brought out in his writing Chavarul- a valuable treasure for our Indian Society. It vividly explains the role of each one in the family. Saint Pope John Paul II says: “The future of humanity passes by way of the family” - Familiaris Consortio no. 86. The sanctity in the family, the communion of persons, transmission of values through the three sacred altars and education of God’s children from the basic themes of study. The transmission of life, basically enumerates the anti- life and pro- life struggle. The Church is duty bound to safeguard life. I have enumerated briefly the stumbling- blocks in the way of the holistic development of an ideal family with values vision vis-a-vis the scientific development in the society. In safeguarding life and values in the modern world, re-evangelization is an essential means to defend the families. The study confines itself for understanding of the theological implications on Family in the transmission of values and life in the view of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St. John Paul II special reference on Chavarul and Familiaris Consortio.

Fr. Jose Dominic Poovattil

I am Jose Dominic Poovattil, a Catholic Priest belonging to the congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) in India. I studied Philosophy at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore and Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidya Peeth, Pune in India. I was ordained a priest on 26 December 2006. I have served as Secretary to the Prior General, Rector of Minor Seminary, Novice Master, and Spiritual Director. I did Licentiate in Psychology along with an Internship at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy (2010-2014) which gave me a solid foundation in assessing and accompanying candidates for the priesthood. I felt it is high time that the experience in the seminary formation is further enhanced by Doctoral studies in the same area. By the grace of God, the John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre of Vinzenz Pallotti University, Vallendar accepted my application for doctoral studies in Saint Pope John Paul II’s Teachings on Human Formation: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Priestly Formation.  The Research Centre has granted me a full scholarship for this particular area of study.

My research aims to explore more specifically the central issues of human character formation, facilitate the candidates for the priesthood for the process of vocational discernment and formation, and emphasize the role of psychological growth in preparing the ground for a healthy spirituality. The faculty and curriculum of VPU’s Doctoral Program in Theology would equip me with the necessary interdisciplinary competencies to attain my professional goals. At this juncture, I gratefully acknowledge Rev. Dr. George Augustine SAC, an eminent professor who facilitates me to acquire more expertise in the field of Priestly Formation. I hope this research will enable me to be more competent in my ministry as a Seminary Formator.

Fr. Ferdinand Pappachan

I am Ferdinand Pappachan, a catholic priest belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins of St. Francis of Assisi province, Kerala, India. I was ordained a priest on 30^th of December 2008. I studied Philosophy at Marygiri Institute of Philosophy, Trivandrum and at the University of Kerala. My theological formation was at Bodhi Institute of Theology in Quilon, Kerala. I secured a Licentiate and an Advanced Master’s degree in ‘Theology and Religious Studies’ from Katholieke Universiteit (Catholic University) of Leuven, Belgium (2012-2014). I rendered pastoral service as Assistant parish priest and as parish priest in the (Arch)dioceses of Trivandrum and Kannur for seven years. I also served as assistant guardian and rector (major seminary); seminary educator, guardian and rector in minor seminaries of the Capuchins.

The desire to learn more deeply about my faith and to know the deep mysteries of the Divine, the Person of Jesus and His message have become a matter of personal desire, a call of the heart, from the early days of my priestly and religious formation. One of the specific issues that struck me was the necessity to develop an inclusive understanding and interpretation of Christian dogmas since the setting in which I operate is multi-religious  and multi-cultural context of India. Great model of St. John Paul II ‘holds a place of special eminence’ and relevant still today as a leading figure who attempted to reconcile the proclamation of Christian truth and dialogue with other cultures and religions. My doctoral research focuses on the attempts made by St. John Paul II to reconcile both proclamation of the Christian Message and Dialogue between Cultures and Religions, under the efficient guidance of eminent Prof. Dr. George Augustin SAC at the Vinzenz Pallotti University, Vallendar.  I hope this research will enable me to be more competent in my future ministry as a teacher of theology. I gratefully acknowledge my sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. George Augustin SAC for granting me a Scholarship through the kind generosity of the John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre.

Fr. Jithin Mathew

I am Fr Jithin Mathew, a Catholic priest belonging to the Eparchy of Kothamangalam, Kerala India. I was ordained as a priest on 27^th December 2014. I studied philosophy at Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kunnoth, Kerala and at the University of Calicut. I did my theological studies at St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva, Kerala, India. After my priestly ordination I served as the parochial vicar for 2 years and as Vicar for 5 years in various parishes in the Eparchy of Kothamangalam.

I am very thankful to receive the scholarship and do my doctoral studies under the guidance of Rev. Dr. George Augustin SAC at the John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre in Vinzenz Pallotti University, Vallendar, Germany. John Paul II, an adherent lover of families, through his encyclicals and apostolic exhortations addressed families that help them to lead a more Christian life. He gives a scientific and systematic foundation to Basic Christian understanding of families through his encyclicals Familiaris Consortio and Evangelium Vitae. Understanding the official teachings of the Catholic Church with regard to marriage, family and sexuality, families can improve in their loving relationships. Moreover, a systematic and coherent study or acceptance of the teaching can lead the families to overcome the contemporary challenges and improve themselves in strained relationships. I am quite sure that the research will help me to work more efficiently and effectively in my pastoral life to help the families.

Fr. Anoop Manpurakkamannil Sunny

I am Fr. Anoop Manpurakkamannil Sunny. I am from the district of Kasaragod, Kerala, India. I belong to the Syro Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Bathery. I have joined Minor Seminary in June, 2004. I have completed my Philosophy and Theology from St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum, Kerala. I have secured my Bachelor of Philosophy from Kerala University, Trivandrum. I was ordained priest on 27^th December 2014. Thereafter I have worked as the Procurator and Vice-Rector of the Minor Seminary, bursar of our school at Kannur, and Parish priest of various parishes. I have secured my Masters in English Language and Literature from the University of Kannur, Kerala. For the last two years I was working as Assistant Professor of English at Fathima Arts and Science College, Nilambur, Kerala, India.

I am really blessed with the scholarship for my doctoral studies that was granted to me by Rev. Dr. George Augustin SAC. It is an honour to be part of St. John Paul II and Mother Teresa International Research Centre at Vinzenz Pallotti University, Vallendar. I joined the Institute by the end of May 2022. I wish to carry out my doctoral studies about the Theological Anthropology of St. John Paul II, with special reference to his “The Theology of the Body”. When St. John Paul II was elevated to the papacy, he unveiled a series of reflections on which he had worked for some time. He gave these in the form of weekly general audiences between 1979 and 1984. These talks became known as “The Theology of the Body” and have had a growing impact on Christian thinking about what it means to be embodied as male or female. The full meaning of the body and hence the human person is revealed only when the man stands over against another unique way of being human–woman. This distinctive way of being a person and a gift for others, male and female, reflects what St. John Paul II called “the nuptial meaning of the body.” Coming together in the profound partnership of marriage, man and woman live for the other in mutual love and deference. This union is expressed concretely in the couple’s bodily gift of themselves to one another in sexual intercourse. Here they speak a profound language of total self-gift and unconditional fidelity. This understanding of the theology of the body that is culminated in the nuptial love will help me in my pastoral ministry in such a way to make the young couples know what exactly their nuptial love is meant for. It may help them to have a better married life.