Innsbruck Doctoral College
Catholic Theology in a Globalised World

Forschungsprojekt
NO LONGER TWO BUT ONE: Theological Foundations and Pastoral Implications of Harmonising Church and Igbo Traditional Marriages

About the project

Jesus' words in Luke 4:18-19 show that human welfare and social development are integral parts of his divine mission. Christian theology aims at both the temporal and spiritual welfare of the human person. With the growth of Christianity in Africa, the continent is expected to develop accordingly. However, African Christians are concerned that Christianity is not bearing the expected fruits.

In many traditional African societies, the emergence of missionary Christianity has led to the collapse of traditional ways of life. Traditional cultures were either demonised or abandoned. This negative attitude towards African cultures persists in various forms. Today, the "seed of faith" is not sown deeply in fertile soil, in ways of life familiar to the people and in accordance with the Gospel.

This is the case with traditional marriage in Igbo (Nigeria) culture. On the one hand, traditional Igbo marriage is not considered a sacrament. Consequently, Christian couples must marry in the church. On the other hand, church marriage is inadequate in Igbo culture. Couples must celebrate the Igbo traditional wedding, even before the church wedding. Obviously, the two marriages cause strain, tension and confusion in the family, church and society. Therefore, there is need to reconsider the sacrament of marriage for Igbo Christians. This study proposes the harmonisation of the two marriages into one. This would not only reduce the burden of double marriages but also strengthen faith, family and society at large. This paradigm can also be applied in other African countries and cultures with similar challenges of integrating faith, culture and development.

Using relevant theological resources and insights from other disciplines, the study applies the "See-Judge-Act".

About me

My name is Emmanuel Onyinye Aneto. I was born in 1984. I come from Nigeria. I have a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Theology from Bigard Memorial Enugu, Nigeria. I was ordained a priest in 2014 for the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Nigeria. Since my ordination in 2014 until April 2017, I have worked as a chaplain, school teacher, coordinator of the Pontifical Missionary Union and head of the curia in my diocese. I completed a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology at the renowned University of Innsbruck in 2020 and am currently doing my doctorate in the same field at the same university.

BIODATA

• Name: Emmanuel Onyinye Aneto
• Geburtsdatum: 02.02.1984
• Staatsangehörigkeit: Nigeria
• Diözese: Aba

BILDUNG/AUSBILDUNG

• Kindergarten: St. Imelda Nursery and Primary School, Ihiala, Anambra State, Nigeria (1988-1991)
• Grundschule:
  • Central School, Imo River, Abia State, Nigeria (1991-1993) and
  • Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy, Nursery and Primary School, Oyigbo, Rivers State, Nigeria. (1993-1997)
    • Zertifikat: First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC)
• Hauptschule (Knabenseminar):
  • Annunciation Seminary Amaudara, Abia State, Nigeria (1997- 2003).
  • Zertifikat: Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE)
• Propaedeutic: St. Mary Propadeutic Seminary, Azumini Ndoki, Abia State Nigeria (2004-2005).
• Priesterseminar:
  • Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu State, Nigeria; affiliate of Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2005-2009).
    • Zertifikat: Bachelor in Philosophy (B.PHIL).
  • Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu State, Nigeria; affiliate of Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2009-2013).
    • Zertifikat: Bachelor in Theology (B.TH)
• Ausbildung: Krankenhause Seelsorger (2020), Aushilfspriester, Krankenhausseelsorge, Innsbruck Klinikum, Österreich
• Weiterstudium:
  • Universität Innsbruck, Österreich (2018-2020).
    • Zertifikat: Mag. Pastoral Theologie.
• Promotion: Universität Innsbruck, Österreich (2020 bis voraussichtlich 2023)

Theme
Conflicts and conquests: Israel's challenges in Numbers 20 and 21

About the project

Numbers 20 and 21 describe the exodus of the sons of Israel from the desert. The exodus is characterised by special conflicts involving various people, but one of them stands out in particular - Yhwh.

Yhwh embodies the spirit and consciousness of Israel as a nation. Israel finds its identity in him, Israel progresses with him, and it is only through him that Israel prospers.

The difficulties in the desert serve to train this consciousness through internal and external conflicts. Thus the final events between Kadesh in Zin and Moab show that Israel does not even have to unite around Moses, but around Yhwh.

The project will endeavour to analyse Numbers 20 and 21 synchronously in order to grasp the message behind the text, which I can then apply in any social, religious and cultural milieu.

About me

I am a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, Kenya. I grew up in a polygamous family where my mother had four children out of thirty-six.

I belong to the Luo tribe and speak Dholuo, but I can also communicate fluently in Kiswahili, English and German. I also understand Hebrew and Greek.

I received primary and secondary education in Kenya as well as priestly training.

I have a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Theology from the Urbaniana University of Rome and a Master's degree from the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck. I am interested in the Bible, local and geopolitical issues and intercultural theology.

Research Project
The Threat of Hindutva to Religious Freedom in India: A Christian Response

About the project

India is the world’s largest democratic and secular country. It is multi-cultural and multi-religious. Its identity is pluralism and secularism. The Constitution of the Republic of India in Article 25 (1) guarantees religious freedom as one of the fundamental rights of every citizen of India. It has also protections for minority rights against discrimination on the grounds of religion and caste. But after the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP; Indian Peoples’ Party), a national political party’s consecutive victory in the 2014 and 2019 national elections, the right to religious freedom/ belief has come under threat because of its ideological stance with right-wing Hindu extremists such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS; National Volunteer Organization) who carries and propagate the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu-ness/ Hinduisation). According to the concept of Hindutva, everyone who lives in India is none other than a Hindu, and India belongs to Hindus only. It looks at Christianity and Islam as a ‘foreign’, a threat to their political power, ‘traditional’ society, and the ‘indigenous’ religion (Hinduism). However, its primary agenda is to change secular India into ‘Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation), which is antithetical to democratic and secular India, dreamed by forefathers of the nation such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B. R Ambedkar, Jawahar Lal Nehru, and Maulana Azad. It focuses on the official teaching of the Church on religious freedom in its dogma Dignitatis Humanae in the light of the religious context of India.

About me

Name: Subbaiah Chapala
Nationality: Indian
Designation: Roman Catholic Priest

Academic Education

• B.A. Philosophy
  Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.)
  St. John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad, A.P., India.
• Master of Arts (M.A. Lit.)
  Andhra University, A.P., India.
• Master of Theology (M. Th.)
  The Catholic University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Dissertation Project
The Threat of Hindutva to Religious Freedom in India: A Christian Response

Dissertation Guide
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Guggenberger

Dissertation Project
"God-Human Relationship presented in Ps 22". An Exegetical and Theological Study of Ps 22

About the project

In recent years, initially due to the Covid pandemic and more recently with the fear of a dangerous war with its hardly assessable global consequences, the entire world has found itself in a situation in which human strength and creative power seem limited to most. But even beyond such catastrophic events, people repeatedly encounter situations in their lives in which they feel absolutely powerless. Events such as incurable diseases, natural and man-made disasters (keyword "climate change"), smouldering conflicts between peoples and regions, unforeseeable, sudden and premature deaths, etc. put us humans in unavoidable helpless situations. In such circumstances, people of faith increasingly fall back on their spirituality, crying out to God for help in prayer, as it were. One such cry out of deep despair is presented in the Old Testament psalm 22, in which accusations, doubts and even negative accusations are directed at God.

My thesis on this is: "Behind the expression of rejection there is also a remnant of trust in the love of God that comes from the God-human relationship". The struggles and pains of human life cause the feelings of rejection of and distance from God. At the same time, the ability to express the same reveals the deep God-human relationship of a fundamental believer. The very fact that the psalmist can express his disappointment is proof that he still believes in the love of his "my God-Eli".

In this study, I would like to try to work out a contextualised and personal understanding of the God-human relationship that is specifically revealed in psalm 22. With my work I would like to make a scientific contribution to the understanding of the psalms for the context of the respective times and to actualise the Psalter as a place- and timeless treasure of prayer (also) for crisis situations of various kinds.

Dissertation supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Dr Andreas Vonach

About me

Mein Name ist Snehal Marcus D'Souza. Ich komme aus Indien. Ich bin Ordensfrau und gehöre einer indischen Ordensgemeinschaft "Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima" an.

Ausbildung:

• June 2009- March 2012 – Bachelor of Commerce – University of Pune.
• June 2012- March 2013 – Certificate Course in Philosophy – Mater Dei Institute, Goa.
• June 2013 – June 2016 – Bachelor of Theology – Jnana-deepa Institute, Pune.
• June 2018- March 2020 – Master of Theology – Jnana-deepa Institute, Pune.

Research Project: Emphasising Human Dignity Through the Eucharist

about the project:

A major focus of the research is the relationship between the Eucharist, a fundamental Christian sacrament, and the idea of human dignity. The aim of the research is to determine how the Eucharist, with its spiritual, social and ethical aspects, fits into the idea that every human being is valuable and deserves respect and equal dignity. It will examine how, within the framework of Christian faith and practice, the Eucharist claims and affirms human dignity.

The study will focus on three important documents of the Second Vatican Council: Dignitatis Humanae, Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes. These documents are of crucial importance because of their teachings on many aspects of human dignity and the Church's teaching on the sacraments within the Catholic tradition.

As a representative of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis speaks for the Church through his teachings and perspectives, and through his humanitarian actions he has lived out the vision of the Second Vatican Council, which emphasises the dignity of every human being. Pope Francis is known for his emphasis on social justice, his commitment to the underprivileged and his unique way of understanding and implementing Catholic teachings.

Looking at the Indian context, the study aims to explore how these Catholic beliefs and positions interact with the particular social, cultural and theological context of India.

The study will explore the relationship between human dignity and the Eucharist in the documents Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes and Dignitatis Humanae, drawing on key writings of Pope Francis and focussing on how these ideas are relevant in the Indian context.

Supervisors: Univ.-Prof. i. R. Dr Roman Anton Siebenrock - Institute for Systematic Theology and Univ.-Prof. Dr Stefan Hofmann SJ Institute for Systematic Theology.

about me:

My name is Linus Dabre and I come from Vasai, India. I joined the seminary in Poona in 2005. Prior to that, I had completed my Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Poona in 2009. From 2009 to 2011, I studied philosophy at St. Pius Seminary in Mumbai and then worked at the diocesan youth centre for a year. Between 2012 and 2015, I completed my theological studies at Jnana Deepa in Poona and was ordained a priest on 31 October 2015. After my ordination, I worked in three different parishes and obtained my licentiate in dogmatic theology at Jnana Deepa, where I also started teaching. From 2021 to 2023 I taught Theological Anthropology at Jnana Deepa. I am currently in Innsbruck to complete my doctorate in Dogmatic Theology.

Dissertation Project
"Gebet und Gottesbild"

About the project

Erstbetreuer: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roman Anton Siebenrock

Das Gebet ist im Christentum die zentrale religiöse Handlung. Es ist für das individuelle Glaubensleben von Christ*innen von essentieller Bedeutung, aber auch für das gemeinschaftliche Leben (dies meint auch, aber nicht ausschließlich, Kultus und Liturgie) unentbehrlich: Es gibt im Christentum, über alle konfessionellen Unterschiede hinweg, keinen Gottesdienst ohne Gebet.

Jedes Gebet wiederum steht untrennbar mit dem Gottesbild der betenden Person in Zusammenhang. Ich arbeite in meiner Dissertation besonders die Wechselwirkungen von Gebet und Gottesbild heraus: Was bedeutet das christliche Gottesbild für die Gebetspraxis von Christ*innen? Und welche Implikationen hat das Gebet für das christliche Gottesbild?

About me

Mag. theol. Marisa Hanna Gasteiger ist gebürtige Tirolerin und studierte Katholische Fachtheologie an der Universität Innsbruck. Im Anschluss an ihr Diplomstudium, das sie mit der Diplomarbeit „Kann eine christliche Person, die Gott im Bittgebet um etwas bittet, vernünftig sein?“ unter der Betreuung von Prof. Dr. Bruno Niederbacher SJ abschloss, begann sie ihr Doktoratsstudium. Sie arbeitet an ihrer Dissertation im Fach Fundamentaltheologie zum Thema „Gebet und Gottesbild” unter der Betreuung von Prof. Dr. Roman Anton Siebenrock.

Während ihres Doktoratsstudiums arbeitete sie unter anderem als Projektmitarbeiterin am Institut für Christliche Philosophie und als Universitätsassistentin am Institut für Systematische Theologie der Universität Innsbruck. Von der Gründung des Doktoratskollegs „Catholic Theology in a Globalised World” bis Anfang Oktober 2024 war sie die Koordinatorin dieses Doktoratskollegs.

Forschungsprojekt
“Conscience, Civil Law, and Violence in a Pluralistic Society: The Nigerian Experience"

About the project

My ‘dream’ of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where citizens can pursue their aspirations and fulfill their hopes unhindered; a Nigeria where the common good shall be the heritage of all regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations has been darkened by decades of military dictatorship (ca. 1966–1998), abysmal violation of human rights, endemic corruption, poverty, and ethno-religious violence. The desire and determination to make things work properly in Nigeria, in spite of the above challenges, gave birth to this project. The project shall try to answer the following questions:
1. What is the relationship between conscience and civil law?
2. How can people whose consciences have been formed by religious doctrines or natural law abide by civil law in a pluralistic society?
3. What role do conscience and civil law play in mitigating violence in a pluralistic society?
The objectives of the project include:
1. To look at conscience, its formation and types.
2. To enumerate some legal rights and duties of citizens and how they should exercise them in relation to conscience and civil law.
3. To analyze some types of violence common in Nigeria and how they relate to conscience, religion, and politics.
4. To recommend education, secularization and democracy as foundation for sustainable development in a pluralistic society.
The project shall be descriptive and analytical. Data collection will be library research and participant observation where necessary. I will hopefully use the principle of SEE, JUDGE, and ACT.

About me

I am a Nigerian, born on 20th April 1981, and ordained a Catholic Priest on 26th June 2009 for the diocese of Kontagora in North-Central Nigeria. I hold two Bachelor’s Degrees, in Philosophy (B.Phil.) and Sacred Theology (BST), a Diploma in Civil Law, and a Master’s Degree in Catholic Theology. Currently, I am busy with my doctorate in Moral Theology in Innsbruck University under the guidance of Professors Stefan Hofmann SJ, and Wilhelm Guggenberger. I like reading, and listening to Reggae and Country music.

About Me

Luka Ilić, SJ, is a doctoral student at the University of Innsbruck. Born in Šibenik (Croatia), he initially pursued a bachelor’s degree in German Literature and Art History at the University of Zagreb (2007–2011), followed by a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religious Sciences at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Society of Jesus (University of Zagreb). After completing his philosophical studies in 2016 and working for two years as a journalist at Vatican Radio in Rome (2016–2018), he obtained a bachelor’s degree in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, finishing in 2021. The same year, he was ordained a priest and relocated to Innsbruck to continue his graduate and postgraduate studies. In 2022, he completed his Diploma Programme in Catholic Theology at the University of Innsbruck and commenced the Doctoral Programme in Catholic Theology there the same year. Currently, he is working on his doctoral thesis under the supervision of Univ.-Prof. i. R. Mag. Dr. Roman A. Siebenrock.

Dissertation Project

Sacred Monster of Grace: Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange on the Nature–Grace Relationship as the Matrix of the Whole Sacred Theology

About the Project

One of the key intra-Catholic debates of the 1940s and 1950s centered on the nature–grace relationship. Neo-Scholastic theologians, such as Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP (1877–1964), argued that God could have created human beings in a state of pure nature. They also maintained that man in his current state has a natural, though subordinated, end that is really distinct from his supernatural end, namely, the beatific vision. In contrast, the nouveaux théologiens or ressourcement theologians, including Henri de Lubac SJ (1896–1991), criticized the separation of nature and supernature, contending that humans have only one true end—the supernatural one—and that the concept of natura pura was flawed. Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Humani generis (1950) appeared to endorse the Neo-Scholastic position, but the Second Vatican Council later seemed to adopt the view of the nouveaux théologiens. While the Neo-Scholastic approach declined after Vatican II, recent works by Lawrence Feingold, Ralph M. McInerny, Steven A. Long, and Bernard Mulcahy indicate that the debate on nature and supernature was only postponed and never truly resolved. This dissertation seeks to engage in the aforementioned debate by examining Garrigou-Lagrange’s conception of the nature–grace relationship, comparing the Garrigouvian position with the views of Henri de Lubac and Karl Rahner SJ (1904–1984), and highlighting the continued relevance of Garrigou-Lagrange’s perspective for contemporary theology and Christian witness.

Dissertationsprojekt

"The role of Education in the promotion of Common Good in the Indian Context – A Moral and Pastoral Perspective"

About the project

I have been researching for the last two years in the field of Catholic social ethics with a special focus on the topic “Christian Education in the Promotion of Common Good” in Catholic social teaching. This research is an attempt to concentrate on the importance of Christian education in the promotion of social justice and the common good for the development of humanity in a pluralistic society like India.

Christianity came to India with a vision of giving education to all regardless of caste having social justice and the common good as primary Christian values. And now, with the rise of individualism and religious fundamentalism, as well as historical and social pressures, forming a consciousness for the common good through education is a difficult task. This is the right time to examine and evaluate the real purpose of Christian education. Indian Christian missionaries have toiled to promote social justice and the common good through value education in Indian society, where social justice has always been and remains still a question mark. Therefore, I chose this issue as the topic of my research.

About me

Albert Joseph Jesuraj is a Catholic priest from the diocese of Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, and right now a doctoral student at the University of Innsbruck. He graduated in English literature from Annamalai University, Madurai, and in Philosophy from Madurai Kamaraj University. He completed his master's degree in Theology in 2022 from the University of Innsbruck.

Currently, he is doing his research in social ethics at the University of Innsbruck.

Forschungsprojekt

MISSION AND INTERRELIGOUS DIALOGUE. The relevance of Adgentes and Nostra Aetate: The case in Uganda

About the Project

Through my work as a Catholic priest in Uganda, Kenya, Austria and Germany and through my participation in various academic forums as a student, I have witnessed and experienced tensions between people due to different religious beliefs. In the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, these tensions are evident in families as members of the same family have different religious beliefs and often adhere to different religions. It is increasingly common for a Christian and a Muslim or an atheist or a follower of a traditional African religion to live in the same household. This represents not only an inter-religious but also an intra-religious and cultural tension, as religion and culture are intertwined in many African contexts. People must therefore inevitably learn to live together regardless of their different religious views. What I discovered while reading Nostra Aetate and Ad Gentes challenged and inspired me. I felt that this might be the best way to address this phenomenon and find a better way forward.

The thesis therefore aims to encourage religious leaders and other stakeholders to become aware of the dynamics of a changing world and the reality of religious diversity as articulated in Nostra Aetate, while keeping in mind the missionary activity of the church as advocated in Ad gentes.

Supervisors of the dissertation: University Professor (retired) Dr Roman A. Siebenrock and University Professor Dr Wilhelm Guggenberger

About me

I am Lawrence Joseph Kibuuka, a Ugandan born on 28 July 1984, ordained a priest on 11 August 2012 for the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Social and Philosophical Studies (Makerere University, Uganda), a Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology (Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome), a Master's Degree in Religious and Theological Studies (Makerere University, Uganda), a Master's Degree in Business Administration (Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya), a Master's Degree in Catholic Theology (University of Innsbruck). I am currently a PhD student at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Innsbruck. I love music, playing volleyball and basketball, watching football, visiting other countries and getting to know other cultures.

Research Project
Social Justice: Amartya Sen’s The Idea of Justice and Christian Social Ethics; A Theological Response to Socio-political Context in India

About the project

The topic of my research project is “Social Justice: Amartya Sen’s The Idea of Justice and Christian Social Ethics; A Theological Response to Socio-political Context in India”. This research is an attempt to bring Christian Social Ethics and Amartya Sen’s The Idea of Justice in dialogue to explore the possibility of an alliance for promoting social justice in the contemporary Indian context in the face of growing inequalities propelled by the neo-liberal free-market mechanisms, hyper-nationalist movements, deep-seated resentments and anger among large sections of people which have telling consequences on the democratic practices. Although Christian Social Ethics and Amartya Sen’s The Idea of Justice emerge from two very different philosophical and theological backgrounds, they have many commonalities in their understanding of justice, freedom, and authentic human development. Therefore, it seems to be a promising project to bring Christian Social Ethics in dialogue with Amartya Sen to explore complementing dimensions between them, hoping that it would result in mutual theoretical contribution, especially to understanding social justice. Although attempts have been made in this direction, this project focuses on the philosophical and theological foundations of social justice in The Idea of Justice and Christian Social Ethics and explores the possibility of complementarity.

About me

Bala Kiran Kumar Hrudayaraj SJ

Bala Kiran Kumar Hrudayaraj is a doctoral student at the University of Innsbruck and a Jesuit Priest from Karnataka province, India.

He was born in Bangalore and graduated in economics and Literature from the University of Mangalore in 2009 and graduated in theology in 2015 from Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth, Pune.

He completed his master's in theology in 2019 from the University of Innsbruck.

He finished his doctorate in social ethics at Innsbruck University in March 2024.

Dissertation Project
“That They may be one, as We are ‘One’": An Exegetical and Theological Study of John 17

About the project

The dissertation focuses on the Johannine concept of “oneness” and its implications in the believing community. What sort of oneness is Jesus praying for? Jesus prayed for “the inner oneness of the community,” “a unity of love,” and not simply a “matter of unanimity.” The source of oneness of believers is not only seen in Jesus but also in God, in particular, “in the union of Father and Son.” How does this “oneness” become missional and how does Jesus’ prayer for ‘oneness’ point to the formation of a believing community, is the research area of the project. The significance of the term “one” in John to convey the oneness of the Father and the Son and the oneness of the believers is sought out. In brief, the dissertation treats how does the term ‘one’ in John expresses theological oneness (the oneness of God), the oneness of the Son and the Father, and the oneness of the believers which is also missional in nature.

About me

Name: Simi Kurian

Nationality: Indian

Status: Religious

Academic Education: B.Sc., B.Ed. (Graduated in Chemistry and Physics)

Profession: Teaching

Professional Experience: Taught Physical Science in school (Chemistry & Physics 2000 – 2007, 2010-2016)

Theological Studies: B.Th (2007-2010), Licentiate in Biblical Studies (2016-2018)

Dissertation Project: “That They may be ‘One’, as We are ‘One’”: An Exegetical and Theological Study of John 17

Dissertation Guide: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Liborius Paul Repschinski

Dissertation
"Josef Andreas Jungmann and his contribution to the Second Vatican Council - a pastoral-theological-historical search for traces"

About the project

Alongside Karl Rahner, Josef Andreas Jungmann was the second most important Innsbruck-based theologian of the Second Vatican Council. In the course of his life, Jungmann gained worldwide renown as an expert in liturgical history and an advocate of liturgical renewal. Based on research into church history, he advocated a Christ-centred liturgy in which the whole people can and should participate. However, Jungmann's contribution to the Second Vatican Council, to the Council document "Sacrosanctum Concilium" and, above all, his role as a relator in the preparatory commission remain largely unexplored. With the help of his personal estate, which contains an extensive collection of material on the Council, this gap in research on the Second Vatican Council is to be closed.

About me

Michael Mair, born in South Tyrol, completed his teacher training in Innsbruck from 2014-2020, specialising in Catholic religion and history, social studies and political education. After graduating in March 2020, he enrolled in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Theology and Catholic Studies at the University of Innsbruck. In the Department of Pastoral Theology under first supervisor Prof Christian Bauer, Michael Mair's dissertation project is dedicated to the work of Josef Andreas Jungmann during the Second Vatican Council. His second supervisor is Prof Rudolf Pacik from Salzburg.

Dissertation project
Content and extent of salvation in the consolation announced in Isa 51:1-52:12

About the project

The book of Isaiah reveals a whole literary, linguistic, structural, thematic and even theological complexity that makes it difficult to confirm its inner logic. To solve this difficulty, the great tendency is to resort to the authorial argument. However, by approaching the text through the synchronic method, a logic seems to us to permeate the content of the book.

Isaiah 51:1-52:12 is a text that combines all the complexities mentioned above. The purpose of this paper is to deepen this text through a synchronic study in order to emphasise its logic. But when reading the text, one is struck by the richness of the message of consolation that permeates it and whose particularity is not to obscure the existential reality of the recipients. This message thus finds its full meaning in the Ivorian socio-religious context, which is characterised by a proclamation of the biblical message of consolation, sometimes without regard for the existential reality of the recipients. We therefore find it important to reflect on the question of the proclamation of salvation in the current Ivorian context on the basis of this text from Isaiah.

About me

Name: Motché Ehouman Kystone Frederic

Nationality: Ivorian

Education:

• October 2005-June 2007
  Philosophy studies at the seminary saint Paul d'Abadjin Kouté
• June 2012
  Université Catholique d'Afrique de l'Ouest
• April 2021
  Master of Theology at the University of Innsbruck

Dissertation
How does God solve the problem of Israel's leadership? The image of the shepherd in Ezekiel 34.

About the project

Ezekiel 34 emphasises the covenantal hope for the future restoration of a new Israel. Some research objectives are: a. To arrive at a theological interpretation with the image of the shepherd; b. To point out the intertextual relationships of the text; c. To work out the context of the texts of the chapter from the perspective of the Indian poet Thiruvalluvar. The following questions will be addressed: What was the result of Israel's failure to lead? Did God affirm his leadership? How can "David" be understood as the promised shepherd of Israel? How relevant is the metaphor of the shepherd today?

About me

Anthony Raj Thomas is a Servite priest from India. He has been living in Austria for 5 years. He has been a doctoral student in the Old Testament since 2020 and is writing his dissertation under the supervision of Prof Dr Georg Fischer SJ. He has been a student chaplain at Innsbruck University Parish since 2021.

• 2004-2007 Bachelor in Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology
  St Joseph College, Tiruchirappalli, India
• 2008-2010 Master of Philosophy
  Loyola College, Chennai, India
• 2011-2015 Bachelor of Theology
  Pontifical Institute of St Peter, Bangalore, India
• 2019-2020 ULG pastoral year
  Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Innsbruck

Dissertation
A Dramatic Understanding of the Church as Communion and Its Relevance for Community Building in India.

About the project

Understanding the Church as communion is the subject of my dissertation. The research questions are: How can the aspect of communion be concretely expressed and lived out at different levels of the Church­? What kind of communion or community is needed within the Church? How can the understanding of the Church as communion contribute towards ecumenical dialogue and mission amidst the clamour for power and authority, the existence of strife, conflicts, divisions, and sins in the Indian Church? In my dissertation, I would like to engage in dialogue with the theologies of Walter Kasper and John Zizioulas. Conflicts and sins are part of the Church but they are not dealt with sufficiently in communion ecclesiology and so it seems to be also with the ecclesiologies of Kasper and Zizioulas. Critics often say that communion ecclesiology bears a structural resemblance to a functionalist account of society and that it tends to paper over tensions and conflicts. I will try to clarify in how far these critics are right, and I hope to be able to address the problems of conflict and sin by using Dramatic Theology as a tool.

About me

• 2003-2006 Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  Mass Communication & Video Production
  St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi University (Ranchi, Jharkhand, India)
• 2007-2009 Master of Arts (MA) Philosophy
  Ecclesiastical: Sacred Heart College – Institute of Philosophy and Culture
  Secular: Loyola College, Madras University (Chennai, India)
• 2011-2014 Bachelor of Theology (BTh)
  Jnana- Deepa (Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Religion) (Pune, India)
• 2016-2018 Master of Theology MTh/ Licentiate
  “An Emerging Indigenous Theology: A Quest for Holistic Liberation for the Adivasis of Jharkhand”
  Jnana- Deepa (Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Religion) (Pune, India)
• since 2019 Doctorate in Systematic Theology (Ecclesiology)
  “A Dramatic Understanding of the Church as Communion and its Relevance for Community Building in India”
  University of Innsbruck (Innsbruck, Austria)