Delhi’s Vidyajyoti College of Theology has opened a new regional centre in Kuala Lumpur that offers distance courses to the laity. This follows the indications of the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis’s vision to integrate “theology in everyday life”.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – The Jesuit-run Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Delhi opened an overseas regional centre in Kuala Lumpur to offer distance education. The goal is to spread the Christian faith and get more people to take part in the Church’s mission.
The new facility, which was inaugurated on 4 June, is located at the Loyola Hall at St Francis Church in Petaling Jaya. Mgr Julian Leow Beng Kim, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, took part in the ceremony.
Fr Clarence Devadoss, director of the Archdiocese’s Pastoral Institute, is the new school’s director. At the opening, he said that “the purpose of theological studies is not only to expand one’s knowledge, but also one’s love of God and neighbour."
Vidyajyoti (light of knowledge) has been around for a century and a half. It follows the Second Vatican Council, which said, “Let the laity, therefore, diligently apply themselves to a more profound knowledge of revealed truth . . .” (LG, 35).
In light of this, the college developed a Distance Education Programme in Theology (DEPTh), primarily for the lay people.
"The new centre of Kuala Lumpur is in line with Pope Francis’s vision,” DEPTh director Fr Joseph Rajkumar, SJ, told AsiaNews. “The Malaysian archdiocese asked us to set up an overseas regional centre to meet the needs of the local Church."
“The enthusiasm of the people of God in Kuala Lumpur was contagious and encouraging and the response has exceeded our expectations,” the Jesuit clergyman said. “Many are on our waiting list." What is more, students can "engage study both in class and at home,” said Fr Clarence, the regional director.
Speaking about evolution of theology in the context of the early Christian communities, Fr Rajkumar stressed "the importance of bringing theology into the public sphere by involving more and more lay people in learning and integrating theology in every day life. For this reason, the distance education programme in theology is vital and available for Indian students abroad.”
Lastly, “May God bless this new adventure,” he said, “so that the Church may benefit and spread the Kingdom of God.”