Jnana Deepa (JD), Institute for Philosophy and Theology (
Pontifical Athenaeum) is located at
Pune,
India. It is the academic component of Papal Seminary, Pontificium Athenaeum Kandiensis seu Pooniensis. Founded by the Pope Leo XIII with the motto “Filii tui India administri tibi salutis” in
Kandy (Sri Lanka) in 1893, it was transferred to Pune (India) in 1955. Catering primarily to the formation of diocesan priests but open to Catholic faithful and other religious orders, especially candidates to the
Catholic priesthood[2] it is entrusted by the Holy See to the
Society of Jesus for training future Catholic leaders.
History
JD is the Athenaeum of the Papal Seminary which was founded in 1893 at
Kandy,
Sri Lanka. The
seminary was founded by the
Apostolic Delegate to India,
Mgr Lasdislaus Zaleski and the Belgian
Jesuits (Fr Sylvain Grosjean) in response to the letter Ad extremas of Pope
Leo XIII calling for the establishment of institutes for the training of the
local clergy. Sri Lanka, with India and Burma was then part of the
British Empire. After
Indian Independence, it became increasingly difficult for Indian citizens to go to Sri Lanka for studies. In 1955, the Papal Seminary along with its Athenaeum moved to Pune, Maharashtra (India), near the already existing Jesuit Formation House 'De Nobili College'.
The Athenaeum of the Papal Seminary adopted the Indian name 'Jnana Deepa' in 1972.[3] In 2015 it celebrated its
diamond jubilee of transfer to Pune. It continues to offer philosophy and theology courses for those studying for the
Catholic priesthood. It also serves as an intellectual centre for the
Catholic Church in India, having taken a leading role in promoting
inculturation since the 1970s. Its "Department of Indian Studies" brings "Indian" insights to the
Christian faith.
Programs
In the 1970s and 1980s JD was the driving force for
inculturation,
inter-religious dialog, and "
liberation theology" for the Indian church. Personalities like
Richard De Smet,[4] George Lobo,[5] and George-Soares Prabhu[6] enabled JD to lead a Catholic movement toward the concerns of the poor and marginalised in Indian society.
Sara Grant taught philosophy and theology at the institute.[7]
JD has continued in its pioneering activities in the Indian catholic church, for more than a decade pursuing
dialog between science and religion. It offers a Licentiate in Science and Religion (MSPR). More practical, contextual studies in sacred scripture have seen a revival, with the addition of a Licentiate programs in contextual
spirituality. Diploma and Licentiate Programme in
Ignatian Spirituality began in the academic year 2016–17. Also, a pastoral management course was instituted for the administrative and service sector. It publishes an interdisciplinary quarterly, Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies.
Eminent faculty
Gaspar Koelman, Philosophy with specialization in Patanjali Yoga
^De Smet, Richard, and Bradley J. Malkovsky. New Perspectives on Advaita VedaAnta: Essays in Commemoration of Professor Richard De Smet. Numen Book Series, Studies in the History of Religions.
Leiden;
Boston:
Brill Publishers, 2000. Print.
^Lobo, George V. Church and Social Justice. Jesuit Theological Forum Reflections.Anand,
Gujarat, India: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash, 1993. Print.
^Soares-Prabhu, George, and Francis X. D'Sa. Theology of Liberation: An Indian Biblical Perspective.Pune, India: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, 2001. Print.