Cover Story

As part of this special issue dedicated to the theological legacy of Dr. Felix Wilfred, this Cover Story by Fr. Binny Mary Das explores his vision of theology as a transformative quest for truth.

Theology, as we know, cannot be disengaged from involvement in world affairs and left in a realm of theory. Its role is not simply that of interpreting the world, but of transforming it in response to God’s initiatives in setting up the Kingdom which has already been inaugurated in this life. If so, Dr Felix Wilfred was a champion of ‘Theology as Transformation’, a theological method which is aimed at personal and social transformations. If ‘quest for truth’ is an integral activity, then in his writings, theology becomes a tool for the quest for truth since his writings embrace an integral vision of transformation. His ‘quest for truth framework’ was not only a personal spiritual journey but also a communal and interfaith process.

1. Lighthouse of ‘Transformative Theology’

Dr. Felix Wilfred was a source of profound theological insights and his scholarly contributions have a transformative impact on the global theological landscape. With his universalistic outlook he explored areas of faith and Christian life with an inclusive mindset, nurtured by open-ended practices and discourses. In short, he is one of the outstanding theologians who emerged in Indian Christianity to mould a theological approach that has the taste of a transformative quest for truth.

Fr Binny Mary Das

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Felix Wilfred reshaped Indian Christian theology, challenging complacency and urging deeper social engagement. This cover story explores his enduring influence, highlighting his call for critical faith, justice, and a Church rooted in real-world concerns.

I came to know Felix when he was transitioning from a seminary professor to a university professor. The chair in Christian Studies (later Department) in the University of Madras was an initiative of the farsighted clergy of the Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore. The initiative of Fr Dr Thomas George, the first director and head, paved the way for the emergence of Dr Felix Wilfred as a secular theologian. He dared to engage with secular thinking and ideological developments within the departments at the university. The Headship of the Department and that of the School of Religion and Philosophy that came to him became all the more positions from which he succeeded to give visibility to Christian Studies and Scripture, Theology and Philosophy. His career provided a pivotal position in creating a dialogue within the churches. The thinking within the Church and its traditional concerns came face to face with an emerging openness toward the secular world and ideologies, recognizing their unique contributions. He showed the way and provided an impetus to engage with social sciences. His life trajectory was a tightrope walking: on the one hand, making religious studies, especially Christian studies, palatable within a secular ambient, and on the other, challenging Christian thinking to be drawn outwards and as willing to engage with secular sciences in search of contemporary relevance.

Fr George Thadathil SDB

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In this Cover Story, Dr. Kochurani Abraham delves into Felix Wilfred’s bold vision of Her—the Divine who unsettles, disrupts, and journeys with the marginalized. A compelling read on a thinker who never settled for easy answers.

The passing away of Felix Wilfred at a most unexpected moment raised many unsettling questions: How could this happen so suddenly when he seemed to be enjoying robust health? Why did he go so soon when he could have contributed so much more to liberative theology from Asia? What can we do to make sense of this mystery of life and death, which are so deeply entwined beneath the surface and could manifest at any moment?

To many who are activists or researchers, it could be very disconcerting that the strong prophetic voice of Felix that challenged them constantly – to push the boundaries of theological knowledge making by listening to particular contexts – has stopped all of a sudden.   And still unsettling is the vacuum left by his absence to many for whom Felix Wilfred was a guide, a mentor, a colleague and a friend, as it has left a void that cannot be easily filled.

DR KOCHURANI ABRAHAM

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Felix Wilfred compels us to hear those silenced, see faith as liberation, and reimagine the Church as an ally in the struggle against caste oppression. Cover story 4 unpacks this urgent call to action.

As a relentless seeker of knowledge, Felix Wilfred attempted to redraw boundaries, create new knowledge, and looked for transformative dimensions, manifesting a dynamic understanding of knowledge, which crosses borders irresistibly to be anchored on reality. Being a proponent of contextual theology, Felix theologised in a unique manner reflecting upon contemporary realities. One such reality is the ‘Dalit reality’. In a world deeply marred by injustice, exclusion, and inequality, Dr. Felix’s contributions to Dalit theology stand as a ray of hope and a profound call to action. Rooted in a passionate commitment to justice and human dignity, His work reshapes the very foundations of theological discourse by centering the voices of the oppressed.

Centering the Voices of the Oppressed

One of the most compelling features of Felix’s Dalit theology is its focus on the voices of the oppressed. In a theological tradition often dominated by the voices of the powerful, Felix’s work sought to amplify the experiences and perspectives of those who have been silenced for centuries. He believed that the Gospel message is best understood when it is seen through the eyes of the marginalized.

Fr Jayaseelan Savariarpitchai SDB

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On this Women’s Day, we honour Fr. Felix Wilfred’s prophetic legacy—his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and dignity. Cover Story 5 calls us to carry forward his vision for a world where the woman and the girl enjoys freedom and is empowered.

The sudden passing of Fr. Felix Wilfred is a great loss to the Church and the cause of justice, equality, and women’s dignity. Though I never knew him personally, I saw him at symposiums and was struck by his rare blend of profound knowledge and simplicity. As Missiology students, we were to attend his class at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, but his sudden demise left us shocked. A prophetic voice for the marginalized, he continues to inspire, making this Women’s Day a fitting occasion to honour his vision for a just and equitable world.

Fr. Felix Wilfred: A Visionary for Justice

Through his writings and teachings, Fr. Wilfred consistently called for a deeper understanding of theologizing, one that transcends abstract ideas and is firmly rooted in the lived experiences of the marginalized. His works, such as Margins: Site of Asian Theologies and For a Socially Engaged Faith (2024), emphasized the importance of engaging with the ground realities faced by women, Dalits, and the impoverished people. His theology was shaped by the struggles of those at the periphery victims of any society.

SR AMALA SAT

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Felix Wilfred’s cosmo-centric vision calls for a world where people and nature thrive together. This cover story explores how his inter-religious eco-theology inspires hope and transformation.

A UN report states that nearly 32 million people got displaced due to climate-related hazards in 2022, which represents a 41 per cent increase compared to 2008. Apart from displacements caused directly from extreme weather, climate is called a ‘threat multiplier.’ It magnifies the impact of other factors that contribute to displacement such as poverty, loss of livelihoods, and tensions relating to dwindling resources, and finally creating environment that will lead to conflict and displacements. These staggering figures represent the prime victims of humanity’s actions toward the earth.

Fr. Felix Wilfred, in an interview, spoke of two fundamental options that had shaped his life. First, his commitment to the cause of the poor and the marginalized and the second, his concern for plurality and diversity. His thoughts, theologies and proposals had always been viewed through these lenses. To address the ecological crisis, he called for a deeper listening to the cries of the victims, both the poor and the earth. He urged us to review our foundational views and approaches towards nature and humanity, and proposed a people-centred and nature-flourishing theology and praxis.

Fr Ricopar Royan SDB

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This cover story, the 7th in this issue, honours Prof. Felix Wilfred’s profound contributions to contextual and public theology in India and beyond.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Asia (FABC) and the Indian Bishops’ Conference, paid tribute to Prof. Felix Wilfred, stating, “Prof. Felix’s life was a testament to his extraordinary dedication to theological scholarship, interreligious dialogue, and the promotion of justice and harmony.” Prof. Felix Wilfred, who entered eternal life on 7th January 2025, was one of the most renowned Asian theologians of our time, recognized globally and nationally. His “profound insights, scholarly rigour and compassionate pastoral approach” have “inspired theologians, clergy and laypersons worldwide” (Cardinal Filipe). This essay offers an overview of his idea of ‘public theology as contextual theology’ one of his favourite topics found in his recent writings.

Felix Wilfred: A Theologian’s Life

As a 17-year-old seminarian witnessing the concluding sessions of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, Prof. Felix Wilfred deeply imbibed its spirit of openness to diverse cultures and religions. This formative experience shaped his journey as a contextual theologian, leading him to become a professor at St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy, in 1978.

Responding to the Council’s call to read the signs of the times, he engaged deeply with India and Asia’s socio-cultural realities. His extensive study of sociology and history gave him profound insight into poverty, patriarchy, caste discrimination, and other injustices while also attuning him to India’s rich philosophical and religious traditions.

His theological work evolved over decades—from addressing poverty, inculturation, and the people’s church in the 1980s to tackling caste, Dalit issues, religious violence, and fundamentalism in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he focused on globalization, minorities, and subalternity, later moving toward public theology and multidisciplinary inquiries into Asian Catholicism.

Fr James Ponniah

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What does it mean to live a faith that goes beyond spiritualism and engages deeply with society? How can religious life once again become a prophetic witness of justice, compassion, and unity? In this cover story, Gerry Lobo invites us to rediscover the essence of consecrated life through the lens of social mysticism. Drawing on the visionary theology of the late Felix Wilfred, he challenges us to rethink spirituality – not as a retreat from the world, but as a prophetic, transformative engagement with it. This piece will inspire you to see consecrated life as an integrated response to the world’s needs, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Join us in celebrating this sacred calling.

Spiritualism, in the guise of spirituality, has increasingly dominated the Church, fuelled by the rise of spiritual movements and popular devotions to saints promoted by Catholic clergy, both diocesan and religious. These movements are characterized by the construction of grand sanctuaries and shrines, drawing crowds of devotees under the pretext of nurturing Christian faith. Self-styled preachers, armed with a Bible and a handful of frequently repeated scriptural verses, wield these as tools to cast out evil and cure physical ailments in the name of Jesus. Alarmingly, these leaders employ techniques to rouse and captivate audiences, often invoking fear of hell and divine punishment, both immediate and eternal.

One might conclude that the aim of these scripture and prayer enthusiasts, with their repetitive slogans and verses, is to instil a faith centred on vertical piety—disconnected from the realities of life in society. This faith is presented as a convenient and superficial religion, offering quick fixes or instant comfort for life’s challenges. “Unfortunately, these trends tend to anesthetize the Christian’s social consciousness, diverting focus away from critical reflection on burning issues in society,” observed Felix Wilfred, our renowned critical theologian in India, who recently went to his heavenly abode.

FR GERRY LOBO OFM

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How does the light of consecration ignite change in the darkest corners of the world? How does the witness of committed lives inspire and challenge us to live with purpose? Journey with us in this cover story as we celebrate the beauty and power of consecrated life—a profound testimony of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. In this celebration, we remember the episode in which Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to consecrate Him to the Lord, as decreed by the Law of Moses (cf. Lk 2:32). For this reason, the Church, since ancient times, has established a feast in which the rite of blessing of the lit candles is celebrated and a procession is carried out. This simple rite expresses an important meaning: we are all small candles that want to unite with Christ to give light to our brothers and sisters. For Christ is the Light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (cf. Jn 8:12).

The Light of Consecrated Life

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Church celebrates the World Day of Consecrated Life. We aim to highlight the lives of numerous men and women who dedicate their lives to serving God and their fellow beings. We give thanks to the Lord for the presence of Consecrated Life within the Church, which echoes with all the baptised faithful the beauty of their Christian vocation, challenging them to bear witness to the Light of Jesus. Being a witness to Jesus is to be a channel of prophecy, presence, redemption, salvation, and liberation for the wounded world through our mission.

Fr G Dolin MMI

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Consecrated life continues to thrive because of those who, moved by the Spirit, respond to the suffering of humanity. Sr. Lini MSC, on mission in Germany, shares the inspiring story of Sr. Virginia, an MSC sister from the US, whose radical choices to serve incarcerated individuals have made her a powerful witness to the transformative power of consecrated life. Her example is a reminder of the enduring relevance of religious vocations in today’s world.

“I pray to the Holy Spirit constantly, asking for guidance in reaching out to those who could benefit from our services here. The Holy Spirit has the power to soften the hearts of the individuals who come to us,” stated Sr. Virginia L, MSC, with deep conviction.

Sr. Virginia is the founder of Stephen’s Place, a halfway house supporting formerly incarcerated men struggling with substance use disorders. A member of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC), she has devoted her life to serving those in need, offering compassion and hope to individuals rebuilding their lives.

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