In this issue of Magnet, we are privileged to present an inspiring conversation with Fr. Gilbert De Lima, a distinguished theologian and the Rector of St. Pius X College, Mumbai. Raised in a devout Catholic family in Dadar, Mumbai, Fr. Gilbert’s journey from his early involvement in the Church to his theological studies in Rome reflects a life deeply rooted in faith and service. His contributions to priestly formation, both as a teacher and leader, and his engagement with Small Christian Communities highlight his enduring commitment to the mission of the Church. We explore his experiences, achievements, and vision for the future, offering readers a glimpse into the life of a dedicated servant-leader.
- Tell us something about your early years and your family
My parents were coincidentally Francis and Claire, who hailed originally from the same village, Carona, Goa. We were four children, three sons and the youngest was a girl, Ruth. A Priest from our Parish of St Paul, Dadar would humorously say: “Thank God for Ruth or the three of you would be ruth-less!” I think he was right!! I was the eldest child in the family. My dad retired as the chief cashier of Voltas Ltd after having served them for 36 years in the year I was ordained. My mum was a qualified teacher and taught occasionally. We were brought up in a very catholic atmosphere at home and as children were enrolled in the Altar Server’s society of the Parish. While I was studying for the B.Com at Podar College, Matunga, I was also an active member of the Legion of Mary unit in our Parish. My brother, immediately after me, also was ordained a Priest for the archdiocese of Bombay.
- How did you first experience the call to become a priest?
I owe my call to the priesthood to my Parents who brought us up in a religious atmosphere at home. We participated in the Eucharist daily and often prayed the Rosary as a family. We were also brought up to respect Priests and Religious. Also, as a Legionary, I would visit the sick in the hospitals and the poor and marginalized on weekends regularly. While I did fairly well in College and felt drawn to a career as a Chartered Accountant, or even felt a desire to migrate to Australia, since my God-father invited me to pursue life `Down Under’, I sensed personally the call from the Lord who became `real to me’ and, like Matthew, the tax collector, called me to follow him. My mum’s older brother, the late Bp Ferdinand Fonseca, was also an exemplary priest and at that time the Rector of St Pius College, the Archdiocesan Seminary. His example inspired and encouraged me as well to respond to the Lord’s call.
- You obtained a Doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome with a Summa cum Laude. Tell us how this distinction helped you in your ministry of teaching students in St. Pius, the Archdiocesan seminary in Mumbai.
I felt blessed to be given the opportunity to do my studies in the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. I pursued my licentiate and then the doctorate in Systematic Theology. My doctoral thesis was entitled: `The Local Church and Basic Christian Communities in the Service of the Kingdom of God’. Consequently, with the Lucan perspective I sought to demonstrate first, how the Early Church strove to realize the Kingdom of God. In the second part, I presented this reality taking shape with the perspective of the FABC documents, since right from the first Plenary Assembly of 1974, these documents have consistently spoken of a building up the local Church as realizing the Kingdom of God through a three-fold dialogue, with the three significant features of the Asian context, viz. cultures, religions and the poor. In the third part, I presented the Basic Christian Community, which is a microcosm of the local Church, as the concrete instrument that can make this a reality! My thesis helped me teach some of the courses in the seminary. I was also involved in facilitating the formation of BCCs (SCCs) in different parishes in Mumbai. I have also been a Guide and an external Reader at some doctoral defenses at the Jnana Deepa, Pune on the topic of Small Christian Communities. I have had the opportunity to organize a workshop during the past three years on the `Theology and Practice of SCCs’ for the Deacons studying at the Jnana Deepa, Pune too.
- You were Dean of Studies at St. Pius from 2006-2011. You updated the courses at the seminary as Dean. Explain what that involved.
It was a major challenge to rework the entire academic programme. We revised the entire academic programme since we were now affiliated to the St Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore and so had to include courses in Greek and Latin as also courses in keeping with the Ratio Studiorum of the Universal Church documents. This implied getting on board as many as 50 visiting professors from all over the country, as well as working out a specific syllabus for students who joined us midstream so that they could be also accommodated into our prorgramme of formation. The format for organizing the Comprehensive Exams also changed and was more `comprehensive’ in its assessment of the student.
You were also Chairperson of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of the Archdiocese of Mumbai from 2009-2011. Did you have a lot of interaction with Diocesan Priests in Mumbai in that capacity and how did that help?
I was surprised when I was elected by the Diocesan Priests to be the Chairperson of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of the Archdiocese of Mumbai from 2009-2011. We had an extremely good Committee that worked towards organizing `Live-ins’ for the priests as per their year of Ordination with a very good resource person Keith D’Souza who was a Management Consultant and Senior Professor of Management Studies at Bhavan’s College, Mumbai. These live-ins served as a means for ongoing formation in the field of the life and ministry of the priest, and provided an opportunity for greater bonding as well as helped bridge the gap between the senior and the junior clergy.
- You were Vice-President of the International Diaconate Centre, Rottenburg, Stuttgart, Germany for some time. How did that exposure strengthen your ministry?
This was yet another grace. I was to accompany Cardinal Oswald Gracias to Vienna for a Study Conference of the International Diaconate Centre. Since the Cardinal fell ill and could not participate almost at the last minute, I was invited by the Organizers to read his Paper. At the end of the Conference, the newly elected Board invited me to be a part of the Board of Delegates. Four years down the line, I was invited to stand for election to the Executive Board and to my surprise I was elected Vice-President. This experience afforded me the opportunity to interact with experts from different nationalities at close quarters and benefit from these encounters. It was Cardinal Ivan Dias, the then archbishop of Bombay who introduced the Permanent Diaconate into the archdiocese and the Church in India. He gave me the charge of preparing a three and a half year formation programme for Candidates to the Permanent Diaconate for the archdiocese and ordained the first two deacons for the archdiocese in 2006. He later appointed me as the Director of the Commission for the Permanent Diaconate. I have been working closely with those in formation as well as Permanent Deacons since the past 20 years and it has been a privilege and a learning experience for me as I see the deacons working in different ways, both in their ministry in the liturgy, but especially in their ministry to the underprivileged in different ways and settings, inviting the Church to rediscover her call to Diakonia (service)
- You are now appointed Secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Theology and Doctrine. What will be your role in the Commission?
The CCBI completes its Golden Jubilee in 2033. As part of the effort to make the Jubilee celebration meaningful, all the 16 Commissions, 6 Departments and 4 Apostolates have gone, during the past year, through a process of `Strategic Planning’. This effort has been oriented to enable each of them to spell out its Goal, Objectives and Key Performance Indicators, both long term and short term.
- You have authored books and articles and presented papers at national and international seminars. Name and describe what you consider your most significant contributions.
My most significant theological contribution would be my doctoral thesis which was the fruit of three years of study and research. I also reworked the third part of the thesis and entitled it: `Evangelization in India through Small Christian Communities’ and got it published by St Paul’s, Bandra. This book was caught by the radar of the RSS. I have also written a number of researched articles on the theology of Raimundo Pannikar. I was blessed to be on the Editorial Board selected by the CCBI to write a text-book for Seminaries in India entitled: `May they all be one: Ecumenism in Catholic perspective’.
- What is the legacy you will leave behind in your contributions to teaching at the seminary and theological works?
I have had the good fortune to have taught a number of courses in the field of Systematic and Fundamental Theology over the past 39 years! Some of them have been: Christology, Pneumatology, Faith and Revelation, the Theology of the Local Church, the Theology of Grace, and Ecumenism, the Theology and Practice of Interreligious Dialogue. I have always prepared printed notes on the subjects taught. Over the years I have made the effort to make the classes more interactive.
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have recently been appointed by Cardinal Oswald Gracias as the Rector of St Pius X College. I assumed office on June 1, 2024. I sense the challenge and the opportunity to lead this noble Institution and the persons who are part of it to live up to our motto, viz `to be Ambassadors of Christ’ in the brave new world and India we are living in!
Ms Janina Gomes
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