The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC), Kerala, India, is grateful to the Diocese of Columbus for the gracious collaboration in the mission of the Church by supporting the Pontifical Institute of Theology, Alwaye, Kerala, India. Originally established as a seminary study center in 1682, it was elevated to Pontifical status in 1972 and holds great potential to grow into a leading university in India. The Pontifical Institute of Theology and St Joseph’s Institute of Philosophy, the two organs of the erstwhile Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Alwaye, are significant contributors to theological, philosophical as well as development sciences scholarship across India.
Currently, the Institutes offer a spectrum of academic degrees: while Pontifical Institute of Theology offers Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, Licentiate, and Doctorate in Theology, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Ministry to priestly candidates upon completion of their Bachelor of Theology, the St Joseph’s Institute of Philosophy, Alwaye offers Diploma, Bachelor, and Licentiate in Philosophy. At present, the Institute serves 592 students, including seminarians, priests, religious sisters, scholastics from various congregations, lay faithful, and members of other Christian denominations, pursuing studies in theology and philosophy.
It publishes two periodicals: Living Word in English and Mathavum Chinthayum -Religion and Thought – in Malayalam, the vernacular language. The Institute has produced a series of 34 textbooks in philosophy and theology in Malayalam for its Diploma in Distance Theology Course, along with a comprehensive theological dictionary and numerous scholarly monographs in philosophy, literature and theology. Four affiliated centres of theological study, belonging to different religious congregations, are formally associated with the Pontifical Institute. It is both qualified and confident in its capacity to extend its formation services to a broader cross-section of society to serve priests, religious, laity, and the poor of Kerala and across India.
The Pontifical Institute, however currently faces significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure. At present, the Pontifical Institute is unable to accommodate Licentiate and Doctoral students adequately, nor can it introduce additional or more relevant Diploma and Post Diploma programs for laity because of space and resource constraints. In this regard, the development of the Postgraduate Residential Block cum Pontifical Research Institute Campus, a project designed to meet the above needs, is urgent prerequisite. Once fully operationalized, the Post Graduate Residential Block cum Pontifical Research Institute Campus would carry forward its social responsibility by offering Post-graduate Diploma and Diploma courses to the general public across religious, gender and linguistic groups in classic and European and Indian languages, in additional courses on Media Ethics, Formation of Cadre of social leaders, gender ethics, inter-religious dialogue, Counselling, environmental studies, and advanced research towards an interdisciplinary approach. This initiative will significantly contribute to the formation of clergy, religious, and lay leaders, while also promoting social development, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and interreligious harmony. Scholarships support for economically disadvantaged students will also help the economically disadvantaged sections of fishermen and farmers.
With the generous contributions of various benefactors, its structural works—initiated in 2022—has been completed. To fully operationalize this phase, an additional USD $216,000 is required, with the project now expected to be fully operationalized by 2027. Rev. Prof. Sujan Amurutham, who has been serving as Professor of Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy, Alwaye (Kerala, India) since 2008, had the opportunity to preach the Mission Appeal at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on 13-14 June, 2026, thanks to the Missions Office of the Diocese of Columbus. We express our sincere gratitude to the Parish Priest and the parishniors for their generous support for this noble cause and warm welcome accorded for Fr Sujan Amurutham. With your generous aid, the Post Graduate Residential Block cum Pontifical Research Institute Campus will become a living centre of learning, research, and social transformation, directly serving the poor of Kerala and the wider Church in India.