Fr John Fernandes Chosen for Herbert Haag Prize 2007 from Switzerland
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Jun 4: Professor and head of the Mangalore Diocesan Chair in Christianity of Mangalore University Dr Fr John Fernandes has been chosen as a recipient of the International Theological Award in Switzerland. The Award is called “Herbert Haag Prize 2007”. It is given by the Herbert Haag Foundation, Lucerne, Switzerland.
The Herbert Haag Foundation has chosen him for the Award for his work at the grass-roots level of building up a just and peaceful society, for his involvement in environmental issues and, mostly, for his active involvement in inter-religious dialogue in Mangalore.
The award ceremony will be held on June 24, 2007 at Lucerne, Switzerland, where Hans Küng will give introductory speech and Dr John Fernandes will deliver the festive address.
Dr John Fernandes is a Priest of the Mangalore diocese. He did his philosophical – theological studies at the Papal Seminary, Pune and at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He completed his Doctorate at the University of Trier, Germany with the thesis: "Initiation Rites of Hinduism and the Liturgy of Christian Initiation”.
Ordained in 1963, he has served as parish priest in Hosabettu (Moodbidri), Katapady and Belman. He has taught theology at St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore for 7 years.
He has served as the founder-director of Mangala Jyoti, the Diocesan Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre and founder-president of Catholic Priests’ Conference of India.
At present professor and head of the Mangalore Diocesan Chair in Christianity of Mangalore University, he is also the joint convener of Dharma Samanvaya and of Social Justice Forum Mangalore.
He has lectured on theology, inter-religious dialogue and ecology in many places in India and abroad. His publications include many articles in Konknni, Kannada and English, and the English-Konkani Theological Glossary (Ed.), Karl Rahner – A Theologian of Dialogue (Ed.) and the yearly Journal of Chair in Christianity – Samsarg.
His involvement at the grassroots levels has been in a field of social justice, environmental protection and inter-religious contact, communication and co-operation.
Herbert Haag-Foundation for Freedom in the Church and its objectives
The "Herbert Haag-Foundation for Freedom in the Church" was established by Herbert Haag, professor of theology of the University Tübingen, in 1985. It is at the service of an open-minded and ecumenically oriented catholic faith. It awards recognition prizes to persons and institutions in Switzerland and abroad who exposed themselves through free expression of opinion or courageous actions within Christianity.
The Foundation Council determines the prize-winners periodically. The prize consists of a medal, crafted by the Dutch artist Inka Klinckhard, and a monetary amount to further the activities of the prize-winner. The medal shows on one side a bird flying into freedom and on the other side the psalm words: "The net is torn, and we are free".
Founder Professor Dr Herbert Haag
The Swiss theologian Herbert Haag was born in Singen-Hohentwiel (Germany) in 1915. He graduated from the University Fribourg (Switzerland) in 1942. He was professor of Old Testament at the theological faculty of the University Lucerne from 1948-1960, at the catholic theological faculty of the University Tübingen from 1960-1980, Chairman of the catholic Bible Work Stuttgart from 1964-1973. He emerited in 1980 and lived thereafter in Lucerne until his death on August 23, 2001.
The year before he was honored with the "Prix Courage", a distinction for the most courageous Swiss. Herbert Haag was one of the eminent theologians of our time. As pastor and preacher, professor and publicist, whilst always remainig loyal, his criticism provided important stimuli within the Catholic Church.
In his life memories "Mein Weg mit der Kirche" / Verlag Benziger (My Path with the Church, edition Benziger), he provides a profound view into the evolutionary changes of biblical science, the awakening following the Second Vatican Council and his deep worry over the endangered theological freedom today and in the future.
His life memories mirror the wisdom of a great man who pleaded with amazing foresight for more humaneness in the church. Herbert Haag was a lifelong friend of the theologian Hans Küng.