Kurien Kunnumpuram

Kurien Kunnumpuram
Kunnumpuram in 2010
Born8 July 1931
Teekoy, Kerala, India
Died23 October 2018(2018-10-23) (aged 87)
Kozhikode, Kerala, India
OccupationsJesuit Priest, Theologian

Rev. Prof. (Dr) Kurien Kunnumpuram S.J. pronunciationⓘ (8 July 1931 – 23 October 2018) was a Roman Catholic, Indian Jesuit priest and well-known Christian theologian. A member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Theology at Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune (India) (Emeritus), he contributed in the field of ecclesiology, particularly with regard to Vatican II.[1]

He was the founder-publisher-editor of Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies,[2] from 1998 to 2010. He was also the founding editor of JDV's Encyclopedia of Indian Christian Theology, till 2009. He was the editor of AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies.[3][4]

Life and career

Kunnumpuram was born on 8 July 1931 in Teekoy, Kerala, India. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1950 and was ordained a priest in March 1963.[5]

He pursued advanced studies at the University of Innsbruck, completing a Doctorate in Systematic Theology in 1968 on “Ways of Salvation.”[6][7] The following year he began teaching theology at Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Pune, India, became faculty dean in 1974 (serving until 1977), and served as rector from 1987 to 1993.[8][9]

In January 1998, he founded the Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies and served as its editor-publisher,[4][10][11] and, beginning in 2002, he edited AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies for the Papal Seminary, Pune.[12][13][14]

Kunnumpuram’s 80th birthday was marked at the Papal Seminary in Pune with a Mass and felicitation hosted by Rt Rev Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Pune.[15] Shortly before his passing, a national seminar was held in his honour, recognising his contribution to Indian Catholic theology.[16]

Later life and death

In 2013, Kunnumpuram returned to the Jesuit Province of Kozhikode in Kerala, where he continued to write and mentor younger scholars; among his late publications was Freedom and Joy (2018).[17][18]

On 17 November 2017, at the age of 86, he experienced a mild stroke.[19] In October 2018, a national seminar in Pune honoured his theological contributions.[20]

He suffered a blood clot in the brain on 25 September 2018, which left him in a coma,[19] and died on 23 October 2018 at Nirmala Hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, India.[21][22][23]

Bibliography

Books authored by Kunnumpuram

  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2018). Freedom and Joy: Reflections on the Essential Characteristics of Christian Life Today. New Delhi: Christian World Imprints.[24][25][26][27][28]
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2014). Give More than You Take. Mumbai: St Pauls.[29][30]
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2012). Called to Serve. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2010). Life in Abundance. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2009). Towards the Fullness of Life: Reflections on the Daily Living of the Faith. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2007). The Indian Church of the Future. Mumbai: St Pauls.[31]
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (2005). Towards a New Humanity: Reflections on the Church’s Mission in India Today. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K.; Fernando, L. (1993). Quest for an Indian Church: An Exploration of the Possibilities Opened Up by Vatican II. Anand: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (1971). Ways of Salvation. Mumbai: Papal Athenaeum.[32][a]

Books edited by Kunnumpuram

  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2016). The Vision of a New Church and a New Society: A Scholarly Assessment of Dr. Samuel Rayan’s Contribution to Indian Christian Theology. New Delhi: Christian World Imprints.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2013). Mission of the Church: Selected Writings of Samuel Rayan, S.J. Mumbai: St Pauls (Vol. II).[33]
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2012). In Spirit and Truth: Selected Writings of Samuel Rayan, S.J. Mumbai: St Pauls (Vol. II).
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2012). Blood and Tears: Interdisciplinary Studies on Religion and Violence. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2010). Jesus: The Relevance of His Person and Message for Our Times: Selected Writings of Samuel Rayan, S.J. Mumbai: St Pauls (Vol. I).
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2008). Force, Fraud or Free Choice: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Conversion. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2007). World Peace: An Impossible Dream? Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K.; Chennattu, R. (eds.) (2007). Indian Church of the Future. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2006). The Eucharist and Life: Indian Christian Reflections on the Lord’s Supper. Mumbai: St Pauls.
  • Kunnumpuram, K. (ed.) (2006). Shaping Tomorrow’s Church: Formation of Priests and Religious for India. Mumbai: St Pauls.

Festschrifts for Kunnumpuram

  • Pandikattu, K.; Rocha, R. (eds.) (2003). Bend without Fear: Hopes and Possibilities for an Indian Church: Essays in Honour of Professor Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ. New Delhi: ISPCK.[34]
  • Rocha, R.; Pandikattu, K. (eds.) (2002). Dreams and Visions: New Horizons for an Indian Church: Essays in Honour of Professor Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ. Pune: Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology.[35]
  1. ^ For later scholarly engagement with this work, see:
    • "Ways of Salvation and the Way of Salvation". Zenodo. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2025..
    • "Ways of Salvation and the Way of Salvation". Academia.edu. Retrieved 8 November 2025..
    • "Indian Theologians and the Catholic Ashrams (discussion citing Ways of Salvation)". Scribd. Retrieved 8 November 2025..

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Kunnumpuram, Kurien, and Lorenzo Fernando. 1993. Quest for an Indian church: An exploration of the possibilities opened up by Vatican II. Anand, Gujarat, India: Gujarat Sahitya Prakash.
  2. ^ Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies, Vol 5/1 January 2002, p. 2. ISSN 0972-3331. This journal is owned and published by Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology. He gave up this post in 2010, due to bad health.
  3. ^ AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies, Vol 50/6 November 2005, p. 2., a pastoral journal published by Papal Seminary, Pune, India, from 2002 to 2013.
  4. ^ a b "List of Articles in Jnanadeepa (1998–2020)". Zenodo. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2025. Founder/Editor: Prof Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ
  5. ^ "Fr Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ – Profile". Kerala Jesuits. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  6. ^ Karimundackal, Thomas (January–June 2019). "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment" (PDF). Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies. 23 (1): 142–146. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Ways of Salvation and the Way of Salvation". Zenodo. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Fr Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ – Profile". Kerala Jesuits. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment". SSRN. 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Home". punejournal.in.
  11. ^ Karimundackal, Thomas (2019). "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment" (PDF). Jnanadeepa. 23 (1): 142–146. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Home". punejournal.co.in.
  13. ^ "Publications – Papal Seminary, Pune". Papal Seminary. Retrieved 8 November 2025. …updated and edited by Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram
  14. ^ "AUC – Online Archive". AUC (Papal Seminary, Pune). 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  15. ^ "AUC: Asian Journal of Religious Studies". AUC (Papal Seminary, Pune). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  16. ^ "National seminar honors Indian Jesuit theologian". Matters India. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Fr Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ – Profile". Kerala Jesuits. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Freedom and Joy: Reflections on the Essential Characteristics of Christian Life Today". St Pauls India. 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  19. ^ a b "From the Provincial – December 2017" (PDF). Kerala Jesuits. December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2025. Fr Kurien Kunnumpuram had a mild stroke on November 17…
  20. ^ "National seminar honors Indian Jesuit theologian". Matters India. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  21. ^ Matters India Reporter. (2018, October 24). Noted Indian Jesuit theologian dies. Matters India.
  22. ^ "India honours prominent theologian". Herald Malaysia. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  23. ^ Karimundackal, Thomas (January–June 2019). "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment" (PDF). Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies. 23 (1): 142–146. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Freedom and Joy: Reflections on the Essential Characteristics of Christian Life Today". Christian World Imprints. 2018. ISBN 978-93-5148-319-9. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Freedom and Joy – catalogue page". St Pauls India. 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Freedom and Joy (Amazon India)". Amazon India. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  27. ^ "From the Provincial – May 2018" (PDF). Kerala Jesuits. May 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Freedom and joy". Open Library. 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  29. ^ "From the Provincial – September 2014" (PDF). Kerala Jesuits. September 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2025. Announcement of Fr Kurien Kunnumpuram's new book Give More than You Take
  30. ^ "Give More than You Take (Amazon India)". Amazon India. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  31. ^ Kunnumpuram, Kurien (2007). The Indian Church of the Future. St Pauls. Retrieved 8 November 2025 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ Karimundackal, Thomas (January–June 2019). "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment". Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies. 23 (1): 142–146. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  33. ^ "The Mission of the Church". Goodreads. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  34. ^ Pandikattu, Kuruvila; Rocha, Rosario, eds. (2003). Bend Without Fear: Hopes and Possibilities for an Indian Church. ISPCK. Retrieved 8 November 2025 – via Google Books.
  35. ^ Karimundackal, Thomas (2019). "Fr. Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ: A Man of Vision and Commitment" (PDF). Jnanadeepa: Pune Journal of Religious Studies. 23 (1): 142–146. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
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