The Theology and Ministry Program of the School of Humanities invites you to the oral defense of the M.A. Thesis entitled “CHRIST AS PROTO-ANCESTOR: A Contextual Christology of Ancestor Veneration Among Vietnamese Catholics in the light of Michael Amaladoss’ Christology” by NGUYEN MINH QUAN, C.M.F. on 28 October 2026, Wednesday, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at DLC 201 (Tipanan ni San Ignacio), 2/F Dela Costa Bldg., Loyola School of Theology. The Board of Examiners is composed of Fr. Hartono Budi, S.J., Th.D. (Adviser), Fr. Jose Mario Francisco, S.J., S.T.L., Ph.D. (Second Reader/Principal Examiner), Fr. Emmanuel Marfori, S.Th.D., and Fr. Gil Donayre, S.J., S.T.L., Ph.D. The defense is being held in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Theological Studies with a field of specialization in Systematic Theology. It is open to the public.
Abstract: This study proposes a contextual Christology for Vietnamese Catholics who practice ancestor veneration based on the theological framework of Michael Amaladoss. It focuses on the understanding and communicating Jesus Christ as Proto-Ancestor or the First Ancestor who fulfills the ancestral longing and unites all human ancestral mediation. In Vietnamese ancestor veneration, rituals such as offerings (cung), burning incense (thap huong), and commemorating death anniversaries (gio) strengthen the inseparable bond between the living and the dead. However, these practices are sometimes misunderstood as superstitious when ancestors are perceived as someone who can directly influence the lives of their descendants. In general, rituals such as offering, celebrating death anniversaries, incense, are accepted by the Church in Vietnam, but some Vietnamese Catholics still lack a coherent theological understanding of such practices, leading to confusion and separation between faith and culture. By reinterpreting Vietnamese Catholics veneration of ancestor through Amaladoss’ contextual Christology offers a renewed understanding of how to practice ancestor veneration in the lens of Christian faith. This study proposes a contextual Christology in which ancestral practices among the Vietnamese Catholics are seen as participation in the mediation of Jesus Christ, the perfect Mediator who fulfills ancestral longings. This approach integrates Gospel’s values with Vietnamese cultural practices, fostering reconciliation, easing pastoral tensions, and affirming spiritual richness of Vietnamese Catholic life.
