Professorial Chair

in tribute to
CHRISTE's Inaugural Ecclesiastical Patron

CORNELIUS CARDINAL SIM
(Sep 16, 1951 - May 29, 2021)

1. INAUGURATION OF THE PROFESSORIAL CHAIR

On this 16th day of September in the year 2021, that is, the 70th birth anniversary of the late Cornelius Cardinal Sim, the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) hereby officially inaugurates the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professorial Chair in Theology and Dialogue. This Professorial Chair is endowed by a community of benefactors to faithfully preserve and continue the legacy that the late Cardinal has left behind in his apostolic mission to the Church and the world. The endowment shall be administered annually by the named Professor for the funding of research and publication activities which reflect the theological and dialogical concerns of the late Cardinal Sim in such a way that it advances the mandate of our Research Institute.

2. INSTALLATION OF THE NAMED PROFESSOR

THE REVEREND DEACON PROFESSOR DR SHERMAN KUEK OFS

The CHRISTE Board of Governors hereby installs the Reverend Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS (Founding and Leading Research Fellow in Catholic and Ecumenical Thought) to this Professorial Chair, who, upon this installation, is properly designated the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue.

The Board of Governors conveys our best wishes to Professor Dr Sherman Kuek as he continues to uphold the mandate of CHRISTE by discharging the duties required of this Professorial Chair.

[Picture] The named Professor invested with the academic stole which was tailored in Brunei Darussalam, where the late Cardinal Sim was Vicar Apostolic. It is made using black cotton, adorned with silver-coloured embroidery.

Click on picture to enlarge.

"The endowment of this Professorial Chair for the purpose of continuing Cardinal Sim's legacy is a great and lasting tribute to this eminent personality in the Church and in society... I heartily congratulate Deacon Sherman for this appointment and wish God's choicest blessings on him and his office!"

The Most Reverend Dr James Thoppil, DD, STD
Bishop of Kohima, Nagaland (Northeast India)
and CHRISTE's Second Ecclesiastical Patron

"It is with... joy to hear that this Chair will be occupied by Rev. Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS and for two reasons. First, because of his own love and service to the Church especially in his commitment to learning, teaching, and pastoral service. Second, because of his tireless work in CHRISTE, the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement. This will mean that the Ecumenical work of CHRISTE will be enhanced so that the light and truth and healing balm of the Christian message might be shared, understood and practised more widely... The Church, the academy, and society are all beneficiaries of God’s bountiful grace on this special occasion."

Professor Gavin D'Costa, PhD
Professor of Catholic Theology,
University of Bristol, United Kingdom

"On behalf of EUCLID, the intergovernmental institution under whose charter the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) was established, I offer my sincere congratulations to Deacon Sherman Kuek on his appointment as the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue!"

Pr Laurent Cleenewerck de Kiev, DSc
Professor of International Administration and Theology,
Chairman of the EUCLID Oversight Council, and
Archpriest, Orthodox Church of America

"It is no surprise that the long-term relationship and partnership of the late Cardinal with Deacon Sherman has somehow matured into this natural appointment... I wish Deacon Sherman all the best on his new professorial assignment. May this assignment generate many more conversions and vocations for the Lord as more seeds of faith and relationships are planted in every place he travels to. May the Lord who has begun the good work in him, help him also to persevere to the end."

The Reverend Fr Robert Leong
Administrator, Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam

"As CHRISTE's Founding and Leading Research Fellow in Catholic and Ecumenical Thought, you have been both evangelising and innovative in proclaiming the splendour of the Good News of God's grace (Acts 20:24), that is at the core of your Christian faith and of your Franciscan ideals... As you continue to put out into the deep (Luke 5:4) through ecumenical and interfaith thought, may you be guided by grace and bring much meaning to dialogue in ways that lead to life."

The Reverend Fr (Friar) John Wong, OFM
Definitor General for the Franciscan Conferences of Asia-Oceania,
Rome

"Let me take this opportunity to say how grateful we are for the energy that CHRISTE is expending to continue the work of our late brother... I would like to congratulate Rev. Deacon Sherman on this assignment. He is an obvious choice of a candidate, one that I am sure Cornelius would wholeheartedly support. I pray that he will continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit as he carries out his new additional role."

Mr Frederick Sim (brother to Cardinal Sim)
On behalf of the Sim Family

3. YOU ARE INVITED

We thank you, all our friends, for being present with us today.

You are most cordially invited to witness this significant milestone in CHRISTE's history by doing the following:

DOWNLOAD AND VIEW THE COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET by clicking the button link below,
WATCH THE INAUGURAL LECTURE of the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor (video below), and
LEAVE US A MESSAGE at the bottom of this page!

DOWNLOAD COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET

Inaugural Lecture of the Reverend Deacon Professor Dr Sherman Kuek OFS,
Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue

"Why Interfaith Dialogue is Necessary but Dangerous:
Using Raimon Panikkar's Cosmotheandric Pluralism as a Case in Point"

(The full transcript of the lecture is found in the commemorative booklet.)

Thank you for commemorating this significant day with us. Please leave us a message below!