Faith . Society . Life
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The Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) is a gathering of Christian academic scholars and specialised practitioners seeking to facilitate a germination of Christian theological reflection by:
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This is the third and final e-book in CHRISTE's Pandemic Trilogy. The pandemic may have passed, but it has effected some changes upon human civilisation that remain irreversible. Consisting of six articles contributed by our Research Fellows, some aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic are assessed from the perspectives of ecclesial life, economic life, education, leadership, and the lay apostolate. Launched on Easter Sunday of 2025 (April 20), this book emphasises the importance of Christian hope and resilience as citizens of this world brave through many tough times.
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THE DIGITAL CONTINENT:
RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION IN A PANDEMICISED WORLD [DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15162531] This is the second e-book which is published by CHRISTE and was launched on October 19, 2021, through a live online event. Consisting of articles written by our Research Fellows and also a guest writer, this book presents some salient considerations on the importance of social communications, its prospects and pitfalls, and how we may engage in social communications for the betterment of society. The authors of the book emphasise the importance of communication literacy in order that Christians may be able to communicate more responsibly in a world that is proliferated by communications. |
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HOPE FOR HUMANITY:
SPIRITUAL IMMUNITY IN A PANDEMICISED WORLD [DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15162483] On September 27, 2020, CHRISTE launched our maiden e-book publication. This book is a collation of various articles contributed by our panel of Research Fellows. Approaching the most sobering issue of our time, that is, the Covid-19 pandemic, our Research Fellows penned down their reflections from perspectives of theology, Scripture, family, communication, commerce, and spirituality. |
Research Funded by CHRISTE
Since 2022, CHRISTE awards research grants to a number of academic scholars each year from the endowment fund of the Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professorial Chair in Theology and Dialogue. These research grants are meant to give impetus to the furtherance of knowledge in aspects of Christian theology, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, as well as cross-disciplinary investigations. Scholars who are keen to apply for research grants may write to CHRISTE to enquire.
Year |
Research Topic |
Scholar(s) |
2022 |
Material Religion in Marian Feast Celebrations among Catholic Tamil Communities: A Transnational Study of Our Lady of Velankanni Celebrations in Chennai and Kuala Lumpur |
Rev. Dr James Ponniah, University of Madras (India) Dr Melissa Shamini Perry, National University of Malaysia |
2022 |
The Future of Online Church in Malaysia |
Dr Tan Meng Yoe, Monash University (Malaysia) |
2023 |
Are Malaysia and Singaporean Christians Flocking Back to Church or Flying Away? A Comparative Study on Christian Churches in Malaysia and Singapore in the COVID-19 Recovery Phase |
Dr Pauline Leong, Sunway University (Malaysia) Dr Tan Meng Yoe, Monash University Malaysia Dr Lim Hock Ann, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur |
2024 |
Life Skills for Faith-based Community Leaders: A Need Assessment Study |
Dr Jonas Richard A., Kristu Jayanti College (India) |
2025 |
Anthropological and Missiological Lessons from Religious Pilgrimages As a Shared-Pathway or Joint-Journey for Asian People (with Special Reference to Malaysia) |
Rev. Dr James Harding, St Mellitus South West (England) |
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Catholic StudiesExplore a systematic study of Catholicism (a micro-certification programme) |
Postgraduate StudiesConsider pursuing a postgraduate degree in Christian Theology or Interfaith Studies |
If you have not witnessed this event on September 16, 2021, you may still do so by clicking on the banner above.
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Updates & Announcements
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Apr 20, 2025
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Launching of CHRISTE's final e-book in the Pandemic Trilogy:
Forged in Fire: Living the Christian Life in the Post-pandemic World |
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Mar 1, 2023
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CHRISTE's is delighted to welcome Dr Stefan Gigacz as our Research Fellow in Lay Apostolate. Stefan is the Founding Secretary of the Australian Cardijn Institute and an honorary postdoctoral associate of several institutions in Australia. For over 20 years, his research has been focused on the impact of Cardinal Joseph Cardijn upon the Second Vatican Council's teachings on the lay apostolate in the Catholic Church.
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Feb 1, 2023
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CHRISTE's is very happy to welcome Professor Dr Jonas Richard A. as our Research Fellow in Life Skills Education. Possessing many years of educational experience, Dr Jonas is Professor in Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) in Bangalore, India, where various departments come under his capable leadership. Dr Jonas' PhD in Life Skills Education was awarded under Sacred Heart College (Autonomous) in Tripattur, India.
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Jan 31, 2023
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CHRISTE's is delighted to welcome the Rev. Dr CP Anto as our Research Fellow in Peace and Conflict Transformation. Dr Anto, a Catholic priest with the Diocese of Kohima in Northeast India, is Founding Principal of the Northeast Institute of Research and Social Sciences (NEISSR) in Nagaland, Northeast India. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Transformation from Nagaland University.
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Jan 30, 2023
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CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) today receives a letter of appointment from the Rev. Dr James Ponniah, Associate Professor and Head of the Christian Studies Department at the University of Madras, India, to be Visiting Professor of Asian Christianity for the university. Dr James Ponniah is also Research Fellow in Religion and Culture for CHRISTE. Exciting plans for close collaboration between CHRISTE and Madras University's Department of Christian Studies are in the pipeline.
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Jan 25, 2023
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CHRISTE is happy to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with Saint Xavier College Jalukie (Nagaland, Northeast India) to assist with the education development of the college in the near future. CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) is appointed Visiting Professor of Social Science for Saint Xavier College Jalukie, which is permanently affiliated with the Central University of Nagaland, India.
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Jan 23, 2023
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On this day, CHRISTE is delighted to be forging a close collaborative friendship with the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) in Nagaland, Northeast India, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on matters of common concern. We congratulate the Rev. Fr Dr CP Anto, Principal of NEISSR, on his appointment as Research Fellow in Peace and Conflict Transformation for CHRISTE. Correspondingly, CHRISTE's Cornelius Cardinal Professor of Theology and Dialogue (Professor Dr Sherman Kuek) is appointed Visiting Professor of Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue for NEISSR.
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Dec 16, 2021
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CHRISTE is delighted to announce that the Right Reverend Thomas Low, Lutheran Bishop of Malaysia, has graciously consented to be one of our Ecclesiastical Patrons. We thank Bishop Low for sharing in our vision for ecumenical collaboration.
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Oct 19, 2021
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Launching of CHRISTE's second e-book in the Pandemic Trilogy:
The Digital Continent: Responsible Communication in a Pandemicised World |
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Sep 16, 2021
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CHRISTE congratulates the Reverend Deacon Professor Dr Sherman Kuek OFS on his installation as our Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor of Theology and Dialogue today! Dr Sherman Kuek continues in his responsibility to steer the research activity of CHRISTE to advance the mandate of our research institute.
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Jun 21, 2021
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CHRISTE welcomes the Reverend Dr James Ponniah onto our team as Research Fellow in Religion and Culture. Father James, a Roman Catholic priest, is Assistant Professor at the Department of Christian Studies in the University of Madras, India. He holds a PhD in Religion and Culture from the same university and is a widely published scholar.
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Jun 17, 2021
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CHRISTE is delighted to welcome Mr Alwin Chong onto our team as Research Fellow in Education. A professional educator based in Brunei, Alwin holds degrees in Literature and Teaching. We look forward to interacting with his competence in education-related matters, which also very much impact our understanding and practice of faith education in Christian communities.
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Jun 10, 2021
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We are delighted to have Dr Tan Meng Yoe on our team as Research Fellow in Religion and New Media. Meng Yoe holds a PhD with a special research interest in issues pertaining to how the new media is impacting the practice of religion and politics. He is a Lecturer in Communication at Monash University Malaysia. Welcome, Meng Yoe!
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Jun 7, 2021
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We are delighted to welcome Mr Nick Chui onto our team as Research Fellow in Marriage and Family. An educator based in Singapore, Nick holds a Master of Theological Studies from the John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family in Melbourne and publishes rather prolifically. More information on him can be found on the profile page of our Research Fellows. We look forward to many collaborations with Nick in the near future!
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May 29, 2021
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We announce with profound sadness the demise of our inaugural Ecclesiastical Patron, His Eminence, Cornelius Cardinal Sim, at 8.28 AM on May 29, 2021. We are grateful for how His Eminence had been such a blessing and inspiration to so many in the course of his ministry as a priest and bishop.
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Jan 1, 2021
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We wish everyone a grace-filled year! To begin our year, keeping in mind that we are still in the middle of a global pandemic which has impacted many people economically, CHRISTE will be conducting a webinar entitled "Creativity through Adversity: Christian Entrepreneurship in a Pandemicised World" facilitated by two of our Research Fellows. The webinar will take place on 11 January 2021. Please refer to the poster in the Events page of this website for further details.
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Oct 25, 2020
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We are very happy to announce that our Ecclesiastical Patron, His Lordship the Right Reverend Cornelius Sim (Vicar Apostolic of Brunei), has just been elevated by the Holy Father Pope Francis as Cardinal. Upon his elevation, His Eminence Cornelius Cardinal Sim becomes one of the Cardinals who are eligible to vote for the election of a new Pope in a conclave. CHRISTE offers our heartiest congratulations to our dear Bishop Sim with much reverence and affection. Please pray for him!
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Sep 29, 2020
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It is our delight to announce that the Most Rev. Dr James Thoppil, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kohima (Nagaland, Northeast India), has graciously consented to be one of CHRISTE's Ecclesiastical Patrons (together with the Rt Rev. Cornelius Sim, Vicar Apostolic of Kuching in Brunei Darussalam). Bishop Thoppil hails from Kerala but embarked on his clerical vocation as a missionary priest in Nagaland from a young age. His Lordship is an Asian Ecclesiologist whose Doctor of Sacred Theology degree was conferred by the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.
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Sep 27, 2020 |
Launching of CHRISTE's inaugural e-book
Hope for Humanity: Spiritual Immunity in a Pandemicised World |
Aug 28, 2020 |
Official launching of CHRISTE and www.christeonline.org
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