Philosophy Faculty
Sacred Heart College was established in 1895 at Shembaganur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, as a centre for the philosophical training of young men who choose to become catholic priests in the Society of Jesus. Several hundred students from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Europe and North America have passed out of this College during its long history.
Prompted by a desire to be closer to the centres of higher learning and culture, the College was shifted to its present campus in 1980 and was named Satya Nilayam Institute of Philosophy and Culture.
The Philosophy Degree programme came to be attached to Loyola College (Autonomous), Chennai, in 1998, and it now offers Master’s Degree in Philosophy.
Administration
Very Rev Fr Arturo Sosa, SJ
CHANCELLOR Superior General of the Society of Jesus
Rev Dr Jerome Stanislaus D’Souza, SJ
VICE-CHANCELLOR President, Jesuit Conference of South Asia
Rev Somy Mathew, SJ
Conference Secretary for Integral Formation (CSIF)
Rev Dr Boniface Panna, SJ
RECTOR
Rev Dr Lawrence S. Fernandes, SJ
PRINCIPAL / HOD
Rev Francis D’Souza, SJ
REGISTRAR & TREASURER
Rev Dr Patrick Arockiaraj, SJ
LIBRARIAN
Melvin Jerald
Office Assistant
Vision
Mission
Objectives
Vision
To provide philosophical formation to develop a firm foundation in rational, ethical,
creative and critical thinking skills by engaging students with philosophical debates in
the East and West, developments in contemporary philosophy and application of
philosophical ideas in all areas of life.
Mission
- The College will draw its inspiration from the philosophical heritage of the East and the West, particularly from the cultural and philosophical heritage of India, so that the students may acquire a solid and coherent understanding of human beings, the world and God.
- Teaching and Learning will be integrative, dialogical and critical rather than parallel, juxtaposed or compartmentalized. It aims to train the students to a level of high qualification to reflect, analyze, and critique the concrete realities of life.
- Further, the Faculty will endeavour to draw the authentic values and insights of India’s religious experience and intellectual traditions into the philosophical experience, creatively contributing to the society at large.
- To foster those, the department will encourage reflection on the philosophical, cultural and socio-political movements in India by making available allimportant publications, research and writing and inviting experts in these fields to offer lectures and courses.
Objectives
As an Ecclesiastical Faculty, Satya Nilayam sets the following as its primary objectives:To provide opportunities for specialization in philosophy and culture in the Indian context;
To give the students a basic orientation which will enable them as priests, religious and laity to meet the spiritual and secular problems facing the country
Draw its inspiration from the lived experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the perennial wisdom of the Church and the cultural and philosophical heritage of the country so that the students may acquire a solid and coherent understanding of the world, of humans, and of God;
Endeavor to integrate the authentic values and insights of India’s religious experience and intellectual traditions into the Christian experience and thus make a creative contribution to the universal Church, especially in the area of fruitful dialogue with other faiths;
promote and encourage reflection on the philosophical, cultural, and sociopolitical movements in India by offering relevant courses with the help of experts in these fields, making all essential publications available, and writing.
Teaching Faculty Profile
Rev Dr Lawrence Fernandes, SJ
Professor
Rev Dr Boniface Panna, SJ
Associate Professor
Rev Dr Valerian Mendonca, SJ
Associate Professor
Rev Dr Jagadish Murala, SJ
Assistant Professor
Rev Dr Patrick Arockiaraj, SJ
Assistant Professor
Rev Fr Lindsay Lobo, SJ
Tutor
Rev Fr Joel D’Souza, SJ
Tutor
Rev Fr Rajeev Ranjan, SJ
Tutor
Admission
- The minimum qualification required for admission to the B.Ph. is a university degree or its equivalent.
- Students who have completed successfully the first cycle course may be
admitted to the second cycle under the following conditions:
- Students who have completed the first cycle from the Faculty must have an average of at least 60% marks as overall performance. Exceptions to this ruling may be granted only by a special committee appointed by the Academic Council.
- A student who has completed the first cycle from any other faculty recognized by the Holy See, with an average of 60% marks, or its equivalent, may be admitted without an entrance examination. In all other cases, an entrance examination will be required unless the special committee mentioned above dispenses with it on the grounds of the student’s previous academic work.
- The Faculty may recognize a three-year seminary course or its equivalent, to be determined by the Academic Council, as sufficient to enable a student to begin the second cycle, provided the student has obtained an average of 60% marks (or its equivalent) as his overall performance in the Seminary studies. This recognition is subject to an entrance examination or other equivalent tests.
- The Faculty may recognize a three-year seminary course or its equivalent, to be determined by the Academic Council, as sufficient to enable a student to begin the second cycle, provided the student has obtained an average of 60% marks (or its equivalent) as his overall performance in the Seminary studies. This recognition is subject to an entrance examination or other equivalent tests.
ORDER OF STUDIES
- There are two semesters per year and 90 class days per semester
- The first and third semesters commence in June and end in the fourth week of October.
- The second and fourth semesters commence in the first week of November and end in the last week of March.
The Third Cycle, leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ecclesiastical), will promote philosophical maturity in the candidate through in-depth research in a specialized area of philosophy or a thinker. The minimum period required to complete the doctoral research as a full-time student is four years. Usually, residence in Chennai during the entire period of research will be required unless the academic council grants leave of absence for part of the time.
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