About

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.

image


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


Melvin Jerald

Office Assistant


Very Rev Fr Arturo Sosa, SJ

CHANCELLOR Superior General of the Society of Jesus

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

https://satyanilayam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_2785-scaled.jpg

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.

https://satyanilayam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/communit-days-1-scaled.jpg

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.

https://satyanilayam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/4J6A4002.jpg

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.

Admission

The Ecclesiastical Faculty is open in principle to all students, clerical, religious and lay,
both male and female, who are duly qualified.

  • 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:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

Students

ORDER OF STUDIES

The Faculty follows the semester pattern.

  • 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 courses offered at this Faculty cover the following areas: Person and Nature;
Person and Society, Person and the Ultimate, and Classical and Contemporary Trends
in Philosophy (in India and other parts of the world).

The curriculum of the Faculty covers three successive cycles, leading to three different
degrees. It also offers diplomas to those who do not want or are unable to join for a
Degree.

As per the recent directives from the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Faculty
has reworked the programme of studies of the First Cycle. Accordingly, the first cycle
is basically a three-year programme. It introduces the students to the methods of
scientific research. Apart from dealing with the problems and methods of philosophy,
it offers a systematic exposition of the various philosophies of God, humans and the
world. It also acquaints them with the main trends in cultural life and thought.

The second cycle (MPh) introduces the students to scientific research through an indepth study of the theories of outstanding Indian and Western thinkers through
seminars and tutorials. This cycle consists of four semesters. MPh students are to
write six philosophical papers within the first three semesters, and in the fourth
semester, they are to write a dissertation of 75-100 pages. The dissertation should
demonstrate a satisfactory grasp of the tools of research and reflection.

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.

Gallery

DSC_8077

DSC_8130

DSC_9491

DSC_2712

DSC_2731

DSC_2766

DSC_2785

4J6A4002

4J6A4084

DSC_9063

DSC_9095

DSC_9199

DSC_9202

DSC_9204

DSC_9274

DSC_9300

DSC_9317



Principal


Email Address
principal.satyanilayam@gmail.com
Phone Number
8925744707

Registrar


Email Address
sacred.sn.registrar@gmail.com
Phone Number
9449629985