DOCTOR IN SACRED LITURGY
On May 28, 2021, Fr Rudolph Raj Pinto OCD successfully defended his thesis in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical University of Sant'Anselmo, Rome. One of the aspects on which an interpretation of liturgy can be based is ‘doxology’. Fr Rudolph Raj Pinto, in his doctoral thesis on ‘The study of the ministerial contribution of liturgical music in the liturgical formation,’ endeavoured to explore this aspect.

Great battles are won by soldiers who are persistent and consistent. Fr Rudolph stood firm for two hours as a warrior well-prepared, presenting and defending his many years of dedicated research in this all-important perspective of theological discourse. His moderator Fr Jordi-Agusti Piaqé I Collado OSB along with other two correlators, after having tested him with questions and queries, voiced their appreciation to his work and declared officially Fr Rudolph as “Doctor in Sacred Liturgy”.

Fr Rudolph, who hails from Gurpur, Mangalore, joined the Carmelite Order in 1992. Having completed his seminary formation in Mysuru and Mangalore, he was ordained priest on December 28, 2004. As a young priest he pioneered to be a missionary at Matadakeri, Honnavar where he served for seven years. In the year 2012 he reached the Eternal City for his specialization in liturgy. In the last nine years he has successfully completed licentiate degrees in Sacred Liturgy and Liturgical Music and now he is ‘Doctor in Sacred Liturgy’.

The Karnataka-Goa Province of the Discalced Carmelites rejoices with Fr. Rudolph and praises God for this first doctor in Liturgy in the Province. We wish and pray that Fr Rudolph may be always blessed by the Lord and his mission for the kingdom of God be always fruitful.