GENERAL INFORMATION

At the dawn of the Third Millennium, intending to lay foundation for a Eucharistic centred priestly, religious and ecclesial life, the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) took the humble step of establishing its own Theological Seminary, Sanathana – Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham (DKV) at Thamarassery, in Kerala, India. Though the primary purpose of this theologate is formation and education of the MCBS seminarians, Sanathana warmly welcomes candidates from the various dioceses and other religious communities. An Eight semester curriculum envisioned at DKV offers various courses and training programmes aimed at forming the candidates into mature, holy and learned religious/priests who would be totally committed to God and His people.

HISTORY

The long-cherished dream of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament to establish a theologate of its own was first expressed in the General Synaxes convened in 1997 and 2001. In accordance with the synaxes’ decision, twenty acres of land was purchased at Thamarassery on 15th July 1999. And on 24th May 2001 His Excellency Mar Thomas Elavanal mcbs, the bishop of Kalyan, laid the foundation stone for the Sanathana MCBS Theologate. On 7th June 2004, His Excellency Mar Paul Chittilapilly, the bishop of Thamarassery, inaugurated the first academic year 2004-2005 of the Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham, in the presence of Very Rev. Fr. George Karintholil, the then Superior General of MCBS, His Excellency, Bishop Mar Joseph Arumachadath, the then Provincial Superior of Emmaus Province, and Very Rev. Fr. George Kizhakkemury, the then Provincial Superior of Zion Province. The institute has been affiliated with the faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome by the decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education (Decree No. 908/2009/4) since October 5, 2009.

NAME

The name of the MCBS Theologate is Sanathana, which means eternal embodiment of the divine sacrament and sacrifice that takes one to the summit of an authentic religious/priestly life consisting in self-immolation as expressed in the Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus, the Word who became flesh as primordial sacrifice and sacrament. Seen from this perspective, Eucharist is the eternal embodiment (Sanathana) of the communion and compassion of Jesus where sacrifice and sacrament blend in a very special way. Authentic priestly and religious life is a sacrificial offering of one’s self that demands constant self-transformation, self-transcendence and the concomitant sociopolitical consciousness. We cannot change the truth but the truth will change our lives. Sanathana envisages theologically enlightened and pastorally sensitive priests.

THE CREST

The emblem of Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham radiates the Eucharistic wisdom permeating the learning, lifestyle and culture. The upadesa-mudra at the centre of the emblem represents the Risen Christ. He is the Divine Guru (master) who imparts vidya through altar and cross to the sishya (disciple) symbolised by the burning flame. Through constant self-sacrifice sishya dispels all forms of ignorance and impurity, and becomes enlightened with the light of the Word and the life-giving Eucharistic Bread. Abiding in the Word – the two-edged sword that pierces spirit and joints from the marrow – and nourishing from the life-giving Bread – the epiphany of communion – will enable one to lead a life of Trinitarian and cosmic communion and will awaken in the priestly candidate a mystico-socio-political consciousness. This is what the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament aims at imparting to all the candidates at Sanathana, the Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham.

THE MOTTO

The Motto of Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham inscribed in the emblem is the prayer of the disciples of Emmaus, Stay with us Lord (Lk 24, 29). Pope John Paul II took this prayer as the title of his Apostolic Letter, Mane Nobiscum Domine. This apostolic letter in connection with the Eucharistic Year 2004 -2005, is the culmination of his Eucharistic teachings contained in Tertio Millennio Adveniente, Novo Millennio Ineunte, Ecclesia de Eucharistia and Redemptionis Sacramentum. Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham established in the Eucharistic Year, upholds the values and principles of the Eucharist that lead one to a life of divine compassion through its celebration, contemplation and adoration. The Eucharistic centred priestly and religious training offered at Divya Karunya Vidyapeetham will enable the candidates not only to free themselves from the snares of existential trials and tribulations but also to recognise and serve the Eucharistic Jesus in happy as well as tragic times, places and persons.

VISION

Anchoring on the Most Holy Eucharist, the source of eternal life and wisdom, DKV imparts a system of theological formation suited to the twenty first century and aims at a human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation by enlightening the candidates to form themselves as the anointed one of Jesus Christ by reading the signs of the times. Profound theological, especially Eucharistic didactics together with an organic interface among various courses and exposures will naturally lead the candidates to the concurrent pastoral and social realities and challenges.