International Visiting Jesuit Fellows

Cross atop a building spire

The International Visiting Jesuit Fellows program brings Jesuit faculty from colleges and universities around the world to Holy Cross.

Since 2000, 36 Jesuits have enjoyed a semester or a year engaging in scholarly research and teaching a course at Holy Cross.

About the Program

Through the generosity of a gift from the Holy Cross Jesuit Community, Jesuit Fellows are provided a generous stipend, office space, health and dental insurance, airfare to and from the United States, access to Holy Cross’s excellent libraries, other research libraries, and outstanding electronic databases and financial support for designated research activities and/or to attend professional conferences, and other logistical support. A portion of the stipend is used to cover housing in the Jesuit residence at Holy Cross. Any unused portion of the stipend will be transferred to the visiting Fellow's home province at the end of the fellowship. 

Rev. Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, SJ

Current International Visiting Jesuit Fellow

Rev. Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, SJ, of the South Asia Province of the Society of Jesus, is Head of the Department of Philosophy at Loyola College Chennai and Acting Principal of Sacred Heart College, Satya Nilayam in Chennai, India. Director of the Satya Nilayam Research Institute and editor of the bi-annual journal Satya Nilayam: Chennai Journal of Intercultural Philosophy, he is the author of Popular Religiosity: A Quest for Meaning, Shrines and Pilgrimages: Philosophy and Practice, and Popular Devotions: Philosophy and Practice. He will teach RELS 199, “Religion & the Marginalized in India,” in the Fall 2026 semester.

Meet Lawrence

Inquiries and Applications

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Jesuits from all provinces outside the United States whose scholarly expertise overlaps with the disciplines offered at Holy Cross are welcome to apply for fellowships in consultation with their provincial superior. Likewise, provincials who wish to nominate scholars are encouraged to do so.  We accept inquiries and applications on an ongoing basis and are now prepared to receive applications for the '26-'27 academic year.

How to Apply

Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • An updated curriculum vitae;
  • A statement from the applicant about the objectives for research during the course of the fellowship, along with some discussion about why Holy Cross would be a suitable place for fulfilling these objectives;
  • A letter of support, sent directly to mcfarlandcenter@holycross.edu, from an academic colleague able to appraise the applicant's work and the research he wishes to engage in at Holy Cross.
  • A letter of support, sent directly to mcfarlandcenter@holycross.edu, from their Provincial, indicating approval for acceptance of a fellowship.
  • A statement about one or more variations on a lecture course or seminar that you propose to teach; a statement identifying your teaching philosophy, and a statement of the research project that you intend to engage in.

 

Those who wish to find out more about the program should contact Thomas M. Landy, Director, McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, at tlandy@holycross.edu.

A committee that includes the Dean of the College and the Rector of the Jesuit Community reviews the applications.

Recent International Visiting Fellows

An Associate Professor at Université Loyola du Congo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fr. Emmanuel Bueya Bu-Makaya, S.J. taught a course on African politics in the Political Science Department. His research is “The Role of the Pontifical Diplomacy in Promoting Security in the Eastern Part of the Congo.”

Following two terms as Dean of the Faculty of Missiology at the Gregorian University Rome, Fr. Bryan Lobo, S.J., a Jesuit from Mumbai, India taught a course on the theology of religions and research theological aspects of Christian proclamation and mission that considered the unique insights of Christian theology in a religious and culturally pluralistic world.

Rev. Gerard Ryan, S.J., Assistant Professor of Political Theology at Regis College, investigated whether faith communities can contribute toward the sustainability of our common home.

Rev. Selva Rathinam, S.J., Scripture teacher at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV) Institute of Philosophy and Theology, the Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune, India, taught a course on Hebrew prophets.

Rev. Joachim Zoundi, S.J., Lecturer of systematic theology at Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya, taught a course on Christian anthropology in times of uncertainty.

Rev. Ferenc Patsch, S.J., Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, taught a course on systematic theology.

  • Rev. T. Nishaant, S.J., Former principal of St. Xavier's College of Management & Technology in Patna, Bihar, India, taught "Social Stratification in India" in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Rev. Peter Dubovsky, S.J., Professor of the Old Testament exegesis at Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, taught "Cultures of the Bible."

Rev. Lawrence Fernandes, S.J., Teaches philosophy at the Jesuit Philosophate at Satya Nilayam and Loyola College, Chennai, taught "Religions of India."

Rev. Leszek Gęsiak, S.J., Teaches media and multicultural studies at the Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow, taught "Values of European Union."

Rev. Janez Percic, S.J., Teaches at Munich School of Philosophy, visiting researcher at Boston College, taught philosophy.

Rev. George Karuvelil Professor of Philosophy at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, taught theology.

Rev. Thomas Kuriacose, S.J., Teaches systematic theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (formerly known as Papal Athaneum), Pune, taught "South Asian Theology."

Rev. Luc Bonaventure Ayité Amoussou, S.J., Founder and coordinator of Rays of Hope in Benin, taught about the intersection of politics and religion.

Rev. Stephen Buckland, S.J., Former Provincial Superior in Zimbabwe, taught "God, ‘gods’ and African Religion."

Rev. Heinrich Watzka, S.J., Professor of Philosophy, Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology, Frankfurt am Main, researched embodiment from a dualistic perspective and taught a philosophy course on "Selves and Their Bodies."