Photo by Udayaditya Barua on Unsplash
CONFERENCE: Catholic Theological Society of America
PANEL: Catholicity within the Constructs of Colonialism and Place: University and Diversity in Negotiations of Religious-Cultural Identity Across the Indian Sub-continent Invited Session.
TIME: Saturday (6/14/25), 11am-12:45pm (PST)
WHERE: Salem Meeting Room (Portland Marriot Waterfront Hotel (Portland, OR)
DID YOU MISS THE PAPER?
Keep an eye out for the anticipated article version of this conference paper. In the meantime, you can connect with the author on socials and view the paper précis and slides below.
For Pope Francis, the Church’s catholicity emerges through inculturation where grace builds on culture. In the Indian subcontinent where Latin rite, Tamil Catholicism is located, colonialism now inextricably woven into Tamil culture complexifies the inculturation process. Drawing on the qualitative research of Selva Raj and vignettes from my own Tamil family, I argue that Tamil Catholics subvert coloniality by reinterpreting colonial symbols and reconfiguring colonial structures to function as authentic expressions of their own faith and culture. Interrogating iconography and popular piety, I further contend that this work of inculturation simultaneously reinscribes the very coloniality Tamil protagonists aim to subvert.
PRESENTATION SLIDES
Introduction
Slide 1
From left to right: Deepan Rajaratnam, Augustine Rajaratnam, Lily Agnes Rajaratnam, Gunaratnam Francis Rajaratnam, Nethraja Rajaratnam, Veera Rajaratnam, Jeevan Rajaratnam
Slide 2
Sr. Theresina Rajaratnam (my great aunt)
Mother Superior Theresina Rajaratnam (back right) pictured with students
Slide 3
Boniface Arulananthan Rajaratnam (my great-great grandfather & father of Sr. Theresina Rajaratnam)
Slide 4
Boniface Rajaratnam’s parents (my great-great-great grandparents)
Rajaratnam family tree (paternal)
Slide 5
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Slide 10
St. Anthony’s Church (Kochchikade, Sri Lanka). Photo by AntanO at Wikipedia
Slide 11
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Slide 13
Rajaratnam Homecoming (A Tamil Nuptial Related Celebration)
Rajaratnam Homecoming (A Tamil Nuptial Celebration)
Slide 14
Let’s stay connected!