Archie D’Souza
Encyclopedia
Archie D’Souza was 18 years old when he decided that he wanted to become a priest. He received his religious training at the Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)
and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi at St. Patrick's Cathedral
in 1968.
He pursued a B.A. in Islamic studies at Jamia Millia, Karachi, obtaining his degree in 1969 and went on to do an M.A. in Islamic Theology from the University of Edinburgh
, Scotland, and later a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1976.
In Rome he also studied Arabic, French and Italian, and he was able to read the Qur'an in Arabic. He also was fluent in Spanish.
Fr. Archie also ran the Rabita Centre for Christian-Muslim dialogue at in Karachi. He was also a lecturer in Christian philosophy at the Aga Khan Academy, Karachi from 1976 to 1980, Professor of Islamic studies at the Propaganda Fides College, Rome and the Dean of studies at Christ the King Seminary, Karachi, from 1982 to 1992. From 1996 to 2002, he was on the editorial board for the weekly Christian Voice
.
D’Souza worked tirelessly to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Pakistan
. This focus began when a change in the Vatican's policy in the early 1960s, the Church decided to open its doors to people of other faiths for dialogue, interaction and understanding.
The funeral of Fr. Archie D`Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Karachi
, who expired of heart failure, was held on 1 April 2006. He was buried at the Christian Cemetery Gora Qabaristan on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi.
Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)
Christ the King Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary in Karachi. It is located adjacent to the Portiuncula Friary. In its early years most of the faculty were provided by the Franciscans....
and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated on Shahrah-e-Iraq, formerly known as Clarke Street, located near the Empress Market in Karachi, Pakistan....
in 1968.
He pursued a B.A. in Islamic studies at Jamia Millia, Karachi, obtaining his degree in 1969 and went on to do an M.A. in Islamic Theology from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, Scotland, and later a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1976.
In Rome he also studied Arabic, French and Italian, and he was able to read the Qur'an in Arabic. He also was fluent in Spanish.
Fr. Archie also ran the Rabita Centre for Christian-Muslim dialogue at in Karachi. He was also a lecturer in Christian philosophy at the Aga Khan Academy, Karachi from 1976 to 1980, Professor of Islamic studies at the Propaganda Fides College, Rome and the Dean of studies at Christ the King Seminary, Karachi, from 1982 to 1992. From 1996 to 2002, he was on the editorial board for the weekly Christian Voice
Christian Voice, Karachi
The Christian Voice, Karachi is an English-language weekly newspaper of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. This is the second oldest Catholic publication in Pakistan after the Catholic Naqib, an Urdu-language journal, founded in Lahore in 1929 and published by the Roman Catholic...
.
D’Souza worked tirelessly to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. This focus began when a change in the Vatican's policy in the early 1960s, the Church decided to open its doors to people of other faiths for dialogue, interaction and understanding.
The funeral of Fr. Archie D`Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Karachi
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Karachi
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Karachi is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. It was approved on 22 August 1953 when the Most Rev. Alcuin Van Miltenburg set the boundaries of the new parish. In May 1955 it became a chaplaincy under St. Patrick's Cathedral with resident priests...
, who expired of heart failure, was held on 1 April 2006. He was buried at the Christian Cemetery Gora Qabaristan on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi.