15 october 2026

Deepening Theology in Service of the Church: Between Pastoral Ministry and Academic Research

A Capuchin priest originally from the United Arab Emirates, Darick D’Souza serves in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, where he is the bishop’s secretary and contributes to formation. Alongside his pastoral responsibilities, he is completing a Master of Arts in Theology at Domuni Universitas. His dissertation examines the evolution of the Catholic Church’s thinking on migration, a subject closely connected to his experience among migrant Catholic communities in the Gulf.

A Pastoral Vocation Nurtured by a Desire to Learn

For Darick D’Souza, theology has long been a source of fascination. Reading theological works, discovering new research, and engaging in discussions with specialists fuel his desire to deepen his understanding. He seeks to explore concepts in greater depth, examine the fundamental questions of faith, and situate his reflections within a living intellectual tradition.

His pastoral commitment, however, leaves him with few opportunities to pursue full-time university studies. In the Middle East, the needs of Catholic communities are considerable. The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia serves a population of more than 1.2 million Catholics across the Gulf, with only nine churches. In this context, priests assume numerous responsibilities and are in constant demand.

Darick had been considering returning to his studies, but his bishop had reminded him of the importance of being present among the faithful. He fully understood this necessity while continuing to feel the need to pursue further formation. The Covid period then became a decisive moment. He began looking for a university-level theology programme that he could follow remotely without interrupting his pastoral mission. This is how he discovered Domuni Universitas.

Domuni: A Demanding Theological Education

Several institutions offer online theology programmes. For Darick, however, the choice of university rests on one essential criterion: the depth of its teaching and its roots in the tradition of the Church.

He wishes to develop a genuine understanding of theology, grounded in its sources, history, and the development of Christian thought. Earning a degree is a milestone in his journey, but it remains secondary to his desire to learn.

“My goal was to deepen my understanding of theology.”

Domuni’s courses meet these expectations. He encounters teaching that connects theological concepts with their historical development and enables him to explore the fundamental questions of faith with rigour.

For him, distance learning retains its full intellectual rigour. He discovers rich course content and opportunities to explore the subjects he studies in genuine depth. This experience also allows him to gain a better understanding of how theology develops over time: firmly rooted in its history, it continues to evolve in response to contemporary questions and contexts.

Studying at His Own Pace While Meeting Demanding Responsibilities

Balancing studies with pastoral responsibilities is a genuine challenge. The workload is substantial, demands are numerous, and the needs of the communities are constant. Darick must therefore find time in an already busy daily schedule for reading, coursework, and writing his dissertation.

Domuni’s flexibility allows him to establish his own working rhythm. Depending on the demands of the day, he can devote more time to his studies or return to them when circumstances are more favourable.

“I was able to progress at my own pace, at my own speed.”

This freedom to organise his studies has played a decisive role in enabling him to pursue his project. An on-campus programme would have been difficult to reconcile with his responsibilities. Through distance learning, he can continue serving the Church while developing his knowledge and academic skills.

He also emphasises the importance of academic support. The absence of a physical classroom can sometimes make certain difficulties more challenging to resolve. Nevertheless, he has found attentive support from several professors, whose explanations and discussions have helped him make progress. This availability helps make online learning more engaging and maintain a connection with the university community.

Migration: A Subject at the Heart of His Experience

Darick D’Souza’s dissertation examines the gradual development of the Catholic Church’s thinking on migration, from the pontificate of Leo XIII to that of Leo XIV.

His choice of research topic is directly rooted in his pastoral environment. In the Gulf countries, Catholic communities are largely composed of people who have come from other countries to work and practise their faith far from their homeland. Accompanying these faithful leads to questions about the place of migrants in the Church, their experiences, and the pastoral responses their circumstances call for.

For Darick, studying this subject makes it possible to connect theological reflection with the lived realities of these communities.

His research thus forms part of the broader history of the Church’s teaching on migration. By examining how this thinking has evolved across different pontificates, he seeks to understand how ecclesial reflection has developed and how it can shed light on contemporary challenges.

Theology then takes on a concrete dimension: it becomes a means of better understanding the human realities encountered in pastoral ministry and enriching reflection on the mission of the Church.

A Vibrant Online Community

Throughout his studies, Darick has also discovered the value of the events Domuni organises alongside its courses.

Sessions devoted to academic writing, the prevention of plagiarism, deeper intellectual exploration, and the study of recent Church documents have particularly appealed to him. These sessions have helped him develop his working methods and broaden his knowledge beyond his theology curriculum.

Forums and online meetings also help sustain exchanges between students and lecturers. Even at a distance, Darick feels that he belongs to a genuine university community. These moments are especially valuable in a programme where independent study plays a significant role. They provide renewed motivation, encourage perseverance, and serve as a reminder that learning also takes place through exchanges with others.

This experience has also strengthened his desire to take part in the life of Domuni Universitas and meet again the people who support him throughout his studies, notably by attending the Summer School in Tours in July 2026.

Passing On What He Has Discovered

As he approaches the completion of his Master of Arts, Darick is already looking ahead. He plans to continue his studies with a PhD in Theology. For him, completing the Master of Arts marks the beginning of a new stage rather than the end of his academic journey.

His experience at Domuni has also inspired him to share this educational opportunity with those around him. He has already spoken with several people in his circle, including members of his community, who are interested in pursuing studies in theology or philosophy.

He would like to encourage them to discover a programme that combines accessibility, intellectual depth, and fidelity to the tradition of the Church. This initiative naturally extends his pastoral commitment by encouraging the formation of those around him.

For Darick D’Souza, theology remains above all an invitation to deepen one's understanding of the faith. Thanks to Domuni Universitas, he has been able to pursue this quest while remaining fully committed to the communities he serves. Today, his nearly completed dissertation and plans for doctoral studies bear witness to a desire to learn that continues to grow, in the service of the Church and those it brings together.