Jesuit School of Theology Dean A.E. Orobator, S.J., Wins Prestigious Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation Award
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024—Agbonkhianmeghe E. (“Bator”) Orobator, S.J., the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (JST-SCU), was recently awarded “The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation” by the Archbishop of Canterbury for “his outstanding, Holy Spirit inspired faithfulness, wisdom and hope offered to the accomplishment of ecumenical peace-making in South Sudan.”
Award Citation
In 2019, at the invitation of senior Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders, Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J., (Bator) co-designed and animated a retreat for politicians from different sides of South Sudan’s civil war, who were unable to form a transitional government or implement a peace process to end a conflict that had claimed 400,000 lives. Bator’s facilitation allowed the Holy Spirit to move through liturgy, praise, honest conversation, sharing of food, and silence. At one point during the retreat, the political leaders requested to sit together, alone, for the first time since violence had broken out. Held in the Pope’s own residence, Santa Marta, the retreat ended with the Pope kneeling to kiss the feet of each leader, imploring them to work together for peace. It formed such an impression on them and the South Sudanese people that they constantly reference it as a landmark in the pursuit of peace.
Orobator then continued to accompany ecumenical peace-making as the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland prepared for a Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan in 2023. He consistently provided profound wisdom, deep political understanding, compelling spiritual encouragement, and unfailing hope that God’s grace would be known, all with priority given to supporting the Church in South Sudan.
Orobator has been involved with issues of peace, justice, and interfaith relations throughout his ministry and is widely respected as the immediate past President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar and current dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, USA. He is also an internationally acclaimed speaker, researcher and writer.
About the Award
The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation was first awarded by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in March 2016. It is named after Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1193 to 1205, who had dialogue with non-Christians at a time of inter-faith conflict. Its design incorporates a scarab beetle, a motif favored by Archbishop Walter, which some scholars believe may have denoted the resurrection.
About the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University
The Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, located in Berkeley, California, is a preeminent international center for the culturally contextualized study of theology. Its mission is to inspire and prepare men and women to become leaders in the Church, academy, and society, serving others through a faith that does justice. Rooted in the Catholic and Ignatian tradition, JST-SCU educates and trains Jesuits, religious, ordained, and lay students from across the United States and dozens of other countries for lives dedicated to ministry and scholarship.
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit, Catholic University in the epicenter of Silicon Valley, infusing ethics and social consciousness into a rigorous cross-disciplinary education for its nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Media Contact
Preston Carmack | JST-SCU | pcarmack@scu.edu | 510-549-5041
Nov 25, 2024
Dean Agbonkhianmeghe E. (“Bator”) Orobator, S.J.