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Fr. Dominic S. Irudayaraj S.J., STD ‘2015, a Jesuit priest, scholar, and educator, embodies the heart of Jesuit education: a dynamic integration of faith, intellectual curiosity, and a generous spirit. Currently teaching at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and consultor to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Fr. Dominic’s journey—from a small Catholic village in southern India to the global stage of theological scholarship—reflects the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University’s (JST-SCU) commitment to forming leaders for the Church and the world. In a recent interview, he shared his journey of discovering his calling, his passion for the Scripture, and the transformative power of encountering the people of God all over the world.

From Village Roots to Global Theology

Born into a family deeply rooted in faith and education, Fr. Dominic’s early life in rural India nurtured the seeds of his Jesuit calling. His father, the village’s school principal and catechist, instilled in him the importance of daily Mass and family prayer. 

Though he was initially interested in a religious vocation, that track was interrupted with the passing of his father when he was twelve. Instead, he began pursuing medicine as a career, preparing for the exams to get into medical school. When he was seventeen, a providential visit from a Jesuit vocations director redirected him back toward religious life. “Something in me said, “I’ll come and see,” he recalls.  

Fr. Dominic’s academic path was marked by unexpected turns. After studying philosophy and computer science, he taught information technology at Jesuit colleges in India. Yet, his love for Scripture remained a constant thread. Professors noticed his gift for asking probing questions about the Bible, and eventually, his superiors encouraged him to pursue theology—a decision that led him to JST-SCU for graduate studies in the Sacred Theology doctoral program. He talks about how a love for scripture and discussing theology animated his time in graduate school, in particular he was encouraged by a group of fellow students from the African continent who deepend and enriched his perspective.

Theological Horizons: Learning from Cultural Context

Fr. Dominic’s theological vision expanded through his experiences in Kenya. Through a connection with Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J., who is now the current dean of JST-SCU and was then the principal of Hekima College in Nairobi, Fr. Dominic had the opportunity to teach at Hekima. While there, he encountered students who challenged traditional interpretations of Scripture through the lens of their lived experiences. Teaching the Book of Job, he recalls a group of students connecting the end of Job’s story to post-genocide reconciliation in Rwanda: “How can healing begin when justice feels incomplete?” The class’s discussion revealed how cultural contexts breathe new life into ancient texts. Fr. Dominic reflects that “If you are looking at Job from a purely defined sense of justice, the ending may not make sense.” It is dissatisfying in some ways. Fr. Dominic’s students pointed out that if one was looking for a utopian kind of justice, the reconciliation process in Rwanda could also seem similarly dissatisfying. Instead, they saw within both stories an invitation to pick up the pieces of life, accept the other’s hand, and walk forward together, even when justice seems incomplete. “That day,” Fr. Dominic says, “I went home learning from my students how cultural context can be so powerfully informative for our reading of the Bible.” 

Bridging Worlds: Technology and Theology in Dialogue

Fr. Dominic’s unique expertise in both theology and computer science has fostered innovative conversations. At Hekima, he developed and taught courses such as “Information Technology and the Word of God” and “Creation in Genesis and Computer Science”. According to Fr. Dominic, “Technology isn’t just a tool—it reshapes how we think.” One student, who is now a student at JST-SCU, even presented a paper titled “God the Hacker,” reimagining divine creativity through a digital lens.   

Looking ahead, Fr. Dominic is cautiously intrigued by AI’s potential to transform theological education and the reading of scripture. “If we engage proactively, it can challenge us to interact with and apply scripture in new ways,” he says, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with ethical reflection and theological grounding.  

Jesuit Values in Action: Generosity and Global Dialogue

For Fr. Dominic, Jesuit identity is rooted in “generosity” and “diversity.” He expresses deep gratitude for the supportive community at JST-SCU, particularly professors Gina Hens-Piazza and (late) John Endres S. J., which enabled him to complete his doctoral studies. That spirit of generosity now inspires his own mentoring of students and care for those around him. “I have been a beneficiary of this Jesuit generosity even before joining the Jesuits,” he reflects. Recounting the story of his dad passing away when he was in the 7th grade, Fr. Dominic talks about how he was planning to drop out of the Jesuit school he attended but the leadership of the school heard he was in need and supported him. “That generosity, in turn, invited me to be generous to others,” he muses.

This sense of care extends to a deep commitment to diversity and global dialogue that is evident in Fr. Dominic’s upcoming projects, including a commentary on Micah and a 2025 international conference on “The Bible and Ecology”. This conference seeks to amplify the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis, “creating space and nurturing” scholars who are speaking to important issues for our historical moment. 

A Vision for the Future: Synodality and Encounter

As the Church embraces synodality, Fr. Dominic sees theology continuing to be anchored in cultural contexts through open dialogue. Whether as a scholar, consultor to the Vatican, or while accompanying students, his work is guided by the Jesuit tradition of encountering the world with curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to the Gospel that welcomes every voice to the table. 

About Fr. Dominic S Irudayaraj S.J.

Fr. Dominic S Irudayaraj S.J. is a professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a consultor to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. His forthcoming commentary on Micah will be published by a leading academic press. His other publications include the monograph Violence, Otherness, and Identity in Isaiah 63:1–6: The Trampling One Coming from Edom (Bloomsbury T&T Clark) and the co-edited volume Unity in the Book of Isaiah (Bloomsbury T&T Clark).