USJ Doctoral Forum in Religious Studies and Philosophy 2025
USJ Doctoral Forum in Religious Studies and Philosophy 2025
06
Jun
The USJ Doctoral School and the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy are organising a Doctoral Forum in the study/research area of Religious Studies and Philosophy on 6 of June 2025, in the Conference Room of the Seminary Campus.
The USJ Doctoral School and the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy are organising a Doctoral Forum in the study/research area of Religious Studies and Philosophy on 6 of June 2025, in the Multi-function Room of the USJ Seminary Campus.
Details:
Date: Friday, 6 June 2025
Time: 19:00 – 22:00 (GMT+8)
Location: Multi-function Room in the Seminary Campus of University of Saint Joseph (5, Largo de Santo Agostinho)
Language: English
Organised by USJ’s Doctoral School, and USJ’s Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy
Meeting ID: 863 1348 7688
Passcode: 419062
*This is a free event and open to the general public.
Programme:
19:00 – 19:30 | Opening Session
- Rector of USJ, Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan
- Dean of the Doctoral School, Prof. Adérito Fernandes-Marcos
- Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Fr. Cyril Jerome Jr. Law
- Area Professor Religious Studies, Prof. Fr. Franz Gassner
19:30 – 20:15 | Keynote Speaker
“Practical Theology and Religious Studies – Developing Imagination, Reflexivity and Wisdom for Research in the Field”
Speaker: Dr. Martin Percy
Abstract: Practical Theology is, by nature, open to the insights from social sciences. It attends to sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, political studies and linguistics. Following the work of James Hopewell, Nicholas Healy and others, this seminar invites us to begin reading and interpreting churches and denominations as cultures rather than measuring their beliefs and practices against theological claims.
George Lindbeck approached and interpreted theology and religion as a cultural-linguistic phenomenon. He viewed theology and religion as ‘regulative’ for culture, devising rules and codes that enabled religious institutions to navigate and avoid, or resist or adopt, cultural norms. Drawing on Mark C. Taylor, Peter Berger and others, we outline what it is to explore and explain religion and theology through the more indirect economic, social, political and historical evidence that can illuminates the context in which religions and theologies gestate. This requires reflexivity in Practical Theology, as well as imagination and humility in approaching fields such as ecclesiology. Wisdom and critical illumination can emerge through the refining processes of open, textured theological conversation.
Key Words: Practical Theology, Culture, Fieldwork and Research, Social Sciences and Theology, Reflexivity, Wisdom, Ecclesiology.
20:15 – 20:45 | Dinner Break
20:45 – 21:00 | Visit to the Seminary Campus Library
21:00 – 21:40 | Presentations of PhD Projects:
“The Hermeneutic of Gregorian Chant: 4-Steps in Creating Cantonese Sung Mass Propers in the Reformed Roman Liturgy”
Speaker: Mr. Wong Lee Chun, Antonio
Abstract: Inspired by personal interests and the recent trend of rehabilitating the Proper Chants of the Mass in the reformed Roman liturgy, Antonio Wong explores the technical challenges of creating Cantonese Sung Mass Propers in a style that resonates with the tradition of Gregorian melody. With respect to the linguistic characteristics of the Cantonese tongue, Wong proposes a paradigm entitled “the Hermeneutic of Gregorian Chant” as a compositional rationale for writing Gregorian-style melodies in Cantonese. Considering the general theories of Gregorian chant centred around the Solesmes school, Wong highlights the intrinsic relationship between language, text, and melody in the Corpus Gregorianum. Employing the concept of “hermeneutic” as an interpretation process, he identifies four steps to generate Cantonese Sung Mass Propers that would possibly resonate with the Gregorian style. This compositional paradigm intends to connect newly composed Cantonese liturgical chant with the Gregorian tradition, hence, in both theory and performance style, to preserve the unique soundscape of the chants of the Roman rite.
Keywords: Mass Propers, Gregorian Chant, Cantonese Chant.
“Rhetoric and Music: Applying Aristotle’s Rhetorica to Josquin Desprez’s Miserere Mei Deus“
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Peter Chang Pak Hung
Abstract: This dissertation examines the application of Aristotle’s Rhetorica in analysing Josquin Desprez’s Renaissance motet Miserere Mei Deus, focusing on the interplay between text and music. By integrating rhetorical principles with musical analysis, the study highlights how rhetoric enhances the interpretation of motets, offering a novel methodological approach. The research underscores the centrality of textual-musical relationships in Renaissance motet development and suggests broader applications for rhetorical analysis in 15th- and 16th-century compositions. Findings indicate that a rhetorical lens deepens musical understanding, fosters emotionally compelling performances, and opens avenues for future studies on rhetoric’s role across genres and composers.
21:40 – 22:00 | Closing Remarks
- Prof. Fr. Cyril Law and Prof. Fr. Franz Gassner
