By Fr Stan Rodrigues
 
Rome, Jan 18: On January 16th 2013, Fr. Oswald Crasta OCD (Carmelite) of Karnataka-Goa Province successfully defended his doctoral thesis “A Philosophical Search into the Understanding of Being in Edith Stein’s “Finite and Eternal being: an Attempt at an Ascent to the Meaning of Being” with a Carmelite Background”, in the faculty of philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Rome. This research work was done under the guidance of renowned scholars, Prof. Walter Senner OP and Prof. Angela Ales Bello. The work and the defense was much appreciated by the examiners. They also lauded the research for developing the philosophical perspective of being in Edith Stein, and connecting it to the spiritual and mystical elements in human being.

Fr. Oswald hails from Christ the King Church, Kayyar (Mangalore Diocese). In 1992 he joined the Carmelite Order, and did his philosophy at Mysore and theology at Rachol Goa. He was ordained to priesthood in the year 2005. He has to his credit an MA in philosophy from Karnataka University, Dharwad, and a licentiate in philosophy from the same University where he defended his doctoral thesis.
 
Fr. Oswald is the son of  Irene D’ Souza and late Jerome Crasta, and sixth among 8 children. Acknowledging the bountiful blessings that God showered upon him, he also thanked all those who helped him in his research work. The Carmelite friars of the Karnataka-Goa province wish him all the success in his future responsibilities.