About This Site
This is a private site of Dr Stuart C Bate OMI which provides academic
resources for students and other interested persons. It is a collection
of some of my writings as well as bibliographies in the area of cultural
studies, pastoral studies and missiology. It reflects my academic interests
which include the interface of theology and human culture, questions of
religious healing, evangelisation and mission studies. The site also provides
information about my books, my articles and some links to sites that would
be of interest to students in these areas.
Biographical Summary
Dr Stuart C Bate O.M.I. is Provincial Superior of the Natal Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
He is Grand Chancellor of St Josephs Theological Institute Cedara and currently Chairman of the Board of Members of the same Institute.
Between 2003 and 2009 he was Adjunct Professor of Religion and Theology at the University of KwaZulu Natal"
He is the author of a number of books and articles in the areas of mission history, religious healing, inculturation and practical theology. He has lectured and given conferences in Africa, Europe and North America. He was consultant to the World Council of Churches on Healing in 2000 and 2002 and to the International Roman Catholic - Reformed Churches dialogue in 2001. He was the African participant in the International Theological Video Conference organised by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy between 2002 and 2005.
He was born in Greater Manchester, England in 1947 and immigrated with
his parents to South Africa in 1965. From 1966-1969 he studied at the University
of Natal in Durban where he obtained an honours degree in Chemistry. He
converted to the Catholic Church in 1968 and from 1970 to 1974 was a full-time
organiser for the Young Christian Workers movement. Thereafter he worked
as an industrial chemist in the mining industry. In 1976 he entered to novitiate
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Germiston and after studies at Cedara
and in Rome he was ordained a Priest in 1982. After 8 years at Inchanga
mission in the Valley of a Thousand hills, he was sent for further studies
in Missiology and obtained a Licentiate in 1990. He was lecturer at St Josephs
Theological Institute, Cedara, from 1990 - 2002. He was Professor of Religious
Education and Ministry at St Augustine College of South Africa in Johannesburg
between 2002 and 2005.