By Austine J. Crasta
John Wijngaards, a Catholic scripture scholar and former priest who served as a missionary in India, passed away on 2 January 2025, at the age of 89. The news of his passing was shared by Miriam Duignan, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research (WICR). Wijngaards had been battling a lung infection and was admitted to the hospital on 19 December. He departed this world peacefully on the afternoon of 2 January.
While Wijngaards is internationally recognised for his advocacy of women’s ordination, his extensive missionary work in India remains a cornerstone of his legacy.
After earning his licentiate in sacred scripture at the Biblicum and completing a doctorate on “The Formulas of the Deuteronomic Creed” at the Gregorian University in 1963, Wijngaards was appointed as a professor at St. John’s Major Seminary in Hyderabad. His influence extended to several institutions, including the National Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NCLC, later known as NBCLC), Nav Sadhana, and Mater Dei, where he inspired countless students and catechists.
Wijngaards played a pivotal role in implementing the conciliar reforms in India and contributed to various commissions of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI). His expertise in Islam also led him to serve as a Board Member of the Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies in Hyderabad, fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding.
Among his many achievements, Wijngaards was instrumental in founding the Amruthavani Communications Centre, Jeevan Jyothi Institute, and Jyotirmai Society. He developed the ‘Mukti Margam’ story-telling approach, which became an essential resource for catechists in Telugu, and was deeply engaged in the biblical apostolate, authoring numerous books to support this mission.
As a founding member of the Catholic Biblical Association of India (CBAI), Wijngaards contributed to the translation of the Telugu New Testament and was involved in the production of ‘Karunamayudu’, a full-length film on the life of Christ, which later evolved into the popular TV series ‘Daya Sagar’. He also served as the scriptwriter for the illustrated life of Christ in the renowned Amar Chitra Katha series and produced video courses for adult faith formation, making scripture accessible to a wider audience.
Over his lifetime, Wijngaards authored 35 books, several of which were published or reprinted in India. These include:
- Background to the Gospels, 1e: St. Paul’s, 1970; 2e: TPI, 1978.
- Reading God’s Word to Others, ATC, 1973.
- Did Christ Rule Out Women Priests?, 1e: 1977, 2e: 1986; Indian rep.: ATC, 1978.
- Communicating the Word of God, 1978; Indian rep.: TPI, 1979.
- Inheriting the Master’s Cloak: Creative Biblical Spirituality, 1985; Indian rep.: ATC, 1986.
- Experiencing Jesus: Scripture, the Witness of Saints and Mystics, and a Life of Prayer Show the Way, 1981; Indian rep.: Come and See, TPI, 1981.
- The Gospel of John and His Letters, 1986; Indian rep.: St. Pauls, 1990.
- Jesus for Ever: Fact and Faith, 1987; Indian rep.: St. Paul’s, 1987.
- How to Make Sense of God, 1995; Indian rep.: IJA, 1997.
- Christ’s Idea of Authority in the Church: Reflections on Reform, 2023; Indian rep.: ISPCK, 2024.
Wijngaards served as a missionary in India from 1963 until 1976, after which he was elected Vicar General of the Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) Society. He returned to India in 1982 but later based himself in London to focus on his writing, which he considered his most significant contribution. Despite visa restrictions, he continued to spend half of each year from 1984 to 1990 in India, teaching courses and preaching retreats across the country.
Born on 30 September 1935 to Dutch parents in Indonesia, Wijngaards faced significant adversity early in life, including four years in Japanese prisoner of war camps during World War II. After the war, he and his family were stranded in Thailand for five months before being repatriated to the Netherlands. During this time, he and his elder brother Carel served as mass servers for an Italian missionary, an experience that profoundly influenced Carel’s decision to become a missionary priest. Although John initially aspired to be a surgeon, he ultimately followed his brother’s path by joining the Mill Hill Missionaries and was ordained a priest in 1959. The loss of Carel to cancer during their seminary training deeply affected him, fuelling his determination to dedicate his life to selfless service.
In September 1998, he resigned from the priestly ministry, citing ‘an unresolvable conflict of conscience’ with Rome, particularly regarding its decrees on sexual doctrine and ethics, as well as the attempt to close the debate on the ordination of women. After being granted laicisation in February 2000, he married Jacqueline Clackson, with whom he continued his apostolate from London since 1984.
John Wijngaards leaves behind a rich legacy of scholarship, faith, and dedication to the Church in India. His contributions have profoundly impacted the lives of many, from students and catechists to the broader community, and his work will continue to inspire future generations of missionaries and scholars. His commitment to education and interfaith dialogue reflects his desire for a more engaged and responsive faith community, ensuring that his influence will be felt for years to come.
Austine J Crasta is a theologian, visual artist and a catholic communicator from Bangalore, India and is currently based out of Belgium.
John Wijngaards pictured outside his home in Denham, England on 15th August, 2023.
Picture courtesy: Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research
Sorry to read about his passing on. Never met him, but his book Christ’s Idea of Authority ” had a great impact my thinking. May he now enjoy eternal bliss