Fr. Jose Junar dela Victoria Doctoral Defense

Fr. Jose Junar N. dela Victoria, a priest of the Archdiocese of Davao, successfully defended his Doctoral Dissertation in Canon Law last May 27, 2013, at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (PontificalUniversity of the Holy Cross) in Rome. The aim of his research was to study how ecclesiastical judges evaluate the reports or opinions of the psychologists and psychiatrists who are designated as experts in ecclesiastical tribunals. Thus, dissertation was entitled, “Judicial Moral Certainty of the Valuation of Experts in Matrimonial Nullity Cases of Affective Immaturity in Canon 1095, no. 3”. Present in the event were his mother Aurora and other close relatives, as well as his former Archbishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla, and friends from Italy, the Philippines, and the United States. His father Napoleon passed away a couple of years ago.

Fr. Junar did his Licentiate in Canon Law at the University of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain. He also holds a Doctorate in Religious Studies (Holy Cross, Davao) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration (Seton Hall University, New Jersey).

After his Doctoral Defense and the Profession of Faith, refreshments were served at the University, followed by cocktails, dinner and a short program at the Collegio. He thanked all those present for their prayers and support, as he renewed his desire to serve the Church back home.

All were visibly elated and thankful for this event, which capped Fr. Junar’s two year’s intense work in the EternalCity. During these years of his study he simultaneously undertook some pastoral work in an Italian parish in Rome, and was invited to give talks, recollections, and spiritual leadership formations to the Filipino migrants of Rome in Italy, Athens in Greece, Vienna in Austria as well as those of Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland. Fr. Junar, congratulations, and rest assured of our prayers as you embark in a new stage in your Priestly ministry!