Course Facilitator Details

Location: MACHELEN (BRAB.) (1830), Belgium

Deacon Warlito J. Borja, PhD, SThD is a married Filipino-Belgian theologian currently serving in both the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. He is also Director of Catholic Religious Education at the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, and Editor-in-Chief of the Kerk en Leven newspaper for the Pastoral Zone of Zaventem. In addition to his pastoral and editorial work, Deacon Borja is deeply involved in Catholic education and theological scholarship. He facilitates courses through the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and serves as an International Examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB) in World Religions, Philosophy, and Theory of Knowledge (Geneva, Switzerland). He is also a board member and referee for two peer-reviewed journals: Lux Veritatis: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi) and Scientia: The International Journal of Liberal Arts (San Beda University). Dr. Borja holds both an academic and ecclesiastical doctorate in Systematic Theology (PhD and SThD) from the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). In 2018, he received two awards: the Humanitarian Service Excellence Award from the Asian Community Social Response (ACSR), and Outstanding Premier Male Philosopher and Theologian from Asian Achiever International. From 2017 to 2019, he worked at the International School of Belgium, where he served as CIS Coordinator, IGCSE and Exams Coordinator, and taught Philosophy and Theory of Knowledge. He is also a founder and co-founder of several lay Catholic communities in Belgium, including the Catholic Community of Leuven and the Catholic Charismatic Community of Brussels. Prior to moving to Belgium, Dr. Borja taught theology and philosophy at leading Philippine institutions, such as De La Salle University Manila, San Beda University, St. Paul University, University of Makati, and San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation. His scholarly work includes: “Synodality and Campus Ministry”, Indian Journal of Family Studies, Vol. 24, No. 2 (2023): 113–135. “A Glocal Declericalized Church in Response to Globalization”, in Revisiting Vatican II: 50 Years of Renewal Vol. II, ed. Shaji George Kochuthara (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2015): 228–307. “Declericalizing the Church in Response to Globalization”, Ephrem’s Theological Journal 17 (2013): 145–164. “The Legacy of Sin: A Theological Exposition”, Justitia 17 (2011). “The Kingdom of God and the Process of Globalization”, Justitia 15 (2010): 31–56. “Heresy and Heretics—Enemy or Friend of Inculturation?”, Justitia 14 (2009): 44–60. His ongoing research interests include: “The New Face of the Preferential Option for the Poor in Belgium”, exploring emerging forms of poverty in highly developed societies and how the Church can respond. The historical and cultural dominance of Christianity in Belgium and Europe, challenging the "post-Christian" narrative and proposing a renewed vision of Christianity. “Different Modalities of Permanent Diaconate in the Philippines”, examining the roles and formation of married deacons in a country where celibate priesthood remains the norm.