Prof. Michał Paluch OP – Master of Sacred Theology
Father Gerard Timoner, Master of the Order, awarded Father Michael Paluch the title of Master of Sacred Theology. This is the highest honorary academic title awarded in the Dominican Order in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of theology and contributions to the promotion of studies in the Order. In Poland, only three other fathers have this title: Jacek Salij OP, Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski OP and Bogusław Kochaniewicz OP.
The ceremony of conferring the title will take place on 23 June 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in St. Thomas Aquinas Hall, at 12 Stolarska Street in Cracow, Poland. The programme of the ceremony includes laudations to be delivered by Dr Wojciech Giertych OP, Theologian of the Papal Household, Prof. Mikołaj Olszewski, from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Dr Michał Mrozek OP from the Thomistic Institute in Warsaw and Dr Dominik Jarczewski OP, regent of studies. This will be followed by a master’s lecture by Fr Paluch, entitled, “Theology of my dreams”.
Father Michał Paluch was born on 14 March 1967 in Jarocin. Before entering the Order, he studied at the Music School in Katowice. In 1987, he entered the Order, where he made his solemn profession in 1993. Two years later he was ordained priest.
From 1996 to 2000, he studied dogmatic theology at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), where in 2001 he defended his doctoral thesis entitled: “Profundum amoris divini sustinet nos. Évolution de la doctrine de la prédestination dans l’œuvre de saint Thomas d’Aquin.” In 2013, he was awarded the degree of Habilitation in Philosophy (conferred by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw).
From 2002 to 2010, Fr. Paluch was director of the Thomistic Institute in Warsaw. Then, from 2010 to 2013, he was rector of the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology in Cracow. For the next three years, Fr Paluch was regent of studies for the Polish Province (2014–2017), to later become rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum). He held this position, as the second Pole in history, until 2021.
Father Paluch teaches at the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology and at the Angelicum. He is a member of several scientific societies, including Société Internationale pour l’Étude de la Philosophie Médiévale and Internationale Gesellschaft für Theologische Mediävistik.
The main research fields of Fr. Paluch include dogmatic and fundamental theology. He lives on a daily basis at the Priory of Saints Dominic and Sixtus in Rome (Angelicum).