From Brazil to Rome to Notre Dame: One scholar’s journey to becoming a theologian

For Antônio Jose Lemos, being a college professor was always part of the plan. Since he was young, he was passionate about marking out his path towards that goal. He wanted to study theology, but he wanted to do it in the very best places to study theology, particularly as a Catholic. After pursuing law studies in his home country, Brazil, he enrolled in the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy, and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology, and then went on to earn his master’s in theology. From there, he started looking into Ph.D. programs. Notre Dame was at the top of his list.

Antônio had his eye on Notre Dame for a few reasons. For starters, it had the exact kind of theology program he was interested in. “One of the things I do in my research is the historical method. So I go back in history and see how theologians dealt with a specific ethical problem and try to apply their ideas toward present issues,” he shares. “Notre Dame happens to be one place that has a very solid historical theology program.” Another point in Notre Dame’s favor is that it’s theology program is consistently ranked the top theology, divinity, and religious studies program globally. Finally, the majority of the theologians doing the most important work in his field were professors at Notre Dame (not to mention, many of the professors at the other university he considered had studied at Notre Dame themselves).

The day he got accepted was one of the happiest days of his life. “I couldn’t sleep—I spent the whole night awake just out of excitement.”

Continuing his research at a Catholic university was especially beneficial, as his research touches on Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic theologians. “My field of theology is moral theology. I deal with ethical problems, social problems.” Specifically, his research examines migration ethics in Catholic social teaching, with a particular focus on the contemporary articulation of the theological and moral principles that serve as the bedrock of migrants’ rights. It asks the question, what does the Catholic Church teach about my migrants’ rights and the migration crisis?

In Notre Dame, he found the ideal setting to pursue his research. “At Notre Dame, you start your Ph.D. program in a community of scholars and researchers. During the first two years, you take coursework in different fields, which opens up your horizons. You have peers working side by side with you with whom you’re sharing your research.” For Antônio, another important part of his education was not just advancing and refining his research, but learning how to teach it. “I want to be a good professor, not just a researcher.” This was another area where Notre Dame excelled—his education included training for how to teach. By providing workshops and actual teaching experiences, students are exposed to teaching early on, as opposed to being thrown into it after they get their Ph.D.

The only problem with Notre Dame? “There are more resources than ideas you can come up with to use them,” says Antônio, jokingly. “I've been to conferences all over the world, and had opportunities to present my paper to scholars...the resources for research are incredible.” He also took opportunities to get involved through fellowships, becoming a fellow at several organizations, including the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, the Jacques Maritain Center, the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, and the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. “I was blessed to be part of very different institutes as a fellow,” Antônio says, “These were also opportunities of community.”

Last summer, he finished his Ph.D. program and defended his dissertation titled, “The right to travel and dwell in Francisco de Vitoria and Domingo de Soto: a historical retrieval of the right to migrate in Catholic social teaching.” In the fall, he started as a postdoc at Notre Dame. Now, he spends his days both continuing his research and instructing as a teaching scholar in the Department of Theology. “I love teaching. I love engaging with students, and I love sharing my faith through theology…Since I was 18 years old in college in Brazil, I already had the mind to be a college teacher someday. So it's a dream fulfilled in a way.”

Noting the growing number of Brazilian students at Notre Dame, the largest population of international students, Antônio shares that it’s particularly special for him to teach Brazilian students. “Knowing that Notre Dame is so engaged with Brazil excites me. Thaïs [Burmeister de Campos Pire] has all kinds of incredible things she’s sharing about Notre Dame in Brazil, and I really appreciate the work she’s doing,” he says, speaking of the Notre Dame São Paulo director.

An especially beautiful part of his journey at Notre Dame, Antônio says, is how many opportunities he’s found here to grow in his faith. As a Catholic, he’s found community on campus through prayer groups, adoration, and programs Campus Ministry puts on. After meeting his wife here, they went through a marriage prep course together that Campus Ministry organized.

Beyond his personal faith life, Notre Dame’s Catholic identity has also impacted his work. “I see the overlap between my faith and my research and my teaching, and I really appreciate this. I cannot take that for granted.” Between publishing papers, receiving fellowships, engaging in community activities, and finding his life partner (and starting his family), it’s clear that Antônio has not taken a single opportunity or experience for granted while at Notre Dame. His is a dream well pursued, and a journey still ongoing.