Master of Arts in Spirituality and Religious Formation

Permanent URI for this collection

http://192.168.4.170:4000/handle/20.500.12342/972

Welcome to Master of Arts in Spirituality and Religious Formation

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Influence of Integral Psycho - Spiritual Formation On Vocation Discernment with Reference To the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) In South Africa
    (Tangaza University College, 2017-05) Alois Mangwele, John
    This dissertation looked at the Influence of the integral psycho-spiritual formation on vocation discernment with reference to the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) in South Africa. The study was prompted by an observation of the researcher that the current Pallottine formative approach needed a review in order to facilitate genuine vocation discernment of candidates. Over the past few years, the problem was manifested through the behavior of some candidates who after being asked to discontinue with their formation show lack of understanding that consecrated life is an unmerited gift from God. Again, through candidates who showed inconsistency in discernment about their vocation to consecrated life. The work reviewed literature of other writers in connection with formation and vocation discernment. The study adopted a mixed method of research design, which was both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The sample size of the study included the 26 candidates in the Pallottine formation house in South Africa, 3 priests who are serving as formators, the 6 priests who have served as formators in the past years, and 5 other Pallottine priests and brothers. The research instruments used, were questionnaires with close-ended questions to obtain quantitative data, and openended questions to obtain qualitative data. The findings of the study showed that the human – Psychological dimension of candidates was less attended to, as compared to the Spiritual dimension in the formation of candidates. This created a formative environment that was less favorable for vocation discernment. Although the respondents indicated that candidates were able to discern their vocation, it was however revealed that sometimes the decisions that they made were inconsistent with their call to consecrated life. The study also established that formators needed to acquire more formative skills, since lack of skilled formators contributes to creating an unfavorable atmosphere for vocation discernment. In conclusion, the research established that programmes that enhance humanpsychological growth of candidates be re-introduced in the formation system and further, formation of formators needed to be considered as an area of urgency.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Family Impact On Vocation Discernment Among De La Salle Brothers In Lwanga District, Kenya.
    (Tangaza University College, 2020) Olabanjo, Wole Patrick
    This study explored family impact on vocation discernment among De La Salle Brothers in Lwanga District, Kenya. Though family impact on vocation discernment can be both positive and negative, the researcher dwelt more in exploring the negative impact. The objectives of the study include exploring the impact of parents on the vocation discernment of aspirants to the Religious Life among the De La Salle Brothers; to study the impact of pressure for financial family support on temporary professed Brothers. The study was carried out among 90 targeted population and 90 sampling population, in Lwanga District of Africa, an Anglophone Province of the De La Salle Brothers Congregation in the Catholic Church. The Province comprises of six countries: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, with the headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The study has been able to find out the impact of family pressure on professed Brothers and young men aspiring to join the congregation. This impact could be negative or positive. When the family plays its role of good family upbringing, family prayers and bible reading, family devotion, unity and love in the family, parents’ faithfulness to each other, and participation in religious activities in the parish, there is positive impact on the child. All these prepare fertile ground for the child later in life to choose Religious Life of the Brothers. However, when the family fails in its role of proper upbringing, it has negative impact on the child. The research used a mixed method design comprised both qualitative and quantitative methods. The data was collected by the use of questionnaires and interview guide. The quantitative data was analyzed and presented in percentages and numbers while the qualitative data was analyzed according to the emerging themes in line with the research objectives. The study suggested some intervention strategies for addressing family impact on vocation to religious life among the Brothers
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Factors Influencing Vocation To Brotherhood In Holy Cross Congregation District Of East Africa
    (Tangaza University College, 2021-01) Kakeeto, Rogers
    The general objective of the study is to assess the factors influencing the rate of vocation to be a brother in Holy Cross Congregation in East Africa. The objectives that guided the study are; to explore how social status influence vocation to be a brother; to examine how the factor of being a clerical congregation may be influencing vocation to a brother;to determine how the need for professional career satisfaction influences vocation to be a brother, to investigate how different motivations influences vocation to be a brother and to identify possible ways of responding to challenges of vocation to be a brother in Holy Cross Congregation in East Africa. The study anchored on the Maslow hierarchy of needs theory and the Model of the Congregation of Holy Cross Charism.The study used convergent parallel approach to the mixed methods research design. The target population in this study is107 and used Total Population Sampling to study the 107 respondents. The study usedinterview guide and selfadministered questionnaire for data collection. The quantitative data will be coded and analyzed systematically and presented using figure, percentages and chats. The qualitative data was analyzed according to the emerging themes and the results of both the quantitative and qualitative findings were compared to draw out their significance for the study. The study established that social status, lack of awareness and perception that clerical vocation is more prestigious and glamorous than that of brotherhood are some of the factors affecting reduced vocations in brotherhood. The study recommends the need for a rigorous promotion of brotherhood vocations, training of brothers as professionals, uplift the status of brothers and put in place proper discernment of vocations to reduce the high rate of brothers’ turnover.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Factors Influencing Vocation to Brotherhood In Holy Cross Congregation District of East Africa
    (Tangaza University College, 2021-01) Rogers, Kakeeto
    The general objective of the study is to assess the factors influencing the rate of vocation to be a brother in Holy Cross Congregation in East Africa. The objectives that guided the study are; to explore how social status influence vocation to be a brother; to examine how the factor of being a clerical congregation may be influencing vocation to a brother;to determine how the need for professional career satisfaction influences vocation to be a brother, to investigate how different motivations influences vocation to be a brother and to identify possible ways of responding to challenges of vocation to be a brother in Holy Cross Congregation in East Africa. The study anchored on the Maslow hierarchy of needs theory and the Model of the Congregation of Holy Cross Charism.The study used convergent parallel approach to the mixed methods research design. The target population in this study is107 and used Total Population Sampling to study the 107 respondents. The study usedinterview guide and selfadministered questionnaire for data collection. The quantitative data will be coded and analyzed systematically and presented using figure, percentages and chats. The qualitative data was analyzed according to the emerging themes and the results of both the quantitative and qualitative findings were compared to draw out their significance for the study. The study established that social status, lack of awareness and perception that clerical vocation is more prestigious and glamorous than that of brotherhood are some of the factors affecting reduced vocations in brotherhood. The study recommends the need for a rigorous promotion of brotherhood vocations, training of brothers as professionals, uplift the status of brothers and put in place proper discernment of vocations to reduce the high rate of brothers’ turnover.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Spiritual Direction as A Tool of Nurturing and Discerning Vocations to Priesthood in The Catholic Diocese of Malindi, Kenya
    (Tangaza University College, 2020-02) Kamau, Karanja Peter
    Many young men and women are often confused when it comes to choosing their vocations and careers. This study explored the use of spiritual direction as a tool of discerning and nurturing vocations to priesthood within the Catholic Diocese of Malindi, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to investigate how spiritual direction is a means of discerning and nurturing vocations to priesthood; exploring the meaning of spiritual direction and discernment; identifying challenges in vocational discernment in the Catholic Diocese of Malindi, and to suggest appropriate strategies for addressing issues and challenges related to discernment and nurturing vocations to priesthood. The study was anchored and guided by Rulla’s theory of psycho-social dynamics of Christian vocation.The research adopted a mixed method research design, which was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The target population was: 10 priests from across the diocese, 10 religious nuns from across the parishes, 10 parents, 12 seminarians, the vocation team (5), 20 Catholic male students (form IV) from different secondary schools in the diocese, and 40 Catholic male youth ranging between 18-25years from various parishes. The sample size was 107. The study used stratified sampling procedure to get the required data for the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interview guide. The data collected were coded and analysed using Microsoft Excel Programme with tables, charts, and figures generated in Microsoft Word Programme. Some of the elements measured took into consideration the parishes of the respondents, age, gender, and academic levels. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics which included frequencies, percentages, and deviation means. The qualitative data was analyzed using themes based on the research objectives and presented in form of narratives using figures and tables. The study found that spiritual direction plays a crucial role in facilitating discernment, nurturing, fostering growth and guiding candidates to embrace the vocation to priesthood as confirmed by the majority of the respondents. However, the study noted that spiritual direction is not utilized fully in the discernment and nurturing of vocations to priesthood in the CDM. It was noted in the research that spiritual direction is not widely practised among the youth. The study concludes that spiritual direction should be popularised among the youth and that there should be good collaboration between the Pastoral agents and parents in helping the youth discern and nurture their vocations. The study recommended the necessity of adequate training of the vocation team in the Diocese on vocational discernment and accompaniment and enhancing spiritual direction skills in both the directors and directees.