Maryknoll Institute of African Studies

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Browsing Maryknoll Institute of African Studies by Subject "Evangelization"

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    The Catholic Church’s Evangelization and the Contemporary Challenges of Family Life in Nairobi
    (Tangaza University College, 2012-06) Kientga, Joseph
    The thesis aimed at understanding the Catholic Church’s evangelization and the contemporary challenges of family life in Nairobi. The research was carried out in Nairobi in Saint Theresa parish in Eastleigh and in Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in South B, among the middle and lower socio-economic classes from different ethnic communities. The study explored people’s understanding of evangelization today with regards to family life, the traditional understanding of family life, the contemporary challenges affecting many families in Nairobi and the way in which the Catholic Church is addressing these contemporary challenges in her mission of evangelization. The study pointed out that with the modern and urban lifestyle of Nairobi, the African family which is the basic cell of the society is undergoing rapid flux in its structure, size and values. The traditional African family life characterized by its big size in term of wives and children, its togetherness, unity, solidarity, generosity, hospitality is seriously challenged by modernity and urban lifestyle. Many families are, therefore, facing contemporary challenges such as poverty, economic constraints, unemployment, abuse of alcohol, unfaithfulness, HIV and AIDS and domestic conflicts often leading to divorce and separation. Evangelization was, therefore, understood not only as the preaching of the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Church or the mass conversion of people to Christianity, but the whole process of making the Gospel alive in people’s daily life. Furthermore, it is bringing love, hope, justice, peace and reconciliation in families. In other words, it is the living and witnessing of the Kingdom of God in daily life and in the family. Since Vatican II held in 1962-1965, the Catholic Church of Africa and especially in Nairobi has shown considerable pastoral concern towards the families. The conclusions and recommendations on marriage and family life from many Synods and plenary assemblies are still to be implemented. Furthermore, the study pointed out the Catholic Church’s pastoral approach to family life is predominantly based on the Western understanding of the nuclear family and therefore does not address adequately the contemporary challenges facing the families in Nairobi. The study concluded that despite the modern and urban lifestyle which has affected both individuals and their families, resulting individualism, family breakdown, HIV and AIDS, street children, criminality, immorality and deviant behaviours, most Nairobi residents still value their lineal family. Family life is still highly valued as communal and integral including not only the nuclear family which lives in Nairobi but also the relatives back in the rural areas, the ancestors and the yet-to-be-born. So, it is in this communal framework that all the issues, joys, difficulties and challenges related to family life should be dealt with especially by the Catholic Church’s Family Ministry. The thesis, therefore recommended a profound inculturation of the sacrament of marriage in such a way that the lineal families of the two parties involved in marriage and the Small Christian Community (SCC) will have an active participation in preparing the young couples for marriage. The lineal families and the SCC, through their guidance, advice, spiritual and material support will have the responsibility to journey with them in their joys and challenges. In addition to the establishment of competent Family Ministry with qualified pastoral agents in the parishes of Nairobi, the study also recommended that it is necessary to have a Youth Ministry which will journey with the youth in their search for intellectual, moral, emotional, psychological and spiritual fulfilment. With the high rise of Domestic conflicts and family breakdowns, the study argues that it is urgent that the Catholic Church in Nairobi especially the clergy, the religious and all the lay pastoral agents make the contemporary challenges of family a pastoral priority. This will save the precious social and religious institution from crumbling and will make it a real “domestic Church”.