Master in Pastoral Ministry

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    Integral Youth Formation: A Necessity for the Church in Africa
    (Tangaza University College/Duquesne University, 2011-12) Idowu, Olufunmilayo Josephine
    The world and all that exists within it experience their own challenges. These challenges are part and parcel of growth. The world population as stated by CNN Tech stands at seven billion and 1.2 billion of the population are youths. The challenges facing the youth of today do not have much difference from one part of the world to another. My thesis is based on the problems facing the youth in Africa and the consequences on the Catholic Church in Africa. If the Church does not wake up to her responsibility of providing an integral formation for the youths then the future will not be promising. The youths of the 21 st Century are faced with problems such as: unemployment, lack of self awareness and self actualization, uncertainty and emotional anxieties, alcohol and drug abuse, pre-marital sexual acts, sexually transmitted diseases, exploitation from the adults, secularism, youth violence, lack of formal and informal education etc. 2 The Church has been an agent of the spiritual formation of the people of God for centuries and the youth have benefited from this formation, but the whole idea of spiritual formation will be less effective if human, intellectual and pastoral elements of formation are not properly integrated in the lives of the youth, especially in Africa. As the Church encourages an ongoing formation for priests likewise I believe it is necessary for the youth to be given a formation that is general and integral. This involves a process of constant growth, deepening each of the aspects of formation i.e. human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. 3 The Church does not only show love to those who are afflicted by human miseries but also seeks the growth of every human person. She nurtures and brings about development in the lives of her faithful. 4 I believe that an integral formation of the youth will not only spur transformation in the youth themselves but also in the society and in the Church. This transformation will lead them to become better citizens, men and women of integrity, people who live their vocation to the fullest, good leaders in the society and good Christians. The integrated formation of the social, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral aspects in the life of the youth will be of benefit to the Church in Africa. The conception “youth” means different things to different people in accordance to their experience with the youth. Some consider them rebels, others revolutionary, others consider them the conscience of the society, others see them as cheats, e.tc. Most times they are forgotten by the adults because they are considered still far from realising themselves. Pope Benedict sees them as those who yearn for happiness: “In every period of history, including our own, many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. Many of them yearn to build authentic friendships, to know true love, to start a family that will remain united, to achieve personal fulfilment and real security, all of which are the guarantee of a serene and happy future.” The challenges faced by the youth of today are challenges that either break them or make them. This moment in their life is a time of questioning, of searching, of falling in and out of love, of being rebellious, of fighting for justce. If all these challenges are addressed and properly taken care of, then the future is bright. The first part of this thesis has the information about my insertion experiences in Mother Bertilla Training School and among the members of the vocation group belonging to the congregation of the Daughters of St Paul. It also covers the socio-cultural analysis and pastoral concerns of these two places with the pastoral agents present there. My objective in doing this study, the problem that motivated my preference of this study, the significance of this thesis and scope within which I carried out my practicum experience are clearly in the first chapter. In the second chapter I presented a logical flow of realities concerning the theme of the thesis. With the aid of different available materials I have presented the theological and pastoral principles of the integral formation of young people in the scripture and the Church teachings. The third chapter presents the theological reflection supporting the theme of this thesis. Since the theme of the thesis is about the integral formation of the young people, the theological reflection is based on the sound teachings of the Church and its connection to the Christian calling to holiness. This calling includes the prophetic role of the young people in the Church and the Church’s role in their lives as God’s children. It also elaborates the benefit of the integral formation of the youth to the growing Church of Africa. The final chapter of the thesis is about the recommendations and pastoral plan for action, with the summary of my findings, pastoral conclusions, pastoral recommendations and pastoral plan for required action in view of the problems or deficiencies observed. The integral formation of the young people in the Church is a necessity that not only prepares the youth for the future but also it fulfils the mission of the Church to nurture every member of Christ’s body, which is every member of the Church. The recognition of the importance of today’s young people along with their vitality is a benefit of the Church in Africa. Pope John Paul II, calls our attention to this fact by saying: The Church needs to recognize the positive impact the young people have on her. She is to make use of their active and joyful spirit in energizing the Church in Africa.