Theses and Dissertation

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    Guidelines and Approaches for The Initial Formation of The Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Christ Of the Ethiopian Delegation
    (Tangaza University College, 2017) Gebrewold, Tochallo Lujina
    Over the years, formation has been the main tradition used as pedagogy by formators to ensure that desirable values, based on the Catholic religious teachings, are imparted in formees. This promotes the general development and growth of the Church’s mission to all the world through the shaping of individual candidates, Christian dogma and concepts. Little emphasis has been placed on the importance of quality formation guidelines. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to research on the guidelines to ensuring quality initial formation in the congregation of the Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Christ in the Ethiopian delegation. The research examines the existing approaches to formation, importance of guidelines for quality formation and proposes some ways of implementing guidelines for the quality formation of the Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Christ in the Ethiopian delegation. The study uses purposive sampling design, and the analysis of the research embraces both quantitative and qualitative approaches to obtain some conclusions from the field findings. In addition, it adopts the social identity theory to analyze the initial formation process of candidates. The literature from other scholars presents an in-depth understanding of the religious, it is also used to support or differ with the field findings. Respondents of the study include religious candidates, formators, the regional superior, community superiors and the community members of the Ethiopian delegation. Data from respondents was collected through questionnaires and interview guide research tools. The findings of the study will be used to provide some insights, regarding quality religious formation. Towards the end, suggests some possible approaches which could improve the initial formation of candidates to consecrated life.
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    Formation of Youth as A Basis for Genuine Consecrated Vocations in The Catholic Diocese of Kisii, Kenya
    (Tangaza University College, 2019-06) Mititi, Evans Nyabwari
    This study explored youth formation as a basis for genuine consecrated vocations in the Catholic Diocese of Kisii in Kenya. It was anchored on Plato‘s theory of education which reckons education as the best means to attain an ideal state, just as formation of youths is the basis for genuine consecrated vocations in the Catholic Diocese of Kisii. The objectives of the study were: To explore youth formation which could contribute to genuine consecrated vocations, to find out the relationship between formation of youths and genuine consecrated vocations, to examine challenges faced in forming youths and propose some ways of promoting youth formation for genuine consecrated vocations in the Catholic Diocese of Kisii. This study used convergent parallel research design. This design combines both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer a research question. The researcher administered questionnaires with both open-ended and close-ended items and interview guides to the sampled population, aiming at getting their attitudes and opinions on the study at hand, qualitatively and quantitatively. The target population for this research included youths, parents, a youth coordinator, youth advisors, seminarians, novices, religious men and women and priests. The sample size of the study was 354 respondents but the actual number of respondents was 336. This number accounted for 94.9%. To verify the validity of the instruments, a pilot test was carried out and the Cronbach‘s alpha was 0.709. The data for the study was gathered through the questionnaires and interview guides from the field and was presented in tables, pie-charts, frequencies and percentages. The quantitative data was coded and entered into the computer for computation of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The SPSS software, version 22 was used for the analysis. Qualitative findings were arranged according to themes and interpreted in relation to the objectives of the study and were reported in a narrative form. The study found out that 58 % of the respondents disagreed that the youths are well formed to face any life challenge, 81.6% approved that well-formed youths make good consecrated persons, 57.2% agreed that forming young people is a difficult task and 78.1% favored the assertion that proper youth formation is attainable. Both qualitative and quantitative findings were triangulated and gave some insights on the formation of youths as the basis for genuine consecrated vocations in the catholic Diocese of Kisii.
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    Integrating African Spiritual Formation Values with Christian Values in the Religious Formation of African Men and Women in Nairobi - Kenya
    (Tangaza University College/Saint Mary university of Minnesota(Nairobi Campus), 2015-05) Mutesh, Petronilla Lumati
    The study explores whether there has been any integration of African spiritual formation values with Christian values in the religious formation of African men and women in the many religious houses in Nairobi. This comes out of the call from the African Synod of Bishops on inculturation in 1994. The task of exploring this out was done among congregations of men and women; thus the indigenous and the international congregations. The focus was on how much is being done to embrace some of these African spiritual formation values in the formation of these African men and women so as to enable them to find their own identity within the church in the true spirit of inculturation. The study reveals that the majority of African religious men and women feel uncomfortable to express and fully radiate who they are as African religious. They remain in a state of identity loss, and tend to feel uncomfortable in embracing their core values from African cultures which form part and parcel of who they are. The result of which, as it was found out, is the cause of an identity crisis among African religious men and women. It was ironical and surprising to learn that the integration of African spiritual formation values has not taken root in religious congregations founded within Africa. One would have expected that these congregations would set the pace in the implementation of the integration of African spiritual formation values with Christian values among their members. This shows how the apparent slow integration of African spiritual formation values in formation of African religious men and women cannot be blamed on congregations of foreign origin alone. The study also found out that there are differing interpretations and expressions of African spiritual formation values by Africans and non-African men and women religious; for example, whereas the African value of hospitality is given strong emphasis by Africans, the same is still a value but perceived and expressed differently by non- Africans. Even among Africans, the manner in which the older members understand hospitality is different from the younger ones, requiring more dialogue that may foster a common understanding. In conclusion, the study therefore, points to the need to foster a solid foundation in both initial and on-going formation of African men and women with an integrated and holistic understanding of religious life. This goal can only be achieved through the integration of African spiritual formation values of family built on love, forgiveness and solidarity, spontaneous prayers, self-reliance and hard work, respect for elders and authority, hospitality, other-centeredness and service. Religious men and women in Africa are part of the global church and in order to experience an atmosphere of feeling at home, the call to inculturation cannot be over-emphasized. This call needs to be deepened and nurtured for religious life to take root on the African continent.
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    A Theological And Mission Oriented Religious Formation: A Case Study Of The Formation Process Of The Dominican Missionary Sisters Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Of Zambia, Zimbabwe And Kenya Regions.
    (Tangaza University College/Duquesne University, 2016) Chama, Mwila
    Formation is at the heart of mission. Renewal and growth of the Dominican life is highly dependent on the formation of new candidates to religious life, and promotion of on-going formation. Once candidates are well formed and abetted to be attentive, they could understand the way forward in their assignment and mission as missionaries. Candidates are not formed in isolation, but are part and parcel of other candidates who respond in a similar way to God’s invitation of following Christ within the same congregation. Later, in their community life, they will also encounter members that will have gone through a period of formation and will form a new community. It is during this time then that each one of them will have to hold on to the viable attributes of religious life, namely, prayer, communion, continuous learning and renewal of life in Jesus Christ. In the course of religious life, it seems to me that the majority of the professed members are not in touch with the core of their vocation. After formal formation, that is postulancy, novitiate and temporal formation, interests for mission shifts to a more independent and self-oriented life. Eventually, with perpetual profession, most of the times, members are aloof to community activities and programmes. The meaning of community life, service and mission are questioned. For some who may have the zeal to venture into a mission, sometimes it seems to me that there is some hidden interest. We find some members who overstay in the same position, doing the same thing, now and again, and may become inflexible to any changes or transfers as a result. It is hoped that this study will provoke searching souls and formators, leadership and all the members of the congregation, especially in the regions mentioned, to evaluate the meaning of a vocation and mission. In the process of all these discoveries, there is need to establish the fact that formation is actually the work of the Holy Spirit. If from the very beginning, candidates know what they are up to and who it is that they respond to, the zeal for mission would be kept alive not only in the diverse and strenuous cultural demands, but also in those moments when feelings of uncertainty overwhelm them. Whether in communities where they are familiar or not, they will still respond with intent to that which they are called to. This may even be an opening to respond to the needs of time and missions where the sisters may be needed, both within the countries they serve as well as places that may be completely new. On the whole, the aspect of formation is not only in designated houses of formation. For this reason, this work challenges all members to become aware of the fact that the project of formation for mature mission is everybody’s responsibility. The work of formation is not limited to a postulant, novice or directress. It is ongoing, and each professed member, just like those in initial formation, has a duty to lead by example, and take a firm, but sisterly interest in journeying with others, responsibly. Besides, all members of the Dominican community are not at any time to think that they are better off than those who may join after them. Equally, members are all pilgrims to the full knowledge of the self, and deepening of their relationship with God; to be companions and responsible for one another. In fact, formation for the real members of Christ is an ongoing process which much more proceeds through life in the community than in the formation houses.