COURSE DYNAMICS

"In pastoral care sufficient use should be made, not only of theological principles, but also of secular findings, specially in the fields of psychology and sociology; in this way the faithful will be brought to a more mature living of the faith".

(GDC 242, GS 62b)

Participants of the IMFE are deemed to already have a basic working knowledge of their field of ministry.  This course has for its objective to enable the participants to take responsible charge of their ministry in the Parish or School, by providing them with inputs that enable them to analyse pastoral situations and plan ministry appropriately.

Candidates will be provided with personal accompaniments in planning their ministry.

-         Theology of Church and its Ministry:  Understanding the Church as the Communion of the People of God (Lumen Gentium) and implications for ministry.

-         Sociological Methods in the Service of Ministry:  Familiarising ourselves with the tools of social analysis in order to explore appropriate solutions to pastoral problems.

-         Cross-Cultural Ministy:  Understanding cultural roots through a reflection on basic anthropology, with a view to enabling Animators seek strategies to build cross-cultural communion.

-         Psycho-Spiritual Dimensions of Ministry:  Understanding the inter-personal skills and experimenting with strategies of growth in these skills, very necessary in team ministry.

-         Management of Ministry:  Understanding managerial and administrative styles in order to function effectively as Animators of ministry.

-         Ministry in a pluri-religious context:  Grappling with the mystery of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and His Message in the context of the good to be discovered in other religious traditions.

-         Theology of the collaboration:  Understanding the basis of the collaboration between the ordained and the laity in ministry (Christifideles Laici and the Instruction (1997), and seeking appropriate structures for this co-responsibility.

-  Word and Worship Laboratory:  Enriching our experience and skills for preparing vibrant liturgies and para-liturgies in ministering effectively