This book attempts to look at the R.C.I.A. formation as practiced in parish communities. Since formation of Christians is done through the R.C.I.A., the R.C.I.A. will be the focus. Through the R.C.I.A., the Christian community continues the work of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations by forming them, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yet, if the R.C.I.A. is not properly followed, it is possible to baptize Christians without forming them. The study of the methodology of current R.C.I.A. practice will reveal this concern. As such, the purpose of this book is to incorporate a theology of the parish community and its actualization within the R.C.I.A. From this study, a plan will be offered on how to implement the R.C.I.A. in order to form more deeply committed Christians.
Thus, the project has four aims. First, it will reveal reasons behind Catholics' lukewarm commitment to the church. Second, it will look at the role of the parish community in the R.C.I.A. and propose ways that the R.C.I.A. can positively affect the formation of Catholic Christians. Third, it will offer an operative theology for a vibrant parish community. And, finally, the project will offer a plan to implement the R.C.I.A. to form more deeply committed Christians. Thus, the discussion will not only demonstrate how the parish community initiates committed Christians but also how God's transformative presence blesses people in that community.
Because there still exists tepid Christianity as practiced in some rural parish communities of Zambia, the Zambian Council of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has questioned the type of catechetical program used and have, thus, recommended following a unified approach towards Christian formation in Zambia. Many factors may cause the tepidity of Christianity such as the conflict between the Western Christian culture and the local culture, geography, terrain, climate, and poverty. While the dismissive missionary approach to the evangelization of the local culture may have prevented Zambians from fully accepting Christianity, the Zambian terrain and dangerous roads especially in the rural parts of the country have hindered priests’ availability for pastoral work.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- ABSTRACT
- INTRODUCTION: THE TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE OF THE FORMATION OF CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS.
- PROJECT THESIS
- PROJECT SCOPE
- CHAPTER 1: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE FORMATION OF CHRISTIANS
- CULTURE AND CUSTOMS.
- GEOGRAPHY, TERRAIN, CLIMATE, AND POVERTY.
- GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
- TERRAIN
- POVERTY
- LUKEWARM CHRISTIANITY: INDICATORS
- LOW LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION.
- LACK OF AVAILABILITY
- LACK OF FULL ENGAGEMENT.
- THE INABILITY TO ARTICULATE FAITH
- CHAPTER 2: THE ROLE OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY IN THE R.C.I.A.
- THE SACRAMENTALITY OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY
- WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE PARISH COMMUNTY TO BE AN INITIATING COMMUNITY?
- THE PARISH COMMUNITY'S ROLE IN THE DIMENSIONS OF THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
- EX OPERE OPERATO
- EX OPERE OPERANTIS
- THE FOURFOLD ROLE OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY IN THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
- THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY IN THE R.C.I.A.
- IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
- IN THE PURIFICATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT RITES
- IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
- IN THE MYSTAGOGY
- CHAPTER 3: THE OPERATIVE THEOLOGY FOR A VIBRANT PARISH COMMUNITY.
- THEOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY
- THE THEOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY
- THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY
- THE SUSTENANCE OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY.
- MEMBERS' COMMITMENT
- COLLABORATION WITH THE DIOCESAN CURIA
- THE MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE FAITHFUL.
- DIOCESAN COMMISSIONS.
- PASTORAL STRATEGIC PLANS
- COLLEGIALITY
- THE VIBRANCY OF A PARISH COMMUNITY: INDICATORS
- GOOD LITURGY
- SKILLED LEADERSHIP
- FINANCIAL STABILITY
- CHAPTER 4: THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE R.C.I.A. BY THE PARISH COMMUNITY.
- KNOWING THE PROBLEMS
- THE NATIONAL RESOURCE BOOK
- REVIEWING THE CONTENTS
- SOME OVERSIGHTS
- THE ROLE OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE R.C.I.A.
- ACCEPTANCE AND OWNERSHIP
- DIALOGUE
- ENCOUNTERING AND REACHING OUT
- FURTHER SUGGESTIONS.
- PEOPLE'S EDUCATION
- CATECHISTS' TRAINING
- PRIESTLY INVOLVEMENT
- FORMATION OF A VIBRANT PARISH COMMUNITY.
- GENERAL CONCLUSION.
- The factors that influence Christian formation in mission lands, including cultural and geographical influences, and the prevalence of "lukewarm Christianity".
- The role of the parish community in the RCIA, including its sacramental nature, its specific responsibilities in different stages of the initiation process, and its role in fostering a vibrant and engaging community.
- The operative theology for a vibrant parish community, encompassing both theological and spiritual aspects, as well as the importance of ministerial leadership, collaboration, and community engagement.
- The effective implementation of the RCIA, including the need for problem identification, resource utilization, and a proactive approach to outreach and formation.
- The challenges and suggestions for improvement in the implementation of the RCIA within parish communities.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work explores the nature of a parish community that initiates committed Christians, particularly focusing on the context of Zambia and other mission lands. It aims to understand the factors that influence Christian formation in these settings, the role of the parish community in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and the theological and spiritual aspects of a vibrant parish community. It also examines the effective implementation of the RCIA within parish communities and identifies challenges and suggestions for improvement.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction provides a foundation for the study by outlining the transformative nature of the formation of Catholic Christians and defining the project thesis and scope. Chapter 1 delves into the factors that influence Christian formation in Zambia and other mission lands, exploring the impact of culture, geography, poverty, and the phenomenon of lukewarm Christianity. Chapter 2 focuses on the role of the parish community in the RCIA, highlighting its sacramental nature, its specific responsibilities in different stages of the initiation process, and its role in fostering a vibrant and engaging community. Chapter 3 examines the operative theology for a vibrant parish community, exploring the theological and spiritual aspects of community life, the importance of ministerial leadership, collaboration, and community engagement. Chapter 4 discusses the effective implementation of the RCIA, highlighting the need for problem identification, resource utilization, and a proactive approach to outreach and formation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this text include: parish community, Christian formation, RCIA, mission lands, Zambia, lukewarm Christianity, sacramental theology, vibrant community, theological and spiritual aspects, effective implementation, challenges, suggestions.
- Quote paper
- Lawrence Sakala (Author), 2018, The Nature of a Parish Community that Initiates Committed Christians. Forming Christians in Zambia and Other Mission Lands, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1439025
