BEST PRACTICES FOR TACKLING NEW PASTORAL CHALLENGES: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

INTRODUCTION

The Second Vatican Council in title VII of its decree on the training of priest Optatam Totius, the Council Fathers talk about later studies or rather gradual on-going formation of priests after the completion of the seminary formation. They say:

Since priestly training, especially in view of the circumstances of modern society, should be continued and perfected after the completion of the seminary course, it will be the task of episcopal conferences in each country to provide the appropriate means for its continuation. Examples of such means are: pastoral institutes cooperating with certain parishes selected for the purpose, the holding of meetings at stated times, and suitable projects by which the junior clergy will be gradually introduced to priestly life and apostolic activity in their spiritual, intellectual and pastoral aspects, with opportunities for constant renewal and progress.[1]

In our country Kenya, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has tried to put these words in practices through the commission for clergy by organizing some seminars regarding this matter. Individual bishops (e.g. Bishop of the diocese of Murang’a) or bishops in an ecclesiastical province (e.g. The ecclesiastical province of Nairobi), have on-going formations programs for their priests yearly. The ecclesiastical province of Nairobi is composed of seven dioceses and each diocese sends five priests to attend the program. They do rotate in the diocese in regard to the venue; using their pastoral centers. One of best on-going program so far and which can be emulated for it has brought about good fruits among the dioceses is that in the diocese of Murang’a and it has been taking place in the following manner. The priests are divided in different cohorts and are obliged to attend the on-going formation sessions, some one session others two session in a year depending on the years that one has been a priest. After the completion of the stipulated sessions according to the groups, all have to undergo a sabbatical program for four months. The cohorts are as follows:

NEWLY ORDAINED PRIESTS – they have an induction course for a week and thereafter the bishop appoints a priest to accompany them for one year. They have monthly meetings and the work of the priest who accompanies them is to evaluate their progress in the aspects outline by the above text, i.e. spiritual, intellectual and pastoral among others. At the end of their monthly meetings, they have one week input in their last meeting. The main aim of this accompaniment is to introduce them to the pastoral life in the diocese and explain to them a number of the challenges that they might encounter and how to deal with them.  This is in line with the teaching of John Paul II outlined in the Apostolic Exhortation on Bishops as Shepherds of the Lord’s Flock, Pastores Gregis regarding Bishop’s special affection for his priests, he says, “The Bishop’s special affection for his priests is demonstrated by his accompanying them as a father and brother in the fundamental stages of their ministerial life, starting with their first steps in the pastoral ministry. The permanent formation of priests remains essential and represents for all a kind of “vocation within a vocation,” since in its different and contemporary aspects it is aimed at helping priests to live and minister after the example of Jesus.”[2]

PRIESTS BELOW 15 YEARS – The priests that fall under this category are divided in groups of three years difference, e.g. years 1-3; 4-6; 7-9, 10-12; 13-15. They are supposed to attend two sessions of on-going formation in a year when the turn comes as scheduled by the bishop.[3]

PRIESTS ABOVE 15 YEARS – According to their experience in the pastoral ministry and the experience that they have gained, this group has one session of on-going formation. They are also grouped according to 3 years difference. After some years of pastoral experience, the Dicastery for Clergy indicates that new challenges for the ministry and life of the priests, various issues emerge which needs one to be accompanied.[4] Following this advice, the bishop has the group of these priests above the fifteen years attend this program.  

Priests above 15years in the ministry attending an on-going formation session.

NB: When all groups have attended their on-going formation session, the circle begins again.  

During the on-going formation sessions, various dioceses tackle various topic that are relevant to the life and ministry of a priest based in the four pillars of formation, these are, Spiritual, Intellectual, Human and Pastoral.[5] Some examples of these topics are as follows:

SABBATICAL PROGRAM – The diocese of Murang’a in Kenya has a Sabbatical Center by the name St. John Paul II and it is opened to all dioceses even beyond the boundaries of our nation Kenya. We have had priests from other countries attending the sabbatical program offered there. As indicated above, all the priests in the diocese of Murang’a are obliged to attend this program for four months. In their ministry, the priests get worked-up and therefore there being a need to be rejuvenated. It is for this reason that the diocesan bishop decreed that all have to attend this according to the dates given for each group.

 Bishop James Maria Wainaina with priests and religious men and women after Mass on their day of graduation after a sabbatical program of four months.

A group of priests and religious men and women on their graduation after a completion of four months sabbatical program at St. John Paul II Sabbatical Center – Maragua in the diocese of Murang’a – Kenya.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF ON-GOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

As John Paul II indicated in the Pastores Dabo Vobis, the heart and form of the priest’s on-going formation is pastoral charity.[6] It aims at renewing the spirit of brotherhood in priests and helps them to bond and to offer brotherly support to each other as they minister to the people of God and His Church. It also aims at updating the knowledge of the priests regarding emerging issues in the Church and in the secular world to make them effective ministers in the current times and therefore, the themes handled should be relevant to today’s issues.[7]

CONCLUSION

“Ongoing formation is a right-duty of the priest and imparting it is a right-duty of the Church. This is established in the universal law (cf. C.I.C., can. 279). In fact, in the same way that the vocation to the sacred ministry is received in the Church, only the Church has the competence to impart the specific formation according to the responsibility proper to such ministry. Therefore, permanent formation – an activity linked to the exercise of the ministerial priesthood – belongs to the responsibility of the Pope and of Bishops. The Church, then has the duty and the right to continue forming its minsters, helping them to progress in generous response to the gift which God has bestowed upon them.”[8]

[1] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Training of Priests, Optatam Totius, n. 22. See also, John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis, nn. 70-81.

[2] Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation on Bishops as Shepherds of the Lord’s Flock, Pastores Gregis, n. 47, 3; See also, The Congregation of the Clergy, Directory For The Ministry And Life of Priests, 1997, n. 69; See also ibid, The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, n. 83.

[3] Cf. Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, nn. 85-87.

[4] Cf. ibid.

[5] Cf. The Cogregation of the Clergy, Directory For The Ministry And Life Of Priests, 1997, n. 74.

[6] Cf. John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, n. 70

[7] Cf. The Cogregation of the Clergy, Directory For The Ministry And Life Of Priests, 1997, n. 77.

[8] Cf. The Cogregation of the Clergy, Directory For The Ministry And Life Of Priests, 1997, n. 72