The Nature of a Parish Community that Initiates Committed Christians. Forming Christians in Zambia and Other Mission Lands

Master's Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Theology - Miscellaneous, , language: English, abstract: 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.

Lawrence Sakala is a diocesan priest who has worked both in parishes and institutions of the Diocese of Chipata, Zambia, for more than 17 years, the latest being St. Mary's Junior Seminary where he was a teacher, a Spiritual Director and, later, the Rector. He holds a Licentiate (Master's Degree) in Sacred Theology from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, USA, a Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology from St. Dominic's Major Seminary, Lusaka, Zambia, affiliated to Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome, and a Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies from St. Augustine's Major Seminary, Kabwe, Zambia. He enjoys reading, researching and writing on both secular and religious subjects.