Multi-sectoral pastoral approach as a strategy for counteracting the challenges of modernization on the mission of the catholic church: A case study of Bujuni Parish-Hoima Diocese

Abstract

The study was carried out to establish the thesis that a multi-sectoral pastoral approach is indispensable for counteracting the challenges of modernization on the mission of the Catholic Church in Bujuni Parish-Hoima Diocese. Consequently, Chapter 1 endeavoured to lay the background to the study by ascertaining to the fact that there are challenges of modernization on the mission of the Catholic Church in Bujuni Parish, thus, a need to counteract these challenges so as to boost the Catholic mission. In line with the views of some scholars, the study laid a foundation of the aspects of modernization, challenges of modernization, current state of the Catholic mission and the alternative pastoral approaches as a strategy to counteract the challenges of modernization. A combination of qualitative and quantitative method was applied and data collected via interviews, questionnaires, observation and literature review. The study relied on both primary data from the field and secondary data from the related literature of various scholars. Data were summarized and coded into themes and sub themes from which conclusions and recommendations were drawn. The study found out that the aspects of modernization were a great challenge to the mission of the Catholic Church. The salient findings to show this included: technological and scientific advancements, materialism, secularism, pluralism, consumerism/ consumer syndrome, autocracy, indifferentism, sectarianism, individualism, capitalism, syncretism, apostasy, irregular marriages, homosexuality and lesbianism. The study concluded that a multi-sectoral pastoral approach is indispensable for boosting the Catholic mission in the 3rd millennium. It is against this background that the researcher critiques and gives recommendations to ensure that these challenges of modernization are counteracted so as to have the smooth running of the Catholic mission in Bujuni Parish. The study recommended the following: living the life of witness, centralizing the word of God and the Eucharist, formation of effective Small Christian Communities, use of mass media, a renewed catechetical instruction, formation of clergy, empowerment of lay leadership, fidelity to the Holy Spirit and Inter-religious dialogue.