School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SLPA) Collections

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Browsing School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SLPA) Collections by Author "Adupa, Ambrose"
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    Emphasis on spiritual formation: a pastoral strategy to promoting priestly vocation in Aber Parish, Lira Diocese
    (Makerere University, 2025) Adupa, Ambrose
    The study established the impact of spiritual formation on priestly vocation in Aber Parish, Lira Diocese. The study put emphasis on four specific objectives namely; to explore the key aspects of spiritual formation, to establish the relevance of priestly vocation, to investigate the challenges affecting the priestly vocation and to find out the pastoral approaches towards overcoming the challenges affecting priestly vocation. In order to obtain credible information regarding the topic under study, the researcher employed descriptive research design. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, while interviews and observation were used to collect qualitative data. The study revealed that the Holy Eucharist, spiritual reading, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Office, prayer, retreats and recollections and meditation are the key aspects of spiritual formation. Other aspects of spiritual formation included spiritual direction and Bible study. The researcher found out that preaching the gospel is the major relevance of the priestly vocation. Other relevance included: administering sacraments, shepherding the flock, witnessing to Christ, providing guidance to the people of God, mediating between God and his people and serving as agents of change in community. The study also revealed that sexual abuse scandals, poor priestly personality and character, financial struggles; lack of role models, identity crisis, misunderstanding, and poor administration are the challenges affecting priestly vocation in Aber Parish. The study also showed that priests leading good example, integral training of the clergy, proper guidance to the young people and support to the priests and seminarians; proper training of priests on celibacy, regular on-going formation and a positive understanding of priestly vocation are the pastoral approaches towards overcoming challenges affecting priestly vocation in Aber Parish. The researcher made the following recommendations towards promoting priestly vocation in Aber Parish, Lira Diocese which included: Empowering the vocations‟ teams, organizing seminars, empowering Small Christian Communities, effective utilization of the modern means of evangelization, training of seminarians and priests on the value of celibacy, integral catechesis, living a life of witness and the role of the priests in promoting priestly vocation. This study affirmed that emphasis on spiritual formation is an indispensable pastoral strategy to promoting priestly vocation in Aber Parish, Lira Diocese.