Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 88 No. 3, 2018.
Original scientific paper
The Dialogical and Collaborative Identity of Pastoral Counsellors
Sanda Smoljo-Dobrovoljski
orcid.org/0000-0002-7301-7968
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University in Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosna and Herzegovina
Abstract
This article analysed the development of the dialogical‑collaborative identity of pastoral counsellors through different developmental and pastoral stages. The aim was to identify the neuralgic points of the pastoral relationship by studying intra‑psychological and interpersonal components of the pastoral counsellors and, by observing pastoral processes in order to acquire a new insight into the mechanisms that obstruct the dialogue and collaborative dynamics. The article first presents the development of the dialogical‑collaborative identity within the primary, family community in which the dialogical matrix is initially formed through the dyad and triad relationship with significant figures. After that it elaborates how the spiritual dimension of dialogue finds its articulation in the secondary communities. The second part points out the privilege of the pastoral relationship, within which one can find fulfilment of the purpose and meaning of one´s own missionary vocation in meeting with the other and those who are different. It is also pointed out that the pastoral challenge to the response to the missionary reach can become a danger if the pastoral counsellor does not go through experience of metamorphosis ad intra from which and by which he/she will then carry out his/her mission to others, ad extra. Due to the fragility of the natural and supernatural identity of the pastoral counsellor, he/she can lose the sense for transcendental reality. Such loss leads to the reduction of the pastoral service to voluntarism or activism, without the key evangelical nucleus. Taking into account the continued social and ecclesial changes, the third part offers the conclusion that a new stage has occurred and that this stage requires urgent pastoral metamorphosis, whose purpose is to revitalise the pastoral context in the spirit of the authentic evangelical mission.
Keywords
family; identity; dialogue; collaboration; pastoral counsellor; pastoral metamorphosis.
Hrčak ID:
207870
URI
Publication date:
8.11.2018.
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