Conference paper
Fundamental Pastoral Commitments for our Church to Step Foward into the New Century
Pero Aračić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Teologija u Đakovu, Đakovo, Hrvatska
Abstract
When we find ourselves at the crossroods of time, such as passing from one century to another, then it is time for rendering of accounts. The Church is also reconsidering its two thousand years old existence and its actions. This paper, bringing out the arguments supported by the newest researches of the religious situation in Croatia, suggests that it is necessary to: 1) examine some fundamental concepts that persons engaged in pastoral work have about God, Jesus Christ, about the Church and sacraments; 2) give preference to the work with adults, families, students,work with
marginal and special groups; 3) change the way of work with the purpose of moving towards personalization - instead of anonymous and massive participation, individuals will take an active part and share the joint responsibility for their life and for the work of their Christian communities. The structures of joint responsibility, sach as various types of councils and a parish organised as "the community of the communities" will be taken seriously; 4) to promote the Church as the subject active in the establishment of the social environment of values, emphasizing the importance of its messages and its structures of solidarity, the importance of the prophetic
criticism that exists within the Church and is also commented upon the society; the importance of a good, understandable, communicative presentation in media - and a constant dialogue with the representatives of culture. These objectives will, as we belive, bring us closer to the identity of a follower of Jesus and its Church.
Keywords
activities of the Church; sacraments; religiousness; belonging to the Church
Hrčak ID:
40301
URI
Publication date:
30.10.2001.
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