Evangelisation in sub-Sahara Africa: A Response to the Exodus of Catholics from their Church to Pentecostal Churches

Mukwato, Hector (2011) Evangelisation in sub-Sahara Africa: A Response to the Exodus of Catholics from their Church to Pentecostal Churches. Masters thesis, University of London, Heythrop College.

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Abstract

In just over a century of Catholic evangelisation, sub-Sahara Africa seems to be topping the list of the most likely places to be the future cradle for the Catholic faith. This is thanks especially to the tireless efforts of the early missionaries who went flat out in spreading the faith and planting the Church. Today the Catholic Church is said to be founded in almost every part of the continent, and has continued to enjoy a steady increase in membership and ministries. This magnitude of success is even better reflected in "facts such as the noteworthy and rapid increase in the number of ecclesiastical circumscriptions, the growth of a native clergy, of seminarians and candidates for institutes of Consecrated Life, and the steady increase in the network of catechists [and indigenous bishops]" (cf. Instrumentum laboris, 2009: nos. 2, 33). Apropos, attendance at church-related events such as the Mass, pilgrimages to shrines, novenas of grace, retreats, lay movements and associations, choirs concerts, to name but a few, is almost always to full capacity. Small wonder some are now claiming that finding space to seat the faithful, as opposed to finding the faithful to fill the pews, is one of the most pressing issues for many parish priests in Africa. In spite of the hope that such a depiction of the Catholic Church may raise in those who are concerned with the future of Catholic faith, it does not represent a full story about the reality of things. There are other aspects of that reality which suggest that a lot still need to be done to place the church on a secure foundation for the future. For instance, a survey of religious attitudes in sub-Sahara Africa, undertaken by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, reveals that, although Christianity in general is alive in Africa, many African Christians still go on to betray their faith by believing that "sacrifices to ancestors can protect them from evil" (African Beliefs, 2010: 4). More specifically, defections from the Catholic faith are especially common in moments of crisis. Many Catholics do not hesitate to seek help from those who promise them heaven on earth—a promise their own church may be hesitant to give. It is because of such observations that Anyanwu could even say "Africa is yet to be the 'homeland of Jesus Christ'" (Anyanwu, 1993: 120), in contrast to Pope Paul VI‘s optimistic declaration over three decades ago that Africa was "a new homeland for Christ"(Evangelii nuntiandi, no. 6).

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords: catholic missionary evangelisation of sub-sahara africa amid denominational competition, explaining the exodus of catholics from their church to pentecostal churches, towards an enhanced catholic evangelisation in sub-sahara africa
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
Divisions: Afro-Christiana
Depositing User: JHI Africa
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2014 13:15
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2018 07:23
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/42

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