Only men can initiate boys into men. Boys are prepared into men by men of integrity, for that reason, when a father is absent a male model has to be found. Lack of models is the number one enemy for our adolescent males in Zimbabwe today. The absence of adult role models means adolescent males are moulded by unsupervised, doubtful and inexperienced peers. In the past the bringing up of a child was a community responsibility. In the present day children are growing up as sheep without a male shepherd. The qualitative and quantitative research methods guided the process of this study. The study revealed that fathers are absent because they have migrated to other countries and that their absence has a negative impact on developing healthy adolescent males. Migration of fathers to the Diaspora could not be resisted by men because of the socioeconomic and political situation in Zimbabwe. Fathers have left the country for greener pastures. The exodus of fathers to the Diaspora has created a vacuum when it comes to mentoring and moulding of male children into adults. The study carried out with adolescent boys indicated that fathers in the Diaspora are engaged in some form of income generating activities. As a result, some of these men are able to provide material needs intended for their families back home. However, the absence of these fathers has made some children feel emotionally abandoned and betrayed, while others are disappointed by fathers who did not bid them farewell at the time they were living the country. There is another group that felt that the absence benefited them. The absence of fathers destroyed father – son relationships, generated anger, bitterness and lack of any future trust with fathers. When children are angered and bitterness resides in them, they would go against their father’s potential assistance. On the other hand, in the process of the study on the absent father, a Christian model of caring for an individual and community emerged. The church has been noted to be the only institution that would guide the society to value the job of caring for the people of God who are in needy situations. When the church cares for the adolescents it will be caring for itself as well as the body of Christ. The author considered the views from James fowler (1981) and Gerkin (1997) on the stages of faith development and the idea of seeing the church as a community of faith in order for this research to portray the community of faith as a Community of Love. This is because it is only by Christ’s love that people are forgiven by God through grace. In addition, it is through love that people are nurtured; miracles of spiritual and numerical growth are realised. Acts 2; bears witness of the power in love fellowships or communities. He states that in sharing the gospel of Christ in love fellowships each member becomes a part of Christ’s body that spreads the gospel. The love fellowships make the church to be more than a preaching or meeting point. It becomes a family where all members have the opportunity to share their experiences at fellowship and individual levels. People will not depend on one person for spiritual growth but on each other for spiritual nourishment. Gerkin was important throughout the research with his pastoral care approach of caring for an individual and the communities of a Christian story in addition to guiding the researcher to create a model for a caring community. Therefore, caring of boys whose fathers are absent requires both individual mentors and local communities to model them. The church has been found wanting by the boys in this study. Boys have indicated that the church was not aware of their pain. This shows that the church was unable to see the depressed and hear the silent voices in order to interpret their situation. This reveals that the church has some parts that need spiritual attention in order for the body of Christ to function optimally. Children will open their hearts in love fellowships in order to be healed, nurtured, sustained and guided through love. Faith will be expressed in a more mature and responsible way when all is done in love. Faith in this study is the act of love that guides individuals and communities to an expression of freedom and responsibility in trusting God’s presence in human situations. It aims at increasing love for one another and to God. For it is only through Christ’s love that healthy memories are created. Chapter one gives the background and context of the problem to the study. It reveals that the motivation to carry out the study emerged from the author’s journey with his father and interactions with young people as a youth pastor. Therefore the socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe created an environment for the study to be carried out. In addition, absences of mothers at church prompted him to consider carrying out a study on the: Absent fathers due to migrant work: Its traumatic impact on adolescent males in Zimbabwe. Many women went to collect money from their husbands who are in the Diaspora each month end . Chapters twodemonstrates how a qualitative and quantitative method of carrying of the research is helpful. Listening to stories of the adolescent males enriched the research process. Chapter three dealt with the stages of human development coined by Erik Erikson with the intention to give the reader an understanding regarding the worth of adolescence stage. Chapter four explains father and fatherhood, the role of a father and impact of absence towards the up bringing of adolescent male children. Adolescent males develop their masculinity from their fathers for this reason every child should have a male model in order for him to be a man. In chapter five the researcher engaged in dialogue with adolescent males. Chapter six gave the concluding thoughts and recommendations to the study. The church has been identified as central in guiding children at individual and group levels in this era. The church should be a component of the extended family that is unique but related to the family units without competing with it. Every son needs a biological father from whom he learns how to manage weakness and strengths in his life and act in response to the challenges of the global village. Therefore, a father ought to be a male person in Zimbabwe who fears God and loves his sons not an angel out of this planet. Finally every adolescent child needs Christian males to guide him for it is through Christ’s love that healthy male memories are created. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / Unrestricted

This diploma thesis entitled: "Bible and Pastoral Counseling - Two Concepts of American Pastoral Care in the 20th Century" deals with two types of pastoral counseling (nouthetic counseling by Jay E. Adams and biblical counseling by Larry Crabb), which consider the Bible to be their basic and most important source and standard, and the context of their creation. The thesis describes the context, influences and life events that accompanied the authors during the creation of both counselings; it explains the basic ideas of both counselings and represents the way of using the Bible in a counseling conversation that the authors promote. It also mentions the criticism of other authors. The text first introduces the reader to the American concept of Christianity and pastoral care on the basis of historical development and later to both counseling directions - the nouthetic counseling and the biblical counseling. Keywords Pastoral care, Pastoral counseling, Biblical counseling, Nouthetic counseling, Jay E. Adams, Larry Crabb

Cardinal Josef Beran S.M.Bernadetta Pavla Pěstová, OSU This thesis deals with reference and work of Josef Cardinal Beran, especially from the perspective of his pastoral work as an educationalist, the diocesan bishop and cardinal living in forcible exile. The thesis consists of five chapters. The first charter describes Beran's life hierarchically and emphasizes his clarical activity. The second charter deals with his teaching activities. Furthermore, this charter focuses on the selected publications that Cardinal Beran wrote during his life. A fundamental part of this thesis is the third chapter, dealing with the activities of the Archbishop from 1945 to 1949. The final chapters are devoted to activities in the intervent of Josef Beran in Roman exile. Cardinal Josef Beran ranks among the leading personalities of the 20th century. His legacy remains alive even today. Keywords pastoral care, teacher, the Catholic Church, totalitarianism, exile, Archbishop, Cardinal

First of all, this diploma thesis called Pastoral Care about Victims of Criminal Offence briefly purveys basics of criminal law. These handle the topic of victims of criminal offence. Secondly, this work deals with victims themselves. There are also explained chosen terms from this field particularly victimisation and post-traumatic stress disorder Thirdly, there are not only described psychological impacts of crime onto victims, but also system of psychological, social and juridical help for these victims. Moreover, after outlining possibilities of pastoral work in current society, there is given a description of integration of pastoral care about victims of crimes into pastoral field. Particularly, this pastoral work helps victims with their difficulties and suffering. By using appropriate pastoral means, pastoral work is aimed at overcoming difficult life situations with dignity. Very important is co- operation with state and non-profit organisations, which also offer help to victims of crimes Last but not least, in this thesis are described possibilities of pastoral care for victims of chosen crimes and for more vulnerable victims as children, elderly people and relatives of crime victims.

The diploma thesis "Comparison of the pastoral and charitable care for the elderly in the Archdiocese of Prague" enquires into the relation between the pastoral and charitable care for the elderly in the Archdiocese of Prague and the quality of accessible local services. It seeks to define the meaning of being old in the 21st century, deals with the questions of ageing and old age and the perception of these phenomenons in the broad social context. The thesis underlines the dignity of old men as well as their specific psychological and spiritual needs. The second part of the paper inquires into the principles of the charitable and pastoral care and it tries to sort out the accessible services. The last, empirical part contains the methodology and interpretation of the research among the charitable and pastoral institutions and parishes. The Conclusion summarizes informations from the previous chapters. Keywords elderly, pastoral care, charity care, the Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Prague

Violent traumatic events impact communities and demand ministerial responses that are not only pastoral in nature but also prophetic, challenging institutional and sociocultural roots of violence through vision and analysis. There is a noticeable gap in qualitative studies of the prophetic pastoral practices of organized trauma response ministries in addressing violence. This dissertation addresses this gap through qualitative case studies of two trauma response ministries operating in diverse cultural contexts. The dissertation forges a beginning constructive practical theology of trauma from the voices, experiences, and practices of survivors and their trauma response ministry providers, lifting up the need for an intercultural approach and examining the results for untapped theological resources for constructive practical theologies of trauma. By integrating trauma studies into lived religion approaches, this dissertation conceptualizes survivors' use of material objects, rituals, and surroundings to enact a 'theopoetics of material religion.' This theopoetics captures the constructive theological significance of survivors' use of material objects, rituals, and surroundings for prophetic and performative testimony and witness. The introduction and chapter one make the case that addressing the problem of violent trauma in the American context calls for an approach rooted in prophetic pastoral care practices, one that is attentive to the particular contextual realities and resources of communities living in the aftermath of trauma. Using a lived religion methodological approach enhanced by trauma studies and a theopoetics of material religion, chapter two presents a case study of an inner-city lay-led trauma response ministry that serves family survivors of homicide. Chapter three presents a case study of a denominational-based trauma response ministry's services to a suburban congregation following a gun assault. Chapter four illustrates the theological themes witnessed in each case study and places these in intercultural dialogue. The final chapter engages current constructive theologies of trauma and brings the insights of the case studies to bear on interpretations of theology in the aftermath of trauma. The dissertation begins to forge of a constructive practical theology of trauma and concludes with strategic recommendations for constructive practical theologians, pastoral care providers, and social and ecclesial structures.

No description available.

This qualitative study examined the experiences of Saint Mary’s High School alumnae from the freshman class of 1949 through the graduating class of 2010 in order to identify what has sustained the school over the decades. Years after graduation, alumnae held memories of their school experiences that resulted in personal and long-lasting qualities that continue to have significant impacts on individuals and the institution. Data was gathered through written journals and interviews. The Appreciative Inquiry (AI) model was used to analyze the context of alumnae experiences. Using the AI model, multiple categories arose as positive notables mentioned by the participants. The prominent themes contributing to school sustainability were pastoral care, mission, tradition, and community. These sustaining characteristics, which are still exhibited in the lives of current laity and students, were linked to the original charism brought to the school through the Sisters’ order. Student success and satisfaction are critical to sustaining Catholic schools as tuition continues to rise and enrollment in Catholic schools’ decline. Saint Mary’s High School, and other similar Catholic schools, should consider strengthening their identity through mission-related activities and values. The findings of this study suggested that sustaining Catholic school environments may be as simple as becoming reacquainted with their original missions. Results of this study showed that Catholic school leaders and faculty are successfully transmitting the same values and mission-driven messages as their predecessors. Emphasizing a holistic and compassionate school setting is vital to the overall success of each student and the longevity of schools.

This dissertation is about pastoral care and counselling to elderly people to keep them visible within our faith communities. The research is a reflection and a re-telling of the lives of five elderly people who shared their stories with me. I heard them talk about ageing as an ongoing journey that is not always smooth. To grow older includes a lot of changes and a reassessment of lifestyles and goals as well as the danger of becoming invisible to others. Visibility cannot be maintained without communities of support, and care within communities of shared prophetic mission. A pastoral therapist must convey the Christian message of care by healing and caring solidarity, co-constructing new narratives of hope, and bringing back visibility to the elderly. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

This research is conducted within a postmodern and social construction discourse and in context of narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy. It has been influenced by the voices of five contextual theologies: a participatory approach to practical theology, narrative, contextual, feminist and liberation theologies. The participatory action research seeks to highlight how narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy with children at Mary Ward Children’s Home, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe creates an inclusive and caring community. It argues that though residential childcare facilities/children’s homes are considered the last resort in the childcare system, we are witnessing not their demise but their development due to the increased numbers of AIDS-orphans and other vulnerable children in our society. The research aims were:  To develop inclusive narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices at the home.  To co-create narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices that respect the knowledges of the children involved.  To develop an eco-spirituality as participatory pastoral care and therapy practice.  To explore and co-author creative practices of doing narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices which will help the participants integrate into the Home and society. In conclusion, suggestions are made for a narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practice that is inclusive and caring. In terms of the experience of children living with disability and experiencing loss, as well as those children who have been abused, it is specifically described as therapeutic, empowering and life-giving. Therefore, home managers, caregivers and pastoral therapists are invited into an ethical and passionate practice of pastoral care and therapy that has the potential to transform the lives of children in a residential child care facility. / Thesis (D. Th. (Practical Theology))