Africa and the future of Catholicism: Critical considerations on the formation of candidates for Consecrated Life and Priesthood

Abstract

In the face of a vibrant Christianity, the hope is that the Church in
Africa will contribute substantially to the future of Catholicism.
Nonetheless, a deeper examination of the challenges facing
Catholicism today, and a critical engagement with Christianity in
Africa would expose a number of challenges, which the African Church
must confront for a truly meaningful enrichment of Catholicism. This
paper examines some of the factors that shape Catholicism today and
the place of the African Church within these factors. It premises this
exploration on the thesis that cultivating grounded-dialogic and
inculturated faith could be a credible resource for attaining the
required task of Africa's role in the future of Catholicism, and that
without such dialogic-grounded faith in the formation of candidates
for Priesthood and Consecrated life, its enrichment of the global
Church might be jeopardised. I begin by analysing two primary factors that are determinant of the Catholicism of today, taking up a prognosis
of their implication for the future of Catholicism. Following this
analysis, I will give a concise account of their implications for
Christianity in Africa, and indicate possible paths to formation of
candidates for priesthood and religious life in view of Africa's place
and role in a dialogic world-church. analysis, I will give a concise
account of their implications for Christianity in Africa, and indicate
possible paths to formation of candidates for priesthood and religious life in view of Africa's place and role in a dialogic world-church.