Life Of Church Research Articles

On the Being and Becoming of Appreciative Inquiry and Christian Faith

Appreciating Church suggests that active dialogue between Christian faith and Appreciative Inquiry can address challenges facing longstanding Christian denominations in the UK. It is important to keep working and living appreciatively, drawing creatively from scripture, tradition and experience. This article makes eight key suggestions for embedding Appreciative Inquiry in church life to encourage generativity and spark transformation.

Education of church musicians in Krakow in the period from the end of the Second Vatican Council to the present day

The training of church musicians in Cracow in the period after the Second Vatican Council became one of the important tasks of the institutional Church associated with the post-conciliar renewal of the liturgy. In the 1970s, the training of church organists here took on a systematic and organised character. The activities of the Archdiocesan Organist’s College, as well as the Church Music Section at the Liturgical Institute, were constantly evolving. Over time, their tasks were taken over by the Archdiocesan Organist School (now the Archdiocesan Music School) and the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Krakow (now the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow). Since 1997, the Academy of Music in Cracow has also been educating church musicians. At present, Cracow and the Archdiocese of Cracow offer many opportunities of professional music education, which are eagerly used by organists, choir conductors, as well as people passionate about Gregorian chant, liturgical composition and the broadly understood animation of the musical life of churches. The immediate impulse for writing this article was the 25th anniversary of the Cardinal Franciszek Macharski Archdiocesan School of Music, celebrated in 2023, which is an ­important link in the series of educational institutions thanks to which the level of education of church musicians is constantly rising.

Meningkatkan Kolaborasi Peserta Didik Melalui Model Problem Based Learning Fase C Kelas V SDN 047165 Simpang Nagara

This research is classroom action research which aims to determine the effect of applying the problem based learning (PBL) model on improving students' collaboration skills on the material The Holy Spirit Strengthens the Lives of the Apostles and living together inspired by the Holy Spirit in class V Phase C SDN 047165 Simpang Nagara in the odd semester of the 2024/2025 academic year with a total of 8 students consisting of 3 men and 5 women. The method used is Classroom Action Research (PTK) with a problem base learning model which is carried out in two cycles. The research results showed that the implementation of PBL significantly improved collaboration skills and student learning outcomes, with the percentage of collaboration skills reaching 76% in cycle 1 and increasing again to 91% in cycle II. Thus, it can be concluded that the application of the Problem Based Learning model can improve students' collaboration skills on the material "The Holy Spirit Strengthens the Lives of the Apostles and living together inspired by the Holy Spirit" and the material "Involving in church life".

Synodal Discernment on a Catechetical Drama called “Service of Light,” Its Impact on the Integral Education and Edification of Faith of the Laity

Synodality is a vital characteristic of the Catholic Church's life and mission, highlighting joint revitalization through listening, discernment, and active participation. Inspired by this concept, researchers started a study exploring the impact of the "Service of Light," a catechetical drama observed during Easter vigil, on local parishioners within the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in the Philippines. Employing an exploratory and qualitative approach, the researchers examined the denotative and connotative meanings embedded in images and narratives surrounding this ritual, using Roland Barthes' semiotic model for analysis. The study involved visiting five local Catholic parishes within the archdiocese, conducting purposive sampling for survey interviews, and gathering visuals. Results uncovered meaningful impacts of the Service of Light on the integral Christian education and spiritual edification of the parishioners. The catechetical drama served as a powerful teaching tool that deepened the parishioners’ understanding of Christian doctrine. It helped develop a sense of belonging within their faith community. Moreover, the Service of Light generated spiritual renewal and strengthened individual faith. The ritual's symbolism aroused a deeper connection with God, empowering parishioners to live out their faith more fully in daily life. The Service of Light was acknowledged as a tool of faith that continues to inspire the parishioners to bear fruit for years to come. In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of the Service of Light in parishioners' Christian education and spiritual journey, emphasizing its role in fostering community, deepening understanding of faith, and inspiring personal and communal growth. As a recommendation, the researchers are suggesting future research to explore the perspectives of ordained clergy for a comprehensive understanding of its impact on Christian communities.

Gender Gaps in World Christianity: Membership, Participation, and Leadership

This article presents findings from recent research that nuances gender gaps in World Christianity utilizing quantitative data on religious membership, participation, and leadership. The article outlines the assumptions and theories undergirding this project on global gender inequalities by utilizing data from the United Nations and World Economic Forum. It then presents original research that produced gendered data on church membership, participation, and leadership around the world, drawing from the World Christian Database, Pew Research Center, and World Values Survey. These data are put into conversation with national level gender gap data in Mongolia, Israel, Estonia, and Ghana to provide country-level examples of how data can be used to shed light on women’s challenges and opportunities both in society and the church. Without comprehensive quantitative data on women's experiences around the world, it is difficult to know what problems exist and how they can be addressed. Data from this project can be applied contextually to address the gendered dynamics of church life and interrogate unequal social norms that perpetuate women’s overlooked status in churches and societies worldwide.

Charismatics and People with Special Needs

This research article highlights the suitability of charismatic churches to individuals with special needs by focusing on their inclusivity and accessibility within Kakamega, in Western Kenya. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, which suited the qualitative nature of the initial study that culminated into this research article, it was conducted across 12 sub-counties in Kakamega County. A sample of 78 respondents was selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The findings revealed that charismatic churches in Kakamega County serve as crucial community hubs, with physical accessibility playing a key role in enhancing inclusivity and enabling individuals of all abilities to participate fully in church activities. It concludes that fostering a culture of acceptance and support is vital for empowering individuals with disabilities, and in ensuring they feel valued and integrated into all aspects of church life. In this treatise, we view the definition of “special needs” as encircling the emotional, intellectual, sensory impairments, and physical challenges.

Circulation of books, manuscripts, and ideas between Hungary and Italy. Cultural transfers in the environment of György Klimo, Bishop of Pécs (1751-1777)

The period between 1750 and 1800 witnessed a significant transformation in the modernization of Hungarian culture and literature. The members of the ecclesiastical elite, who had completed their studies at the Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum in Rome, played a pivotal role in this process; they emerged as key figures in the Catholic renewal upon their return to Hungary following their studies in Rome. Their contributions extended beyond the revitalization of the Hungarian Catholic Church and religious life, encompassing the reconstruction of bishoprics, the establishment of educational institutions and libraries, and the publication and dissemination of both religious and secular literary works. This dissemination of knowledge was also closely intertwined with the influential court in Vienna. On the one hand, the rich heritage of ancient Rome played a crucial role in reshaping the baroque tradition. High-ranking clerics began to take a keen interest in the historical context of their immediate surroundings, initiating local excavations and conducting research in the Vatican Archives. On the other hand, they were greatly influenced by the vibrant culture of contemporary Rome, including Catholic reform efforts, the patronage of the Roman aristocracy, and the volumes of recent Italian literature. This paper explores the cultural influence of Bishop György Klimo of Pécs through an analysis of his correspondence with members of the ecclesiastical aristocracy in Rome and Vienna. Notably, Klimo made significant contributions to the spreading of Ludovico Antonio Muratori’s ideas in Hungary. He also played a pioneering role in disseminating knowledge by being the first among his contemporaries to open his personal library to the public. Furthermore, he commissioned research at the Vatican to compile a comprehensive history of his diocese. By examining Klimo’s endeavors, we gain valuable insights into the transformative influence of Roman culture on the Baroque tradition in Hungary. Moreover, the analysis sheds light on the distinct and organic development of the Italian line within Hungarian culture.

Learning and living God’s story: The power of liturgy for, with, and through people with disabilities

Liturgy is an embodied means of participating in God’s story of salvation. Through a tradition of prayers, hymns, and sacraments, God’s story is experienced through the senses as people receive, give, and share in acts of listening, proclaiming, and enactment. Robert Webber argues that participation in liturgy is itself a means for evangelization. Through liturgy, the church lives out God’s story while also shaping participants to know God and in turn live out God’s story in the world. For people with disabilities, particularly intellectual and developmental disabilities, liturgy helps to form Christ followers through expressive means like repetition, song, and bodily movement. While this is often seen as a one-way movement to people with disabilities, liturgy is quite literally the work of the people. Through their participation in liturgy, people with disabilities contribute to the church’s witness and to the embodiment of God’s story, challenging ableism and contributing to works of justice and goodness.

Beaufort-Wes: 'n Oorsig van die geskiedenis van die dorp en distrik

The expansion of the settlement to the north-east in the course of the eighteenth century led to the proclamation of the Beaufort district in 1818. The principal town of the district, the present Beaufort West, was established on the farm Hooyvlakte and was the first municipality in South Africa (1837). From the beginning it was the centre of the educational, church and commercial life of this district, where sheep-farming was the most prominent activity. Today it is the largest town in the central Karoo and is also an important railway centre.

Non-Speaking Autistic Participation in Liturgy and Church Life: (Non-)Speech Acts

Abstract Many liturgies depend on speech. But how do those autistic people who do not speak, or speak only minimally, participate in liturgy? This article addresses how eight non- or minimally-speaking autistic people experience liturgy. Having used a range of methods for data collection, we identified two key themes in the data: the desire for (1) liturgical and (2) social participation. We interpret these findings in light of speech-act theory. We propose that conventions around what is interpreted as meaningful communication or prayer are socially constructed and can be shaped to take account of the contribution made by non- or minimally-speaking worshippers.

Negative News about the Catholic Church as A Challenge for a More Active and Critical Reading of the News

Media content is not the facts that happened, but the media's representation of these facts. The media report and narrate reality in a way that is as interesting as possible for the audience. Because media content contains exaggeration, drama and speculation and frames facts in different contexts, consumers of media content rightly feel that the media distort the truth. We find that there is a very large discrepancy between the life of the Catholic Church (and Catholics) and the news we find in the media, and that the line between fake news and convincing news is very thin. In order to ascertain the facts in media news (and to distinguish between facts, exaggerations and representations), it is necessary to critically evaluate media content. This requires a high level of personal engagement and knowledge of the topic, but also professional expertise in media content. As a result, most users do not analyse media content, but interpret it intuitively or take it literally. Our 2019 survey shows that the media in Slovenia most often associate the Catholic Church with sexual abuse, money and politics. In an analysis of 3 735 articles, we examined these topics in detail and found that the connotations of these articles are polarised: half are positive, half negative. Furthermore, in these articles we find no reports on serious socio-political problems and the positive solutions offered by the Catholic Church.

Особенности положения Калининской и Кашинской епархии перед началом хрущевских гонений (1954–1957 гг.)

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of church life in the Kalinin and Kashin diocese for three years before the start of Khrushchev’s “thaw”. Until 1954, taking into account the consequences of the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1930s, a series of church and administrative transformations of the Kalinin diocese in the last years of the Great Patriotic War and the post-war period, determined by the needs of the Church, as well as the activities of diocesan bishops in 1935–1953, Church life in the Kalinin region was in decline. The revival of the Kalinin and Kashin diocese was initiated by Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky). By appointing as diocesan bishop an outstanding hierarch from the widowed clergy, who had an academic theological education and was imprisoned in the Solovetsky camp for special purposes, Bishop Barsanuphius (Grinevich), the patriarch, with the assistance of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, ensured non-interference in the activities of the bishop authorized by the Council for the Kalinin Region V.I. Hebronov, who was distinguished by his irreconcilable position towards the Church. In such conditions, Bishop Barsanuphius managed to achieve outstanding results in the revival of the diocese in three years: to increase the number of registered churches, to resume services in churches remote from Kalinin, where services had not been held for a long time, to increase the number of parish clergy, to stabilize the state of their morality, to ensure remote rural churches by clergy, to carry out repairs in them. Considering that the population of the Kalinin region was recognized as religious, the events of 1954–1957. were characterized by the patriarch, clergy, believers of the Kalinin region and even the authorized Hebronov as a revival.

Колокола-гиганты в Сибири в XVII–XX вв.: памятники литья и их культурное значение

There is fragmentary information about giant bells in Siberia; the topic of studying this phenomenon has not been raised before. The article gives and justifies the definition of a giant bell. Bells weighing 500 pounds or more were found in most large provincial Siberian cities; in some cases (Tobolsk, Kungur, Pyskor, Nizhny Tagil, Irkutsk) there were several such bells. It is noted that in Siberia, which has experienced a shortage of bells throughout the entire Orthodox period of existence, bells of smaller weight can also be considered giants. Giant bells were the subject of special concern of kings and bishops and had great cultural significance in the life of Siberians. Notifying local residents about the most important events not only in the church and state life of the country, the ringing of such bells was a kind of mass media for the population. In the conditions of low-rise buildings in Siberian settlements, this ringing covered not only the entire territory of the city, but was often heard in neighboring settlements. During the research, the problem of attribution of bells in terms of their weight arose. It turned out that in various pre-revolutionary sources the same bell can have different data; often the weight was rounded to some more convenient values, both up and down. Of the 22 bells described in the article, not a single giant survived after the anti-bell campaign of the 20th century; all of them were destroyed. The article raises the issue of restoring the lost bell heritage and provides data on the existing giant bells cast at the beginning of the 21st century.

PEMBINAAN KEPEMIMPINAN ORANG MUDA KATOLIK: DI PAROKI KUALA DUA DAN BEDUAI KEUSKUPAN SANGGAU

This activity is motivated by developments in science and technology, especially in the field of telecommunications, which are currently sweeping the world. As future leaders of the people who are expected by the church to be able to actively develop church life, they are required to be wiser and able to teach young Catholics around them regarding the main negative impacts of the development of telecommunications technology. With the development of science and digital, humans experience amnesia, forgetting their identity. This is also what is happening to young Catholics in the Sanggau Diocese who are being hit by the mastery of science and the development of the digital world. This community service was carried out for two days, in the Beduai parish in the Sanggau Diocese. The method of this activity is education for young people, starting with the presentation of material in each session and continuing with reflection in the form of revealing responses from the participants. The atmosphere of the activity was held in a lively manner accompanied by music. This activity was successful in increasing teenagers' understanding of leadership and efforts to overcome the impact of developments in communication technology that could threaten their Catholic faith.

UPAYA PEMBINA DALAM MENINGKATKAN PARTISIPASI AKTIF HIDUP MENGGEREJA ORANG MUDA KATOLIK DI PAROKI ST. YOHANES PAULUS II NAMO PECAWIR-TUNTUNGAN

This research examines the efforts of coaches to increase active participation in OMK church life at the Namo Pecawir Paroki St. John Paul II Namo Pecawir-Tuntungan station. The purpose of this study was to find out the efforts of coaches to increase the active participation of young Catholics in church life. This type of research is qualitative research. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews and documentation. Informants are divided into three parts, namely key informants, main informants and additional informants. The number of informants in this study amounted to 6 people, of which 1 coach, 1 coordinator, 1 church administrator and 3 young Catholics. The result is that the coach's efforts to increase active participation in OMK church life have been carried out and are running well. The efforts of OMK coaches and church life have been good, but in practice it should be further improved and developed again in various activities. Especially in mutual cooperation activities, environmental prayer, liturgical officers, and deepening of faith. The presence of OMK must be further enhanced to support the development of church life. The coach's efforts in providing direction, accompanying, and becoming a friend for OMK are further enhanced so that they have a good influence on the development of OMK.

Комментарий в блогосфере как религиоведческий источник (по материалам православного сегмента Интернета)

Online materials on religious topics are actively commented on by users, resulting in the formation of a textual space of religious Internet comments. As a form of rapid response to the news, comments in the blogosphere are an important source that allows us, taking into account representativeness criteria, to analyse trends in the dynamics of the religious situation in near-real time. The authors of such comments primarily adopt the following roles: a strict adherent of religious rules; a fanatic prone to radicalism (extremism); a modernist advocating a “comfortable church”; a prayerful peacemaker calling for peace and harmony; an exposer of various (real or imaginary) vices of “church life”; a cleric making a pretence to be an expert. The communicative strategies depend on the role assumed; however, sufficient competence or even simple awareness is oftentimes not expected from a commenter. In fact, the genre of commenting does not require competence: in most cases anyone can comment on anything. The analysis of comments allows us to identify the specifics of value-based evaluative activity, including users’ religious preferences and their attempts to form public opinion. This is achieved through the use of special methods of presenting information as well as throgh the specifics and ability of a text to establish the necessary associations and images. Particular attention is paid to the strategy of creating a negative image. From the point of view of content and pragmatics, the following types of comments can be distinguished: informative, evaluative, destructive, apologetic (polemical), and manipulative. This typology of comments can be used when conducting content and intent studies of the religious blogosphere as well as analysing the dynamics of the religious situation and various processes of the religious semiosphere.

The Life and Work of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa: The Doctrinal Dimension of Baptism

The Life and Work of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa: The Doctrinal Dimension of Baptism

Sejarah, Struktur dan Teologi Doa Syukur Agung Ketiga Tata Perayaan Ekaristi 2020

This article is entitled "History, Structure and Theology of the Third Eucharistic Prayer for the 2020 Eucharistic Celebration: Pastoral Vision Management and Leadership." This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of the development, structure and theological significance of the third Eucharistic Prayer in the 2020 Eucharistic Celebration. This paper focuses on selecting the Third Eucharistic Prayer as the main study, based on the idea of the Liturgy as the source and pinnacle of Church life as described in the Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) n. 10. Liturgy is not only a formal ritual of worship, but also the core of the identity and mission of the Catholic Church which drives and gives meaning to all ecclesiastical activities. Thus, this paper tries to explain the inspirations originating from liturgical texts, especially DSA III, which can be applied in the pastoral work of the Catholic Church. This paper aims to create bridge between liturgical theology and its application in a concrete pastoral context. By exploring the meaning of DSA III, we can find inspiration that can help direct the Vision Management and Pastoral Leadership of the Catholic Church. Indeed, the inspiration for the Vision Management and Pastoral Leadership of the Catholic Church can be found in various sources, including the Holy Bible and the teachings of the Church Fathers, but this paper is a simple effort that tries to highlight the potential contained in DSA III, a prayer that is very often used in celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday by the faithful. In this research it was found that DSA III contains some key values that can be applied in management and pastoral leadership within a parish. Thus, DSA is also a series of prayers which are intended to be prayed and absorbed together by the priest and the congregation. More than that, DSA is not limited to a series of prayers that stop at the Eucharistic liturgy. DSA is also lived out in daily activities, especially when people gather together at church to be involved in church services.

Sinodalitas Gereja dan Aktualisasinya dalam Sikap dan Kepuasan Berlingkungan

In his address for the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis said that synodality is a new way of church life in the third millennium. A synodal Church is formed by the communion of the people of God who are active and engaged in evangelization. Synodality is a manifestation of the Church as a communion of God's people and a pilgrimage of the Church in the world. With Synodality, both clergy and laity are invited to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit through the sensus fidei, so that they can proclaim the Gospel to the world. Through the three main pillars of the Synodal Church, namely communion, participation, and mission, all the faithful are invited to listen to the Holy Spirit. The synodality of the Church cannot be separated from the parish circles because the parish circles are the foundation of the Church and support the life of the Church in its mission as salt and light. The parish circles are also a form of fellowship of the people of God. In addition, the parish circles from a management perspective are also a form of organization that cannot be separated from attitudes and organizational satisfaction. In the implementation of pastoral care in the parish circles, there are various attitudes and organizational satisfaction issues, such as parish circle administrators who are less proactive, encouraging the parish circle people to be active, disharmony between administrators and people in the parish circles, the tardiness in various parish circle activities, and the lack of young people who are interested in doing activities in the parish circles. With synodality in the parish circles, which is guided by the attitude of listening to each other sensus fidei, problems related to attitudes and organizational satisfaction in the parish circles are able to be resolved.

DUKUNGAN ORANG TUA BAGI REMAJA KATOLIK DI TENGAH MASALAH KENAKALAN REMAJA

Juvenile delinquency refers to such actions that violate laws as well as societal values. It is caused by unresolved internal conflicts within adolescents. Parental support is crucial for adolescents regarding to this unresolved conflicts. This research aims to empirically examine the parental support for Catholic adolescents related to the issue of juvenile delinquency. The study was conducted in the Rejoso Basic Chiristian Community of the St. Mary Parish, Blitar, focusing on Christian families with adolescent children. Respondents for this research were selected through purposive sampling. This technique allows the researcher to personally choose appropriate informants who are knowledgeable or have extensive information related to the researched issue. Data collection methods for this study included structured interviews and observation. Structured interviews used an interview guide consisting of questions formulated based on the research problems. The research results indicated that parental support for Catholic adolescents significantly influences their church life related to the current issues of juvenile delinquency. The role of parents in the religious education of adolescents in Catholic families in the digital era involves guiding, supervising, and supporting the adolescents. The presence of parents must be friendly and become a good role models for their teenagers.