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Research

Introduction

Fundamental reflection on the pastoral theological model

  • Further construction of the Catholic hermeneutic model of pastoral care without neglecting the achievements of the kerygmatic and the therapeutic model. The Catholic hermeneutic model refers not only to the bible, but also to rituals, sacraments, and to the interpretation of them in the Church community.
  • This hermeneutic model has an inductive mode (it starts from the life story of the individual) and a deductive mode (confrontation with the "otherness" of the gospel). In this way a hermeneutic circle is formed. In other words, it is a confrontational interpretation or a critical rereading of the human existence and the gospel. From a narrative point of view, the life story and the bible story are being critically correlated.
  • Pastoral theology is focused on the development of a Christian identity (faith content or kerygma, prayer and leiturgia, diaconia or ethical engagement, koinonia or community development) and on the formation of faith communities in the contemporary societal context.
  • Pastoral theology is essentially based on multidisciplinary research and is constantly in touch with pastoral fields, not only reactive to their developments but also proactive (developing a vision).

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Scientific research within the field of practical theology

Within the field of practical theology different research areas are being developed:

  • poimenics
  • individual pastoral dialogue
  • guilt, reconciliation and conflict mediation
  • the identity of the pastor
  • the specificity of pastoral care
  • the specificity of Christian institutions
  • ethical reflection for chaplains
  • the identity of the faith community and the church leadership
  • the spirituality of pastors "vom Amt her gesehen" (cf. K. Rahner)

Sectors are:

  • health care (ao "outcome-oriented chaplaincy" and the correlation between the image a person has of God an how she experiences her suffering)
  • family chaplaincy (in cooperation with IDGP)
  • marital spirituality (in cooperation with INTAMS)
  • divorce issues (with Paul De Clerck, ICP)
  • youth ministry
  • school chaplaincy
  • chaplaincy for people with disabilities
  • chaplaincy and psychiatry
  • chaplaincy with the hearing impaired, extended to all communication impairments
  • parish ministry
  • prison chaplaincy
  • "marginal" chaplaincy (eg sexual abuse, refugees, fourth world chaplaincy …)
  • pastoral theological research of the gospel

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Research projects

Current projects in English

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