| CODE | PLC5007 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Ministering to Today’s Families | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide students with the opportunity to critically appraise the changing scenario of the contemporary forms of family and the impact these have on their members. The major focus will be the relationship structures and how these insights can shape the training programs of the pastoral workers. The sources for this study unit are the human sciences in their exploration of the concrete realities of families and recent Church's teachings on the nature, scope and values of the family. Besides being presented with the key theories for appraising the impact of families on personality formation, students will be linking ministry with psychological themes such as, attachment styles, identity formation and intergenerational relationships. Study-unit Aims: A deep understanding of the fundamentals and dynamics of the family and their impact on human formation. Exposing future ministers to the relevant research and theory as part of their training program. Whilst drawing on current literature in the area, the study-unit aims to take into consideration also the ecclesial context in addressing current opportunities and challenges. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Appraise key ecclesial developments in addressing the challenges posed by the contemporary family changes; - Appreciate the critical role the family enjoys in society and the Church; - Establish the impact that family dynamics have on faith development and ministry. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Engage with families in forming individuals in their life and Faith development; - Apply relevant insights from theory on family dynamics to pastoral relationships; - Engage in deeper self-awareness and free from bias while ministering to the family. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts - Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation 'Amoris Laetitia' (Vatican City, 2016). - Abela, A., Farrugia, R., Casha, C., Galea, M., & Schembri, D., The Relationship between Maltese Adolescents and their Parents: Department of Family Studies Research Report No.1 (Malta: Office of the President of Malta, 2013). - Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P. R., and Pereg D., “Attachment Theory and Affect Regulation: The Dynamics, Development, and Cognitive Consequences of Attachment-Related Strategies,” in Motivation and Emotion, Vol. 27, No. 2 (June 2003): 77-102. Supplementary Reading - Golombok, S., Modern Families: Parents and Children in New Family Forms (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015). - The President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. Sustaining relationships: Couples and Singles in a Changing Society (Malta: Author, 2016). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar & Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Galea Kevin Schembri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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