https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26260 2026-04-15T03:14:07Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129794 Title: Spirituality and corporate ethics : a critical application of Danah Zohar's construct of spiritual intelligence Abstract: This dissertation aims to elicit interest and raise awareness on Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) as proposed by Danah Zohar, an author, physicist, philosopher, and management thought leader. More specifically, it will analyse the potential of her construct to be integrated in a model of Corporate Ethics that has the scope of human flourishing. In her work, Danah Zohar recounts the true story of a young man who was faced with ethical dilemmas in his role as a corporate executive. Anders * was in his mid-30s and occupied the post of senior business executive in a large and successful company. He confided with Zohar that, despite his successful career and good life, he was preoccupied about the stale of the world, especially about the global environment and the breakdown of community. He felt uncertain of what he was doing with his life and questioned if his career was the right path to pursue. Anders' preoccupation was that big businesses like his were especially guilty of not carrying the responsibility for the problems he observed. He wanted to do something about it, and expressed his will to use his life to serve. His purpose in meeting with Zohar was to seek guidance on how to go about turning his life around from being the source of such problems to providing solutions for them. Zohar was intrigued by Anders' description of his dilemma as a 'spiritual problem' that caused him unrest. She observed that this dilemma had become typical amongst sensitive young people. These observations, together with her personal experiences, spurred her to develop a practical way to apply spiritual intelligence in corporate activity to create Spiritual Capital. The corporate world would thus generate wealth that has the wider scope of being economically, socially, environmentally and morally sustainable. Through my personal experience working in different fields over the past twenty years, I can identify with Anders' dilemma. Finding answers to his questions is largely why I sought help in deepening my spirituality and eventually, also how I developed an interest in Business and Organisational Ethics. I believe that constructs such as the one analysed in this dissertation have much to offer to deepen the scope of any endeavour, be it in business, government or non-profit organisations. * Fictitious name Description: M.A.BUSINESS ETHICS 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26578 Title: Interpreting youth ministry through positive youth development : a case study of ACTS Abstract: Positive Youth Development is a strengths-based view of adolescence that finds its origins in ecological systems theory. Central to its philosophy, the theory of Positive Youth Development suggests that “if young people have mutually beneficial relations with the people and institutions of their social world, they will be on the way to a hopeful future marked by positive contributions to self, family, community, and civil society” (Lerner, Almerigi, Theokas, Lerner, 2005). Research in Positive Youth Development has shown through different studies that structured voluntary activities contribute to holistic and healthy adolescent development. It achieves this through the development of initiative, secondary socialisation, and the language of agency. The concept of spark is also found to be activated though these activities, which allows adolescents to thrive. The 4-H study also shows that structured voluntary activities develop the five-plus-one C’s that also greatly contribute to adolescent development. ACTS stands for Announcing Christ to Schools and since 2001 has been the main outreach project targeting adolescents between 13 to 16 years in Malta and Gozo within Youth Fellowship. ACTS has distinguished itself locally by being the only full-time outreach evangelisation project in local secondary schools to date. The need for such a project was felt in view of the effects, both positive and negative, of the socio-economic evolution of Malta on our society, particularly our youth. The objectives of the ACTS project are threefold: 1. The ACTS school programme - supports Form 4 students in government, private, and Church schools sectors in their spiritual growth through dynamic and interactive sessions. 2. The ACTS Teens follow-up programme - provides follow-up for the 13 to 16 year old students who wish to find further support in their spiritual growth. There are currently 120 adolescents attending these weekly meetings on Fridays. 3. The ACTS Youth leaders recruitment and training programme - caters for the recruitment and training of older adolescents as volunteers to implement, together with the coordinators, both the student programme and the follow-up initiatives. I am currently a member and leader within the Cenacolo Community serving in this project. Over the years, I have noticed a healthy growth in a number of adolescents, as well as in myself and my peers, through participation in this group. After becoming aware of the theories put forward in Positive Youth Development, I intend to reveal to what extent the ACTS project is contributing to the holistic development of adolescents through the theoretical framework of Positive Youth Development. Description: M.A.YOUTH MINISTRY 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26567 Title: Youth ministry in the thought of bishop Nikol Guzeppi Cauchi (1967-2006) Abstract: Through an in-depth analysis of the life and teachings of Mgr Nikol Ġ. Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo for thirty eight years, this dissertation seeks to accomplish a thorough reflection on his ministry with the young Catholic members of his Diocese. This is illustrated in his pastoral plans, norms and initiatives, homilies, circulars and official documents, books, speeches, interviews, correspondences, and other writings and media. It is hoped that this study will shed new light on the qualities of a local spiritual shepherd with a creative personality, marked by deep pastoral charity and great sensitivity for the young, and who, in the light of the Second Vatican Council, sought concrete initiatives to promote the Gospel in an intelligible language. Rather than providing a chronological and systematic list of sources, the dissertation examines a list of the core themes and elaborates upon them. The extensive Magisterium of Bishop Nikol Ġ. Cauchi remains to this day a joyful invitation to the local Church and youth ministers in particular to read the ‘signs of the times’, and passionately strive to help young people meet Christ in their concrete daily situations. Description: M.A.YOUTH MINISTRY 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26563 Title: Theology of the body in adolescent girls : cultural challenges and Christian formation Abstract: The theology of the Christian life is based on the belief, grounded in revelation, that the human is created in the image of God. Christians cannot live their sexuality in total dignity unless they appropriate and live in the faith the teaching that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen1:27) -and that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19). However, this strongly embodied theological anthropology has been a point of contention in Christian history and cannot be taken for granted in today’s culture of the “discarnate”, technological human. Communicating this faith to youth and making them understand the importance of such beliefs is crucial, but we seem to fail in forming our youth effectually. Data was gathered through passive participant observation of Form 1 PSCD classes in a girls’ Catholic school and a focus group session with the same group of eleven (11) girls. The research tried to understand what influences shape the contemporary Maltese female adolescent’s notion of the body, and whether adolescents have an understanding of the human as created Imago Dei. Results showed that adolescents have a limited understanding of the human as Imago Dei. It is proposed that young people are accompanied by a team made up of a youth minister and other professionals such as the religion teacher, the school councillor and others involved in the school’s pastoral team to help them continue discover oneself as a Christian and as created Imago Dei in order to shape a healthier body-image and a healthier approach to sexuality. Description: M.A.YOUTH MINISTRY 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z