The changing paradigm of the Church's pastoral mission in the working world

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to study the changing paradigm of the pastoral mission of the Church in the working world. The dissertation will take as a starting point the missionary initiative of the worker priest movement and its development in the twentieth century, up to its prohibition in 1959. It will evaluate the different elements of this experience, as well as the insights gained by worker priests, and the influence of this movement on the Church. It will then examine the changing paradigm of the evangelization of the working world, in the light of Vatican Council II and post Conciliar developments - a shift from focusing on the priest to including the participation of the whole ecclesial community with particular emphasis on the role of lay people. Finally, the research work will analyse the local pastoral mission with workers and how more people in the working world can be reached through new pastoral methods.