CONSECRATED PERSONS AND COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY

Abstract

The theme of collaborative ministry in mission is one that is of particular importance in every discussion on mission in any part of the universal Church. It is used within the context of coming together of two people or groups that are different, but who for a common purpose, must put aside their differences in order to achieve a common goal, in this context, the mission of the Church, which is the salvation of souls. This notwithstanding, the focus of this piece is collaborative ministry among Religious and between the Religious and Diocesan priests and the lay faithful. It understands collaborative ministry as an indispensable instrument for effective witnessing. It does not understood collaboration as a principle to be applied while at the office or while in the church, it is a way of life to be lived out from the smallest sociological unit of the Church to the largest. It has no limit to its practice, from the home, places of business to the church. This work argues that the result of effective collaboration in the Church is that it would make the ministry of evangelization more effective, and Religious Institutes more relevant to the contemporary world.