Catholic Social Teaching

BACKGROUND

In order to know and live out the Catholic Social Tradition in Nigeria and Africa generally, the Catholic Institute for Development Justice and Peace (CIDJAP) offers a graduate and post graduate Diploma certificate programme on Catholic Social Teaching (CST).

Catholic Social Teaching is a central and essential element of Christian faith studied at CIDJAP under an interdisciplinary Faculty of several distinct academic disciplines. The sources of CST are scripture, magisterial teachings, Christian tradition and contemporary events based on scientific developments in the philosophical, theological, social and natural sciences.

The Programme which was officially promulgated according to Canon Law by Ecclesiastical Decree of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Most Reverend Michael Ugwu Eneja in 1989 started as part of the pioneering crusade initiated and promoted by the Director and founder of CIDJAP, Rev. Professor Obiora Ike, a priest of the Diocese.

CST at CIDJAP started in scientific academic linkage and partnership with the Department for Christian Social Teachings and Pastoral Sociology of the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Bonn, Germany in 1989 under its Director, Prof Dr Lothar Roos. It has since grown to a partnership in Nigeria with the Godfrey Okoye University (GOU) in 2010, an institution of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

CIDJAP has ongoing academic linkage Agreements since 1993 with the Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Germany and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). It promotes exchange programs for post graduate doctoral students of the Institute and its teachers with its partner institutions.

MISSION

The Mission of CIDJAP is the;

• Empowerment of people
• Promotion of integral development
• Challenging structures of injustice
• Creating hope
• Working for peace.

This is carried out through the Catholic Social Teaching post-graduate and graduate Programme which serves to;

• deepen the faith and spirituality of Christians
• train entrepreneurial leaders for societal transformation
• promote the Social Teaching of the Church
• understand the dynamics and pastoral principles of social transformation and sustainable development
• examine relationships between authority, leadership and good governance in Church and society
• encourage Social, political, Economic and Environmental Justice
• enhance intercultural and interreligious dialogue for peace

AIM

The aim is to empower participants to live out their faith responsibly by applying Christian principles to the daily questions of life in science, technology, society, culture, religion and practical life, thereby re-shaping the face of the universe and participating in the ongoing search of making the world a better place for everybody.

This involves training on a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of scripture, the fathers of the Church, pontifical pronouncements since Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII (1891) as well as other relevant teachings on Social, Cultural, Economic, Political and Theological matters as on Christian civic roles.

It balances personal responsibility with social responsibility, individual rights with the common good and is founded on the principles of personality, subsidiarity, solidarity, human dignity and the common good. CST at CIDJAP is Theology made simple and applied to daily life for professionals, lay persons, religious and all people of Good Will. It is designed to train interested participants on the vital, foundational and systematic tenets of the Faith applied in daily life.

What Does CST Offer?

The course offers participants the chance to study Catholic Social Teaching and Theology within a period of 12 to 18 months with lectures, starting from January of every year and ending in June of the following year. Research work and the writing of a scientific paper is given considerable time.

Who enrolls for CST?

The course is open to mature men and women, religious and Priests, Professionals and Non-professionals who are graduates of institutions with basic university admission requirements for post graduate studies.

Examinations:

At the successful completion of the course, there is an examination covering Theory and Practicals, Thesis Writing and Seminar with Research Project.

A participant who fails in any examination will be given the opportunity to re-sit the paper in which he/she was referred.

To qualify for the award of CST Diploma Certificate, the participant is not only required to pass a final examination (conducted by oral and or written exams), but is also to maintain a satisfactory academic record throughout his/her Institute’s career, and to spend stipulated number of hours in attendance of lectures, practical or seminars.

Diploma Certificate and Career:

The Diploma Certificate of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace in Scientific-Academic Partnership with the Godfrey Okoye University is awarded to successful candidates at the end of the Programme.

Usually, successful Candidates of the Institute are adorned with the Diploma Certificate at a graduation ceremony presided over by the Bishop, the Director, Vice Chancellor of GOU and Faculty.

Career opportunities exist in various fields of practice in Nigeria for the graduands such as Teachers, Entrepreneurs and Leadership personnel in the Financial Services Sector, Managers of Companies, Private Sector drivers, captains of industry, Political Actors, Catechists, Parish Pastoral Helpers, Social Workers, Community Development Workers, Trade Union Leaders and Family Care.

In this way they convey their knowledge to bear on the spiritual and material well being of the human society.