Abstract:
A holistic pastoral methodology is sought in transforming the socio-economic and systemic
pathologies of poor families and local communities. Missional pastoral ministry is proposed
from a critical hermeneutical and contextual perspective for the empowerment and liberation of
people living with complex and multiple forms of pathologies. A transversal rationality model
is applied merging the complexity and divergence of cross-disciplinary and intradisciplinary
approaches between missional theology, practical theology, contextual theology, religious
pedagogy and ethics. Practical theology in South Africa should be applied from and within the
contemporary socio-economic, systemic and ecclesiological pathologies.
Solidarity, prayer, and martyrdom add up to a time of salvation and judgment, a time of grace and stern
demand – a time, above all, of hope.
