Examples of Distinctions in Catholic Missiology

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIOLOGY

Pierre Charles, Professor of Theology at Louvain, was instrumental in establishing Catholic Missiology as a science within Catholic theological training.

• Pierre referred to the new science he called Missiology, for the study of which he wanted to gather in Leuven missionaries from around the world" (Masson. "In Memorian. Le P. Pierrce Charles, S.J. Missiologue.8")

• Missiology became a term used within Catholic Mission circles by Pierre Charles in the 1920s and Joseph Schmidlin in the 1930s.

• Other important developments in Catholic Missiology was Thomas Ohm - Chair of Missiology at the Munster School of Missiology, Louvain School, Missiological Journals

ROMAN CATHOLICISM

• While parts of Roman Catholic theology and ecclesiology is different from other branches of Christianity; Roman Catholic Missiology is the same

• Vatican II: Lumen Gentium/ Ad Ventes

• Dogmatic Constitutions on the Church

• Decree on missionary activity of the church

  • Vatican II is clear that the purpose of missionary work is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring them into saving faith in the Lord Jesus and disciple them into the Church as the body of Christ.