PASTORAL ORIENTATION

"Pastoral concern means the search for the true good of man" (Pope John Paul II). The pastoral orientation of the MTS curriculum derives from our conviction that doctrine has the greatest pastoral relevance because ultimately it is the truth that sets people free (see Jn 3:32) to become the persons God intends them to be. Since Christ came to serve, the Church continues His mission by bringing God's love to those who need it, thereby affirming and promoting human dignity. Based on the doctrine of Christ's revelation, the Church is an "expert in humanity," having received in Christ the full truth about human dignity and fulfillment. Bringing out this truth constitutes the pastoral orientation of the IPT. In this way our curriculum fully incorporates the "law of fidelity to God and of fidelity to man."

"Since this man is the way for the Church … the Church of today must be aware in an always-new manner of man's "situation." That means that she must be aware of his possibilities…. She must likewise be aware of the threats to man and of all that seems to oppose the endeavor "to make human life ever more human" and make every element of this life correspond to man's true dignity - in a word, she must be aware of all that is opposed to that process." - John Paul II, Redeemer of Man, 14