Love has to be the Reason

Perceptive... realistic... critical... insightful... this book is all of these and more. For anyone engaged in religious or priestly formation in Africa, or with African candidates, it will provide both challenges and directions for a deeper formative experience. Its overview of the formation task is holistic, taking account of critical cultural influences and the dynamics of the individual personalities, as well as the indispensable theological and spiritual elements. Fr. Okeke boldly identifies unhealthy trends in the vocational living of African priests and religious, including those masquerading as culturally appropriate, and proposes realistic responses. As I read, I found myself wanting to share the book with colleagues and others involved in formation work. I recommend it as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in priestly and religious formation in Africa. Br. Tony Shanahan CFC Priesthood and the vocation to the consecrated life aim at inspiring and helping people establish and sustain a life-giving and enriching relationship with God, the love at the centre of the universe. The author passionately argues that the formation of priests and religious should aim, first and foremost, at enkindling in the candidates the fire of God's love. Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo, Ph. D Lecturer, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University