SUSTAINING PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING AMID LIFE CHALLENGES: EXPERIENCES OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS IN NIGERIA

Author

Perpetua Ukamaka Udechukwu, Jude Thaddeus Chukwunonso Udechukwu

Abstract

 Priestly and religious vocations involve a commitment to a life of service, prayer, and dedication to the mission of the Church. Individuals who embrace these vocations often undergo extensive spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral formation intended to prepare them for ministry. However, the realities of religious life and pastoral service may expose them to personal, relational, and institutional challenges that can affect their psycho-spiritual well-being. This qualitative study explored how priests and religious understand psycho-spiritual well-being, experience its key dimensions, navigate challenges to sustaining it, and seek to maintain it amid life challenges. Using purposive sampling, eighteen priests and religious from Nigeria responded to semi-structured questions administered electronically through Google Forms between 20 February and 6 March 2025. Participants were assigned codes ranging from P01 to P18 to maintain confidentiality. Data were analyzed using a thematic content approach. The findings indicate that participants understood psycho-spiritual well-being as a dynamic integration of spiritual, psychological, and emotional dimensions. Their accounts reflected five interrelated dimensions of psycho-spiritual well-being: connectedness, self-awareness, self-transcendence, meaningfulness, and compassion. Participants described a range of challenges to psycho-spiritual well-being, including interpersonal misunderstandings, spiritual dryness, sexuality-related inner struggles, institutional constraints, and time pressures. They described sustaining their well-being through practices such as deepening their prayer life, engaging in personal reflection and counseling, practicing acceptance and compassion, seeking solitude and rest, and personal discipline. The findings highlight the importance of integrated spiritual, psychological, and emotional support for priests and religious. They point to the need for intentional personal spiritual practices, accessible psycho-spiritual counseling, supportive leadership structures, and formation programs that promote holistic human development. The study contributes to the understanding of psycho-spiritual well-being within the lived realities of priests and religious in Nigeria and offers implications for ongoing formation, pastoral accompaniment, and community life.

Keywords

psycho-spiritual well-being; priests and religious; life challenges; Nigeria; psycho-spiritual counseling.

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