Coping Strategies to Burnout in Pastoral Ministry among Catholic Religious Men and Women of Mbarara Archdiocese in Uganda

Coping strategies to burnout in pastoral ministry is paramount to the mental well-being of Catholic religious men and women. The objective of this study was to identify coping strategies for preventing burnout in pastoral ministry among the Catholic religious men and women of Mbarara Archdiocese Uganda. The study employed an exploratory research design. Through Purposive sampling the study utilized a sample size of 10 participants. The data was collected using Interview Guide. The data collected was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study revealed that spiritual practices such as prayer, retreats and recollections, are major ways of preventing burnout among religious men and women in their ministry. Moreover, the Catholic religious men and women prevent burnout in pastoral ministry through self-care which included activities such as taking time to rest, having time for recreation, breaks and holidays, and renewal courses. In addition, the findings showed that Catholic religious men and women prevent pastoral ministry through psycho-spiritual resources such as meditation, imagery, journaling, visualization, and awareness. The study recommends to Bishops and Major Superiors to put in place programs that emphasize self-care among their religious men and women. Programs such as regular vacations, sabbaticals, regular medical attention can help to enhance the wellness of the religious men and women even when they are involved in challenging apostolate.