Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book offers a comprehensive and insightful contribution to understanding transformations experienced in the institutes of consecrated life in the United States and globally. It is unique in that most of the chapters articulate the realities of aging members and the cultural and ethnic diversity of the emerging religious institutes. The book documents thoughtful reflections, learnings, and innovative ways religious institutes are reimaging new structures for mission and charism, including discernment processes and new governance and collaborative models. This book invites us into the emerging creative field of research on consecrated life. Regardless of the challenges facing religious life today, this book affirms the core tenet of consecrated women's fidelity to God and pragmatic listening to contemporary challenges as an opportunity to learn and respond to new realities with new possibilities, hope, wisdom, and grace."
Sister Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Associate Vice President of Programs Operations and Head Catholic Sisters Initiative at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation"For those seeking to understand contemporary religious life for women, this book sheds light on a complex picture."
Horizon"This book has the potential to enlighten, encourage, and support what is already going on and what is emerging in women's religious life in this country. It is hoped that this book will be widely read, studied, discussed, and its implications implemented not only by current leaders but by the rank and file who will live through what is emerging, and that the material it provides will facilitate the transformation that is required if religious life is to find its footing in a new sociocultural religious setting."
Theological Studies"This edited volume takes a big step to paint an accurate picture of both the peril and the promise that congregations of women religious face in this first quarter of the twenty-first century."
Catholic Books Review"An excellent review of several recent CARA studies and an outstanding way to summarize them in one place. It is a great resource for current or new leaders in religious communities."
American Benedictine ReviewTable of ContentsContentsList of Figures vii
List of Tables ix
List of Contributors xi
Introduction. Why Are Catholic Sisters Important Today?
Thomas P. Gaunt xv
Part I: New Waves of Women Religious Chapter 1. New Members in Religious Life in the United States
Mary L. Gautier and Thu T. Do 3
Chapter 2. Cultural Diversity in Vocations to Religious Life in the United States
Thu T. Do and Jonathon L. Wiggins 27
Chapter 3. International Religious Institutes in the United States
Patricia Wittberg and Thu T. Do 51
Chapter 4. Challenges of Newer Members in Communities of Women Religious
Juliet Mousseau and Mumbi Kigutha 75
Part II: Changes in Governance and Collaboration Chapter 5. The Evolution of Leadership in Religious Life
Michal Kramarek and Patricia Wittberg 89
Chapter 6. Restructuring Governance in Religious Life
Jonathon L. Wiggins and Thomas P. Gaunt 111
Chapter 7. Fidelity to the Journey:
Options for Canonical Restructuring and Collaboration
Sharon Euart 131
Chapter 8. Experiences of Restructuring, Growth, Culture, and Ethnicity
Patricia Cormack and Maria Theotokos Adams 147
Conclusion. What Are We Learning?
Thomas P. Gaunt 167
Appendix. Research Studies Used in This Book 171
References 181
Index 185
