Considering the Role of Associates in the Future of Women’s Religious Communities: A Project Focusing on the Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates, St Paul Province
Abstract
This project directly relates to my ministry role in the Membership and Association Office for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ), St. Paul Province. As in many other religious communities across the country, the Consociates (associates) now outnumber sisters. Given this changing demographic landscape, this project addresses ways that associates can contribute to the future of women's religious communities.In this project, I gather information from Consociates and sisters about their hopes and dreams for the role of associates in the future of women's religious communities, then create a work plan based on this information that could be carried out in my ministry work.Using Appreciative Inquiry as a research method, I led focus groups of sisters and Consociates in conversation. Beginning with what is working well now, participants shared ideas about hopes for the future and possible steps for achieving that future. Focus group participants were also asked to share ideas about a possible work plan.Chapter One outlines the project, gives an overview of the history of the Consociate community, and describes Appreciative Inquiry as a research method. Chapter Two presents the data from the focus groups. In Chapter Three, I analyze that data and reflect on my own role in this project. The final chapter outlines a work plan that draws on my analysis of the focus-group data.
Subject Area
Theology|Spirituality|Religion
Recommended Citation
Tande, Andrea Lynn Pearson, "Considering the Role of Associates in the Future of Women’s Religious Communities: A Project Focusing on the Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates, St Paul Province" (2023). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30815502.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30815502
