St. Anthony of Padua parish: A case study of the transformation of a Roman Catholic parish
Abstract
Immersion of the researcher in the cultural context of an early twenty-first century, New England, Roman Catholic ethnic parish, historically staffed by Conventual Franciscans, revealed the existence of a pre-modern world-view, a pre-Vatican II theology and spirituality, and an insularity with regard to the greater community. By becoming part of the community, first as a congregant, and soon thereafter as a member of a newly appointed diocesan ministry team, the researcher was provided the opportunity to help influence the direction of the parish. By creating an atmosphere of welcome and beauty, through the use of intentional language and image, and by the concrete example of a relational philosophy, the ministry team has been able to integrate feminist sensibilities into the existing fabric of the parish. The parish is undergoing a transformation. Ethnographic research was conducted to better understand the reasons for the changes in the parish, for the purpose of education and empowerment. The results of the study have curricular and pedagogical implications for the field of religious education and pastoral ministry.
Subject Area
Religion|Religious education
Recommended Citation
Sauers, Eleanor W, "St. Anthony of Padua parish: A case study of the transformation of a Roman Catholic parish" (2007). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3299115.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3299115
