Identity Construction of Roman Catholic Religious Sisters in the Church in Nigeria
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Identity Construction of Roman Catholic Religious Sisters in the Church in Nigeria Chika Eucharia Eze, S.H. C. J (B.Ed (Hons), M.Ed (Counselling) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Applied Human Sciences (Psychology), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. November 2012 Supervisors: Professor Graham Lindegger Professor Susan Rakoczy IHM Declaration Unless specially indicated to the contrary, this study is a result of my own work. All citations, references and borrowed ideas have been duly acknowledged. It is being submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Applied Human Sciences (Psychology), Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. None of the present work has been submitted previously for any degree or examination in any other University. Student Name: Chika Eucharia Eze Signature of Student: Name of Supervisor: Professor Graham Lindegger Signature of Supervisor Name of Co-Supervisor: Professor Susan Rakoczy IHM Signature of Supervisor: i Dedication To the memory of my dad, who had always wanted me to do a PhD. Dad, I hope I have made you proud. ii Acknowledgments This research owes its inspiration to personal experience of mine, many religious sisters and friends I have encountered as I live religious life in the Roman Catholic Church. I wish to acknowledge these sisters and friends particularly the sisters who participated in this research, who generously told their stories, offered their time and reflected on their lives, at times laughing and crying as they did so. I thank each one of them for being part of this study. I am grateful to my religious congregation, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus for funding this study and also providing me with kind support that has encouraged me to complete this research. My gratitude also goes to my two supervisors, Professor Graham Lindegger and Professor Susan Rakoczy, who generously and patiently led me through the process of writing this thesis. Dear supervisors, I appreciate the personal touch not just from you but also from your families during these years of study. I also like to thank Professor Lance Lachenicht, who generously gave me a laptop to work with when mine was stolen. Further, my gratitude goes to Professor Isabel Phiri, whose inspiration prompted me to write my first academic article last year. I warmly and sincerely thank my family for all the support I have received from them, particularly my mum who has visited me twice during these years of study. My siblings: Ngadi, Adindu, Nnenna, and Ifunanya for the warmth and care I received. I wish also to thank the Dominicans friar at Emaphetelweni House, Scottsville, who have been supportive. Lastly, I want to thank my friends particularly Rosemary, Carla, Felicia, Kate, Andrew-Mary, Cajethan, MSP and Tyolumun, SJ who have been board supporters and companions throughout the duration of this study. iii List of Biblical References used in this study1 Old Testament Exodus .................................. Ex. 3 Genesis ................................. Gen. 12 Judith .................................... Jud. 4-5 Jeremiah ............................... Jer. 1 Psalms .................................. Ps. 39.9 New Testament Acts of the Apostles ............. Acts 4:32; 17:11; 21: 8 Colossians ............................ Col. 3: 18-4: 1 Corinthians ........................... 1 Cor. 12: 1-10; 2 Cor 8 Ephesians ............................. Eph. 1:23; 3: 10, 37; 5: 21-6 Galatians .............................. Gal. 3: 27-28 Hebrews ............................... Heb. 10: 7-8 John ...................................... Jn. 3: 16; 4: 34; 5: 30; 6: 14; 7: 28-29; 13: 34; 15: 12; 17, 35-51 Luke ..................................... Lk. 7: 16-39; 9: 23; 22: 26 Matthew ............................... Mt. 9:9; 12: 50; 14: 5; 16: 24; 18: 20; 20: 26; 21: 11; 22: 37 Mark ..................................... Mk. 3: 35-37; 8: 34; 10:13 Philippians ............................ Phil. 2:7 Timothy ................................ 2 Tim. 3:17 1 All Biblical references are taken from The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, 2004. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press. iv List of Church’s documents used in this study Abbreviations Documents of the Second Vatican II Council2 AGD: Decree on the Church‘s missionary activity–Vatican II, Ad gentes, 7 December 1965. ES: Paul VI, Ecclesiae sanctae II, 6 August 1966. ET: Apostolic Exhortation on the Renewal of Religious Life: Paul VI, Evangelica Testificatio, 29 June 1971. GS: Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World-Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, 7 December 1965. LG: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church–Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 21 November 1964. PC: Decree on the Up-To-Date Renewal of Religious Life–Vatican II, Perfectae Caritatis, 28 October 1965. RC: Instruction on the Renewal of Religious Life S.C.R.I., Renovationis causam, 6 January 1969. Documents of the Holy See Can: Canon or canons from the Code of Canon Law 1983. EE: Essential Elements in the Church‘s Teaching on Religious Life, SCRIS, 1983. MR: Directive for the mutual Relations between Bishops and Religious in the Church, Sacred Congregation for Bishop and SCRIS. 1978. RHP: Religious and Human Promotion, SCIRIS, 1980. Pontifical Documents CFMW: Christian Family in the Modern World: Pope John Paul II Apostolic Exhortation Familiars Consortion, 1981. ChL: Apostolic Exhortation Christifedeles Laici, John Paul II, 1989. Inter Insigniores: The Declaration on the Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood. IL: Instrumentum Laboris. 2 All Vatican II documents used in this thesis is taken from Flannery, A. (Ed.), (1975). Vatican Council II: The Counciliar and Post Counciliar Documents. New Delhi: St. PAULS. v MD: Dignity and Vocation of women: Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem of John Paul II, 1988. SA: Slavorum Apostoli, 2 June 1985, No. 21: ASS 77 (1985) 802–803. Pope John II, Encyclical: Address to the Pontifical Council for Culture Plenary Assembly. RM: Redemptoris Missio, Aposotolic Exhortation: Pope John Paul II, 1990. VC: Vita Consecrata Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father John Paul II: Consecrated Life, 1996. Other Abbreviations DDL const: Constitution of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love, 1991. CICLSAL: Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. SHCJ const: Society of the Holy Child Jesus Foundation Texts and Constitutions, 1983/1998. CC: Cornelia Connelly‘s sayings found in SHCJ Norms of implementation, 1983. vi Definition of Terms Apostolate: the work (ministry/service) the sisters are assigned to do for God on behalf of their congregation and the Church. Apostolic Order: an apostolic order is a form of religious life lived by the sisters who are actively engaged with ministry of various kinds such as teaching, nursing, pastoral care etc. Sisters who belong to the apostolic order combine both prayer and work as a way of dedicating their entire life to God in contrast to contemplative orders, such as the Carmelites, who live a secluded life in solitude and prayer. The participants of this study belong to apostolic orders (also referred to as congregation). Bishop: The Church local ordinary who is a male, ordained bishop and designated as the shepherd of the diocese. He is the highest authority of the Catholic Church at diocesan level. Charism: The particular spirit or guiding values of a religious order evident in the intentions and purpose of the founder(s), such as humility, love or care of the poor. Clergy: The ordained priests and deacons of the Church, religious and diocesan men who are members of the Church‘s hierarchy, unlike religious sisters who belong to the laity of the Church. Community: This refers to either the whole order (congregation) or to a local group of sisters living together. Even two sisters living together are referred to as a community. Community Prayer: The shared prayer that sisters who live together pray at specific times of the day as part of participation in community life. Congregation: Refers to the whole group of the sisters who belong to a particular group of religious life. It may also be referred to as an order or institute. vii Consecrated Life: Refers to the religious life as a lifeform lived in the Catholic Church. Diocesan Congregation: Refers to a congregation that began originally for ministry in a diocese. They may eventually expand to render services to other dioceses within the Church. The Daughters of Divine Love, whose members participated in this study, is a diocesan congregation (order). Evangelical Counsels: A term from Catholic Canon Law referring to the vows taken by the sisters. The vows are based on the example set by Jesus in the Gospels, and hence are evangelical. Final Vows: As part of initiation as a member of a religious congregation, sisters take final vows which are referred to as perpetual vows by which they are admitted as full members of the congregation. Perpetual vows are usually taken 3–9years after making the first profession of vows. Formation: The process of initiating new members into the Spirit and mission of the religious congregation. Formation is on-going throughout the life of a religious. Formator(s): These are the official designated personnel by the congregation whose job it is to train and orient the new members into religious life. Formators may also be referred to as candidates or novice mistresses/directresses. Laity: Members of the Church who are not part of the Church hierarchy. Women religious are laity. International Congregation: Refers to a congregation that has Pontifical recognition and draws members from different nations as well as rendering service in different parts of the world. viii Mass/Eucharist: The official liturgical celebration of thanksgiving in the Church. Ministry: A term used to refer to the work or service that the religious render. It has a direct link to apostolate which is also referred to as work. Novice: Official name for candidates who are at the early stage of religious life.