Canadian Roman Catholic Young Adults Who Persevered in Faith by Caroline Maureen Baldwin A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Regis College and the Toronto School of Theology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry awarded by Regis College and The University of Toronto © Copyright by Caroline Maureen Baldwin 2015 Canadian Roman Catholic Young Adults Who Persevered in Faith Caroline Maureen Baldwin Doctor of Ministry Regis College and The University of Toronto 2015 Abstract Many people involved in young adult ministry in Canada today are asking the question: what are Roman Catholic young adults in Canada saying about faith tradition and religious identity? One hundred and forty-four Roman Catholic young adults, aged 18 to 35, from ten provinces in Canada responded to a questionnaire focused on discovering some insight into this issue. Ten young adults from the hundred and forty-four respondents also took part in interviews while five more participated in a focus group session. The study showed that these Canadian Roman Catholic young adults find the church to be relevant in today’s world and important in their own personal lives. They are happy to be identified as Roman Catholic and see their Catholicism as being a core part of their identity. The majority of these young adults name themselves as practicing Catholics and indicate that the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church have an influence on their lives. They know who they are and what they believe, but they are looking for witnesses of faith, mentors who will journey with them, assist them, and accept them in all their diversity. They are committed to prayer and social justice but choose to express their commitment in a variety of practices and approaches. Their experiences of God are most often mediated through their relationships with others, and community is very important to them. They see themselves as having a purpose and role in the Catholic Church today. ii Acknowledgements I wish to extend a sincere thank you to the Roman Catholic young adults from across Canada who participated in the questionnaire, the interviews and the focus group. I would also like to acknowledge the generosity and collaboration of Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt of FaithConnections in Toronto and of those in young adult ministry who took the time to contact and invite young adults on my behalf. I wish to thank Sr. Lynn Cira, IBVM, the members of my ministry-based group along with Rev. Jennifer Garbin, a doctor of ministry companion, and the members of the Regis College community. Their support and encouragement along the journey have been very much appreciated and valued. Thank you to Dr. Mary Jo Leddy for her suggestions, inspiration and encouragement and to Dr. Joseph Schner, SJ, for his direction, gentle challenges and encouraging support. It has truly been a blessing to have such wonderful advisers at my side during this endeavor. Thank you also to my religious community, the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal, for its continued support, encouragement and prayer. A special thank you to Dr. Virginia Sullivan, CND, whose community companionship and enthusiasm helped to bring this thesis to fruition. Finally, I wish to express thanks to my deceased parents, Joseph and Martina Baldwin, my first models of faith and to my family for their endless understanding and encouragement. iii Dedication I dedicate this thesis to the unknown organ donors who shared with me the gift of life; with deep gratitude for their generosity. iv Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ iii Dedication .............................................................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... v Chapter One Context of Ministry 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Context of Ministry ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Personal Vocational Identity ........................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Theology of Ministry ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 The Postmodern Context of Young Adults ................................................................................... 10 1.6 Canadian Catholics, Evangelization and Popular Piety ................................................................. 13 1.7 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter Two Review of the Literature 2.1 Research Problem and Reason for the Study ................................................................................. 15 2.2 Naming Young Adults Today ........................................................................................................ 15 2.3 Catholic Culture and Vatican II ..................................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Lumen Gentium and Gaudium Spes ......................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 22 2.4 Review of the Literature ................................................................................................................ 23 2.4.1 Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development .............................................................................. 23 2.4.2 Fowler’s Stages of Faith ........................................................................................................... 25 2.4.3 Emerging Adulthood ................................................................................................................ 28 2.4.4 Change and Religion ................................................................................................................ 30 2.4.5 Relativism and Morality and Young Adults ............................................................................. 33 2.4.6 Young Adults, Individualism, and Religion ............................................................................. 34 v 2.4.7 Religious Polarization in Canada ............................................................................................. 37 2.4.8 Roman Catholic Young Adults ................................................................................................ 38 2.4.9 Reflection ................................................................................................................................. 42 Chapter Three Research Methodology and Design 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 44 3.2 Case Study ..................................................................................................................................... 44 3.2.1 Research Participants ............................................................................................................... 44 3.2.2 Methodological Triangulation .................................................................................................. 48 3.2.3 Stage One: Questionnaire ......................................................................................................... 48 3.2.4 Stage Two: Interviews .............................................................................................................. 50 3.2.5 Stage Three: Focus Group ........................................................................................................ 50 3.3 Role of the Researcher ................................................................................................................... 51 3.4 Validity .......................................................................................................................................... 52 3.5 Assumptions in the Research ......................................................................................................... 53 Chapter Four Results 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 55 4.2 Process of Data Collection ............................................................................................................ 55 4.2.1 Process of Data Coding ............................................................................................................ 58 4.3 Experience of God ......................................................................................................................... 59 4.3.1 Image of God ............................................................................................................................ 60 4.4 Practicing Catholics ......................................................................................................................