RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT THE MARGINS: NURTURING HOPE AMONG WOMEN BY Gertrude Ann Jocksch, SC, B.A., M.Div. A DOCTOR OF MINISTRY THESIS Submitted to the Faculties of the Toronto School of Theology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry Awarded by Regis College Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395,rue Wellington Ottawa ON KI A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your He Votre retdmce Our file Noire r6fdrence The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thése sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT This action in rninistry submitted for the Doctor of Ministry explores the experience of hope in the lives of women who live with mental illness. 1 began this research project confident that Christianity is a faith tradition diat supports and fosters hope and wholeness among people. Using the theoretical foundations of adult religious educators and the insights of Christian feminist liberation theologians, 1 facilitated a spirituality gathering of women at Our Place, Community of Hope. I chose to use Christian feminist theologians because these women have influenced rny life profoundly, nurturing rny hope and giving me courage to own my place in church and society. My greatest desire for the women who gathered together was that they develop a deepening sense of hope as they learn of a God who loves them unconditionally. In my research, 1 wanted to leam about the expenence of hope in women who participated in the women's spirituality gatherings as well as to determine if their hope was nurtured by these gatherings. To do this I used the question: How does adult education nurture hope among nornen at Our Place. The findings of this research illuminates the fact that hope lies deep within the consciousness of these women and that the women's spirituality gathering played a momentous role in numiring their hope. AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT Before entering the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Halifax 1 worked as a laboratory technologist in medical microbiology at the University of Alberta Hospital for fourteen years. During the later years of this work, 1 volunteered at the Boyle McCauley Health Clinic and the Sacred Heart Food Bank. 1 served as an advocate for hospitalized patients from the Boyle McCauley Heath Chic who had no farnily or other support systems. As a volunteer at the Sacred Heart Food Bank 1 welcomed people and assisted them in getting the food they needed. In 1986 1 entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Halifax. My ministry experiences during the initial formation period as a Sister of Charity involved a variety of pastoral ministries. These ministries include working with homeless women at Adsum House. a shelter for homeless women in Halifax. Here, my ministry was primarily one of hospitality to the women as well as accompanying women for court appearances and to medical appointments. 1 also ministered at St. Michael's parish in the RCIA program and in their St. Vincent DePaul food bank program. The ministry at St. MichaeI had afforded me the opportunity to journey with people in their faith joumey as they discemed their desire to be a member of the Roman Catholic Church. In my ministry at the food bank visited the homes of the poor that lived in the area. Another ministry that 1 engaged in was hospital pastoral care at the Halifax Infirmary. In 1990 1 moved to Vancouver where 1 enrolled in two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of British Columbia Hospital in preparation to ministry as a hospital chaplain. From 199 1 to 1994, 1 ministered as a chaplain at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. My ministry involved ministering to patients, farnilies and staff in the critical care areas of the hospital. This ministry involved prepanng and presiding at rnemonal services. serving on the hospital ethics education cornmittee and serving on interdisciplinaq- teams in patient care planning. Dunng rny years in Vancouver, 1 also undertook other ministries. 1 volunteered at the Franciscan Soup Kitchen where 1 helped to serve the meals. 1 facilitated the RCLA prograrn in my parish, Holy Cross Church in Bumaby. 1 was a member of the Sisters Association of Vancouver Vocation Awareness Cornittee where 1 prepared and facilitated discernent retreats as well as joumeyed with women who were disceming religious life. 1 also journeyed with these women in spiritual direction. In 'Toronto I have continued to be involved in ministry with the poor. First, in the Out of the Cold Prograrn and then at Our Place, my ministry base for the Doctor of Ministry Program. Since 1998 1 have been the Director of Field Education at Regis College in Toronto. DEDICATION 1 dedicate this research to al1 prrsons who experience marginalization because of their gender, age, race, religion or cIass and especially those who live with mental health challenges. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have helped this research and action in ministry to come to completion and for them 1 am most sincerely grateful. With gratitude to my religious cornrnunity, the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de PauI, Halifax who have made it possible for me to study and who have supported me with their companionship and love throughout my studies. With gratitude for my farnily and especially for my rnother Geraldine Jocksch whose constant love and support have helped to sustain me through this work. With gratitude to my thesis director, Dr. Lorna Bowrnan, for her support and encouragement throughout my research and writing. With gratitude for the rnany friends who stood by me faithfully through the countless struggles and joys of learning. With gratitude for the community of Our Place who welcomed me to ministry in their rnidst. With gratitude to the women who participated in the spirituality gathering and research, for their desire to Iearn and their search for God. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Setting the Context for Ministry 1. My persona1 story 2. Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Halifax CHAPTER ONE Theology of ministry 1. Vatican Council II 2. A theological expIoration of ministry 3. Exploration of ministry in Christian scripture 4. Discipleship 5. Ministry with the poor 6. The New Cosmology 7. A spirituality for ministry TWO Ministry of religious education on the rnargins 1. Searching for a ministry, ministenng with women 2. Ministry base 3. Getting to know you, a beginning 4. Women's spirituality gathenng 5. Challenges of Christian fimdarnentalism 6. Ministry base group 7. Assurnptions operative in the study THREE Theoretical and Theological Frarnework: Christian feminist liberation theologies and religious education of adults A. Religious education of adults 67 1. Faith cornmunity 67 2. Foundations: scripture and tradition 70 3. Christian feminist theological perspective 73 4. Christian feminist approaches to religious education 75 5. Theological approaches: liberation 78 B. Third World Christian Feminist Liberation Theologies 80 1. Spirituality 81 2. Oppression and violence 89 3. The bible as a source of empowerrnent 94 4. Theology from Third World Christian feminist's perspective99 FOUR Research Methodology 111 1. Qcalitative research 2. Action in ministry 3. Analysing the data 4. Validating the data 5. Major findings 6. Commentary FIVE Writing the Stones of Hope 119 Interview setting The participants Analysis Hope is concrete and hope is realized in life Hope is something you work at Hope is comected with faith and God Hope is nurtured by others Hope needs to be shared with others Minor themes Images of God SIX Understanding the Experience of Hope 146 A. Synthesis 1. Hope is concrete and hope is realized in iife 2. Hope is something you work at 3. Hope is comected with faith and God 4. Hope is nurtured by others 5. Hope needs to be shared with others 6. Minor themes 7. Images of God 164 B. Findings 1. Implications for women's spirituality gathering 167 2. Implications for church and society 172 CONCLUSION 174 APPENDIX A. Consent Form B. Thesis Proposa1 C. Questions BIBLIOGRAPHY vii INTRODUCTION Setting the Context for Ministry 1. My personal story My interest in feminist liberation theology and religious education cornes directly by way of persona1 experience. Both are significant partners on my journey and in the ministries 1 have undertaken. The experience that evoked these interests began with the death of my father followed closely by the deaths of two friends. At the time, the why questions came fast and furiously but they did not help to relieve the ache of loss 1 was esperiencing. 1 tned to run from the pain. Despite my attempts to aIIeviate it, 1 began to Ièel depressed and it frightened me. This experience of depression eventually becarne a turning point and 1 began to ask the "what" questions. What is the purpose of life? What am 1 doing with my life? These "what" questions focused my search for understanding and meaning.