Habits of Change: An Oral History of American Nuns (Oxford Oral History Series)

Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Prologue: Where They’ve Been......Page 10 PART ONE: FROM THE PAST INTO THE PRESENT......Page 24 1 IN THE SCHOOLS......Page 26 2 MISSIONARY WORKERS......Page 48 3 IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS......Page 68 4 SERVING THE UNDERSERVED......Page 87 5 PASTORAL WORK......Page 119 6 SPIRITUAL COMPANIONS......Page 127 7 IN THE CLOISTER......Page 143 8 ON THE CUTTING EDGE......Page 150 9 ENCOUNTERS WITH JUDAISM......Page 180 10 THE CREATIVE DIMENSION......Page 195 11 TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOICES......Page 209 12 STRUCTURES AND FISSURES......Page 222 13 SUMMONED TO LEAD......Page 234 14 THE DECISION TO LEAVE......Page 247 PART TWO: FROM THE PRESENT INTO THE FUTURE......Page 260 15 STAYING THE COURSE......Page 262 16 LIVING IN THE PRESENT......Page 268 17 ENVISIONING THE FUTURE......Page 299 Epilogue: Where They Are Now......Page 318 Appendix A: Narrators......Page 326 Appendix B: Religious Communities......Page 328 C......Page 330 D......Page 331 M......Page 332 P......Page 333 V......Page 334 W......Page 335 Selected Bibliography......Page 336 C......Page 338 H......Page 339 P......Page 340 S......Page 341 Y......Page 342 A collection of extraordinary oral histories of American nuns, Habits of Change captures the experiences of women whose lives over the past fifty years have been marked by dramatic transformation. Bringing together women from more than forty different religious communities, most of whom entered religious life before Vatican II, the book shows how their lives were suddenly turned around in the 1960s--perhaps more so than any other group of contemporary women. Here these women speak of their active engagement in the events that disrupted their church and society and of the lives they lead today, offering their unique perspective on issues such as peace activism, global equality for women, and the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The interviewees include a Maryknoll missionary who spent decades in Africa, most recently in the Congo; an inner-city art teacher whose own paintings reflect the vibrancy of Haiti; a recovering alcoholic who at age 71 has embarked on her fourth ministry; a life-long nurse, educator, and hospital administrator; and an outspoken advocate for the gay and lesbian community. Told with simplicity, honesty, and passion, their stories deserve to be heard. Cover 1 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Prologue: Where They’ve Been 10 PART ONE: FROM THE PAST INTO THE PRESENT 24 EVOLVING MINISTRIES 26 1 IN THE SCHOOLS 26 2 MISSIONARY WORKERS 48 3 IN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS 68 4 SERVING THE UNDERSERVED 87 5 PASTORAL WORK 119 6 SPIRITUAL COMPANIONS 127 7 IN THE CLOISTER 143 8 ON THE CUTTING EDGE 150 CHANGING ATTITUDES 180 9 ENCOUNTERS WITH JUDAISM 180 10 THE CREATIVE DIMENSION 195 11 TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOICES 209 12 STRUCTURES AND FISSURES 222 13 SUMMONED TO LEAD 234 14 THE DECISION TO LEAVE 247 PART TWO: FROM THE PRESENT INTO THE FUTURE 260 15 STAYING THE COURSE 262 16 LIVING IN THE PRESENT 268 17 ENVISIONING THE FUTURE 299 Epilogue: Where They Are Now 318 Appendix A: Narrators 326 Appendix B: Religious Communities 328 Glossary 330 A 330 B 330 C 330 D 331 E 332 F 332 G 332 H 332 I 332 J 332 L 332 M 332 N 333 O 333 P 333 R 334 S 334 V 334 W 335 Selected Bibliography 336 Index 338 A 338 B 338 C 338 D 339 E 339 F 339 G 339 H 339 I 340 J 340 K 340 L 340 M 340 N 340 O 340 P 340 Q 341 R 341 S 341 T 342 U 342 V 342 W 342 Y 342 A collection of extraordinary oral histories of American nuns, Habits of Change captures the experiences of women whose lives over the past fifty years have been marked by dramatic transformation. Bringing together women from more than 40 religious communities, the book shows how their lives were suddenly turned around in the 1960s-perhaps more so than any other group of contemporary women.