Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Evaluation Under The Banner Of The Cross: An Integrated Approach To The Evaluation Of Poverty Alleviation Programs, Stephen M. Pitts

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

This thesis proposes normative criteria of individual and social welfare to evaluate poverty alleviation programs. Since World War II, both governments and NGOs have implemented a variety of development projects to address the poverty of individuals and groups around the world. The emerging field of impact evaluation applies a methodology borrowed from clinical drug trials to measure the effect of these projects on the populations that they serve. Sixty years of the history of development reveal that despite the sophistication of the statistical techniques, the field cannot offer basic guidance on what outcomes to measure.

In response, this thesis develops …

Ruth: A Spiritual Role Model For The Religious Women Of Southwest China, Xiaoqiong Chen

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Aware of the need to address the existing challenges of the religious women of southwest China, I find inspiration and guidance in the Book of Ruth. This thesis suggests that the main challenge to women‘s religious life in southwest China is the lack of foundational religious formation and a vital spirituality of religious life. It argues that the character of Ruth embodies the spiritual principles of solidarity, initiative, and integration, and can therefore provide the religious women of southwest China with a model of holistic spirituality which fosters a formational renewal of spiritual and communal life and confirms religious identity. …

A Pastoral Approach To The Topic Of Sexuality In Priestly Formation Programs In Parts Of Eastern Europe, Vitaliy Osmolovskyy

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

In this thesis, I explore a pastoral approach towards the topic of sexuality during priestly formation programs in parts of Eastern Europe, at the same time, identifying many elements that surround this particular topic in the different societies where the candidates were raised. In this world of rapid change, one in which life moves quickly and people often seek novelty, it is necessary to hold on to the fact that we are sexual beings, ones open to growth and maturity. Regardless of vocation, sexuality remains an essential component of who we are. This work engages relevant literature, ecclesial documents, some …

Dominican Prayer For Young Vietnamese Americans, Phuong Nguyen

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Young Vietnamese Americans refer to those who were born in Vietnam but have been raised and educated in the United States (1.5 generation), and those who were born and reside in America (2 generation). Residing in the United States, they receive many opportunities which come from sociological, cultural and religious aspects. Nevertheless, they also face many challenges that come from those aspects as well. The challenges which the youth face may make them isolated from themsesleves, others and God. Dominican spirituality essential for members of the Dominican friars, nuns, sisters and professed laity, many of whom are older people. However, …

Embracing An Ecological Conversion: Addressing The Effects Of The Ecological Crisis On The Poor And The Earth Through The Sacrament Of Reconciliation, Emmanuel Oyediran Ogundipe

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

In the last two hundred years, the whole of creation has suffered a great deal of abuse, violation and destruction that is threatening the continued existence of creation. This plundering of the earth has resulted in various changes and disasters in the universe ranging from climate change, air and water pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, decline in the quality of the human life, and massive migration. It is through creation that God first reveals himself to humanity. Any abuse or violation of creation is a sin against God. Therefore, humanity, appointed as careers or stewards, have engaged in the exploitation …

Virtue Ethics As Moral Formation For Ignatian Education In Chile, Juan Pablo Valenzuela

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The Catholic Church in Chile is in a state of moral perplexity. On one side, the hierarchy of the Church, moral theologians, and teachers propose and teach a morality based on rules and principles that does not take account of the context of the country and creates a distance from the moral perspective of the majority of the Chilean people. On the other side, Catholic people are abandoning the Church, especially because of her approach to moral issues and her rule-based moral teachings. The problem of this moral perplexity lies in the deontological approach through which the Church proposes and …

On The Authority In The Church: Yves Congar’S Vision Of Collegiality In Evangelizing Secularity, Pius Youn

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

In the public sphere of contemporary Western society, its post-Enlightenment culture is secular at large. Encouraged by the principle of equality upon which the United States of America was founded, the current culture promotes a subjective and individual mindset, which demands that everyone, regardless of gender, race, or class, possess equal representation in all fields of duty. Against this individualistic egalitarianism, the Church can seem to lag behind the times because she operates from a different model than that of modern society. While most societies in the West espouse a democratic culture and representative participation at every level of governance, …

Towards A New, Praxis-Oriented Missiology: Rediscovering Paulo Freire's Concept Of Conscientização And Enhancing Christian Mission As Prophetic Dialogue, Rosalia Meza Moreno

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The new and different frontiers and factors discussed in missiology are reshaping the meaning of mission. Christian mission today is searching for new directions to approach the postmodern, postcolonial, and ecumenical paradigms. I would like to argue that mission is not just a transmission of knowledge that keeps an established structure and culture alive (often justified and glorified by a specific ecclesiological model). Rather, mission aims at the process of embodying the content and praxis of the gospel. Mission can be understood as an invitation to initiate a transformative process of faith, which leads to personal and social transformation.

This …

Spiritual Conversation: An Important Tool For Discernment Of One’S Vocation In The Diverse Context Of India, Francis Joseph Fernandes

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The Indian youth of today, including Christian youth, are deeply impacted by the values and culture of the modern world, a phenomenon which has adversely affected the Church of India in general and vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in particular. Though at present, the Church in India is enjoying a springtime of vocations to the priestly and religious life, we cannot ignore the challenges posed by the present culture to the young people discerning their vocation and also to those who are in formation. This thesis argues that, given the gravity of today’s challenges to vocational promotion and …

The Contemplative-Prophetic Spirituality Of Thomas Merton: Its Relevance For The Consecrated Life In India, Fabian Jose

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Consecrated life in the Catholic Church is a vital and healing presence in Indian society. Religious men and women make an integral contribution to the society through their institutions in the fields of education, spirituality, medical care, social services, and other charitable activities. In the present context of India, however, consecrated men and women can experience challenges of relevance and identity in their vocations. These concerns have their basis in the fundamental need for a renewal of religious life itself in India, one which is imbued with a Christ-centered spirituality and reflects the prophetic charism that marks apostolic religious life. …

Marriage As A Covenant: Towards An In Culturated Pastoral Approach On Marriage And Family In Mozambique Today, Virgílio Arimateia Domingos

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

It is striking that "Mozambican societies considered marriage to be one of the most important stages in an individual's life." ¹ Amoris Laetitia reminds us that "the desire to marry and form a family remains vibrant, especially among young people."² Yet, the percentage of marriage in the Church is declining as showed in Chapter One. The Bishops of Africa and Madagascar admitted that the multilayered challenges "destabilize the life of couples and families" because of inadequate pastoral approaches. ³ On the other hand, Amoris Laetitia recognizes, "In some countries, especially in various parts of Africa, secularism has not weakened …

Virtues/Pāramitās: St. Ignatius Of Loyola And Sāntideva As Companions On The Way Of Life, Tomislav Spiranec

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

This dissertation conducts a comparative study of the cultivation of the virtues in Catholic spiritual tradition and the perfections (pāramitās) in the Mahāyāna Buddhist traditions in view of the spiritual needs of contemporary Croatian young adults. The comparison is carried out through the exploration of two key texts: The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, a sixteenth-century Basque Catholic, and the founder of the Society of Jesus, and The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryāvatāra) of Śāntideva, an eight-century Indian Mahāyāna monk.

The study links the central teachings of the Catholic faith to the daily life and identity of young Catholics …

Belief In A Secular Age: Charles Taylor, John Henry Newman, And The New Evangelization, David C. Paternostro

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

We are currently living in what has been dubbed “a secular age.” Religious affiliation has gone down, leading to a phenomenon in the West known as “the rise of the Nones.” At the same time, from the time of the Gospels, the Church understands herself to be charged by Jesus Christ with the obligation to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19). Recent popes have likewise affirmed that we are obliged to go out and propose faith in Jesus to the world. Beginning with John Paul II, a “new evangelization” has been proposed, where the Church evangelizes and makes disciples …

Re-Interpreting The "Will Of God" In The Discernment Of Spirits According To Ignatian Tradition For Young Women In Vietnam, Tran Thi Linh Chi

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Young Vietnamese women seeking to discern a religious vocation often confuse their own unconscious motivations and desires with what they perceive as the “will of God” for their lives. This study argues that a clearer understanding of the “will of God” will lead young women to a more mature decision-making process when discerning a vocation to religious life. The thesis investigates how the “will of God” has been interpreted and understood in the Christian tradition and uses these insights to develop a systematic structure aiming to assist young Vietnamese women in their life discernment.

It first examines how the will …

Church And Formation Of Conscience: Towards A Liberative Ecclesiology For Peace And Justice In Kenya, Augostine Ekena

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Kenya, like many other African countries, continues to experience, fifty years after independence, various challenges including political instability and violence resulting from negative ethnicity. Kenya‘s history is rife with examples of divisive politics and negative ethnicity ranging from ethnic violence, ethnicized politics, dictatorship of the ethnic majority and ethnic clashes. Evidence of the deeply seated hatred can be found in the apparent reality of ethnic division and intertribal clashes often experienced either before, during or after elections.

The 2007 post-election violence which claimed over 1300 lives and the displacement of more than 300,000 people demonstrated the depth of the culture …

The Uprooted People Of The Land: An Ethical/Theological Reflection On The Protection Of Adivasi Land And Human Dignity In The “New And Shining India”, Ashok Kujur

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The uprooting of Adivasis from their land raises theological, anthropological, and ethical questions regarding the intrinsic dignity of Adivasis as human persons, created in the image of God. This thesis argues that the looting of Adivasi land on the part of the multinational corporations (MNCs) is an unethical and sinful reality. It proposes a paradigm of prophetic dialogue and critical pedagogy that joins the effort to conscientize Adivasis about their own oppression, the power of the political dynamics, and to empower them in their struggle for freedom and liberation.

In this project I analyze and critique the issue of displacement …

Rekindling The Role Of Affectivity In Ignatian Discernment Of Spirits In The Context Of Christian Life Communities In Darjeeling, India, S. John Kennedy

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

This thesis addresses and offers solutions to the issue of lack of affectivity in decision making among the Christian Life Community members in Darjeeling. The problem has been traced from their former religious practices of immediately appeasing spirits by offerings material things through village priests when the spirits interfere in their life. This practice has come down to instant decision making without out paying close attention to the consequences, as they would cease all activity to appease the spirits. To examine and resolve this issue, this thesis first presents the relationship between affectivity and discernment. Second, the thesis presents an …

Religious And Cultural Foundation Of Reconciliation: The “Truth And Reconciliation Commission” In South Africa As A Suitable Model For Rwanda And Burundi, Egide Ndayisenga

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The problem this thesis tackles is the difficult cohabitation between two ethnic groups found in Rwanda and in Burundi, namely Hutus and Tutsis. From the time of Independence, these two countries have known different tragedies, conflicts, lack of tolerance and exclusion of the other because of a gradual loss of deep cultural values that had sustained commonality and mutual respect for many years in both countries. The colonial rule and missionaries have contributed to the exacerbation of differences between Hutus and Tutsis by neglecting or erasing those values. Violations of human rights and genocidal acts that the history has recorded …

The Alienation Of Jezebel: Reading The Deuteronomic Historian's Portrait Of Jezebel In The Contemporary Global Context, Conrad Kandelmwin Bayor

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

Even the casual reader of the books of Kings will notice that the Deuteronomic Historian assigns a disproportionately large amount narrated time (Erzählzeit) to the reign of the house of Ahab (1 Kgs 16:29-2 Kgs 10). This is surprising because, in the judgment of the Deuteronomic Historian, “no one sold himself to do evil in the eyes of YHWH as did Ahab, incited by Jezebel, his wife.” (1Kgs 21:25). Why does the Deuteronomic Historian dedicate so much narrated space not only to Ahab but especially to the character and deeds of his wife, Jezebel? And why in this …

The Characterization Of Tobit In The Light Of Tobit 1:1-2, Emmanuel Nshimbi

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

In Hebrew –el means ‘God,’ and the reader or hearer of the Book of Tobit learns that, Tobit, the character after whom the narrative is named, lacks that –el ending in his name. He remains faithful to Jewish religious practice when the rest of his tribe secedes from the temple in Jerusalem, but he experiences exile. He risks execution by burying corpses of fellow Israelites in exile, whom the king of Assyria murders. He loses his sight after sparrows excrete onto his eyes in his courtyard at night after burying the dead.

This dissertation characterizes Tobit in the light of …

Personal And Cosmic Dimensions Of The Hypostatic Union In Jesus Christ: Dialogue Between Christology And Buddha Body Theory In Shin Buddhism, Yuichi Tsunoda

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

This work conducts a comparative study of the hypostatic union of Christ and the theory of the Buddha body in Shin Buddhism, focusing on the personal and cosmic dimensions of salvation in the two traditions. The goal of this approach is ultimately to gain new insights into Christ's hypostatic union and thereby elucidate the salvific dimensions of the union for the entire cosmos.

Founded by Shinran (1173-1263) in Japan, Shin Buddhism is a branch of the Pure Land School of Mahayana Buddhism. Christianity and Shin Buddhism share certain core elements in terms of their faith in a personal divinity (God …

Appraising Religious Liberty In The Philippine Reproductive Health Debates, Alfonso Suico

Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations

The debates surrounding the reproductive health bills created controversy and division between the Philippine government and the Church leaders. The government proposed laws that would promote accessible health care to women and children, including access to safe and effective contraceptives. The Catholic bishops opposed these bills, which they considered as inconsistent with Church teachings on sexuality and marriage.

Following a modified pastoral circle, this thesis describes the Philippine situation and genealogy of the debates, analyzes the critical position of the bishops, and proposes how the right to religious freedom can provide a paradigm of examining the debates. The bishops' opposition …