New Generations of Catholic Sisters

Mary Johnson is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. She is Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC, and, before that, taught for nineteen years at Emmanuel College in Boston. Patricia Wittberg is a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati and Professor of Sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University. Mary Gautier is Research Associate Professor at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

• Introduction ; Chapter 1: Religious Life in the United States: Toward a New Demographic Definition ; Chapter 2: Navigating the Contemporary Religious Landscape: Discerning Distinctions with a Difference ; Chapter 3: Priest and Prophet: Tensions in the Theories and Practices of Religious Life ; Chapter 4: Generations and their Cultures: Challenges and Possibilities ; Chapter 5: Identity: Distinguishing Elements ; Chapter 6: Prayer, Spirituality, and the Vows: The Common Core ; Chapter 7: Community and Ministry: Balancing Life and Work ; Chapter 8: Conclusion: Inviting the Future ; Appendix I: Research Studies Used in This Book ; Appendix II: Surveys ; Notes ; References ; Index

Over the years, I've read and heard a lot of consternation, prognostication, and simplifications about Catholic sisters. But, alas, I have not come across much empirically astute and theoretically nimble analysis of them - until now. With their rich data, thoughtful comparisons (especially among generational cohorts) and plain good sense, this team of scholars provides us with an extremely nuanced and well-written account of U.S.-based nuns today.