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Christendom en transnationaal moederschap: een praktischtheologische studie van de spiritualiteit en familierelaties van overzeese Filippijnse moeders

Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Studies on migration note the importance of faith and religion in the lives of migrants who identify with a religion. However, more research is required to understand the ways in which religious and faith elements either enhance the wellbeing and flourishing of migrants or, conversely, present potential challenges. There is a growing interest in mothering from the point of view of theology and religious studies. This is because people recognize how complicated and unclear motherhood can be when it comes to faith and religion. Motherhood can either help mothers grow in their faith or make religious beliefs and practices more difficult to sustain. Similarly, faith and religion can support and contradict mothering ideas and practices. To gain an understanding of these complexities, this research project focused on the intersection of mothering and migration by inquiring into the lived experiences of Philippine transnational mothers, particularly their family relations and (Christian) spirituality. This practical theological study started with gathering qualitative data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with migrant mothers, left-behind fathers, children, pastoral workers, and migrant advocates. I analyzed each set of data using the constructivist grounded theory methodology and used thematic analysis to review and interpret selected church statements on the topics of migration and family life from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, and the Vatican. These data groups, both individually and collectively, served as the foundation for my theological reflections and recommendations for transforming ideas and practices among church members, particularly those involved in providing formation and pastoral support. The analyses of the study participants' lived religion pointed to certain theological themes for reflection. Migrant mothers' experiences reveal the significance of the communal dimension of hope. Fathers' faith testimonies on God's mercy made explicit the significance of human participation in creating encounters of mercy, particularly in the familial domain. Children's family experiences inspired a revisit of the concept of sacramental imagination, highlighting the importance of family members and other communities in mediating God's presence. Pastoral workers and migrant advocates' homemaking experiences offered insights into what it means to be a church of pilgrims walking towards God's dwelling, as well as a moral imperative and motivation for caring for our shared earthly home. I suggested incorporating additional elements, such as shared accountability, non-gender-based care conceptions, and support for transnational families, into the current church statements on migration and family life, which emphasize human dignity, interdependence, and diversity. Tying together the narratives of the participants is the story of the encounter of the risen Jesus with Mary Magdalene, representing the themes of loss, search, encounter, and testimony. Envisioning transformations in ideas and practices concerning families and migration, particularly transnational mothering, I propose the reintroduction of the "receiving" component of mothering, a spiritual care model for transnational mothers, and navigating gender matters in family life by parents from a childhood perspective.
Source: Lirias
Author: Reyes-Espiritu, Ma Adeinev
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7065056649
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