Social History of U.S. Franciscan Missionaries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa (1879-2019)
Social History of U.S. Franciscan Missionaries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa (1879-2019)
Project Summary
The project provides an overview of the missionary activities, locations and legacies of U.S. Franciscans from 1879-2019. The resources for research include archival records, missionary narratives, interviews, statistical data and additional materials relevant to particular orders, provinces, and congregations. Topics of interest include the background for initiating a missionary commitment; the first missionaries; native vocations; arrivals and departures of additional U.S. missionaries; foundation, expansion and development of particular ministerial commitments; appointment of missionary bishops; controversies, conflicts and tragedies; establishment of independent provinces/regions, new congregations/ monasteries; completion of U.S. missionary presence and legacy; “returned missionaries” and their ministerial contributions to the church in the United States; leadership on the part of Latin American, Caribbean and African Franciscans emerging from U.S. missionary foundations.
Purpose
A contribution to U.S. Franciscan History and The History of U.S. Catholic Missionary Activity in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Primary Audience
The Franciscan Family, missiologists, church historians, and practical theologians.
Key Questions
- What are the memorable legacies and dangerous memories of U.S. Franciscan missionaries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa?
- What can be learned from a comparative analysis of particular mission histories and biographies?
- In terms missionary activity, what were the consequences of significant shifts in: 1) ecclesiologies and theologies after Vatican II; 2) U.S. foreign policies and economic interests; 3) missionary consciousness and critical thinking; 4) sócio-political, cultural and economic realities in different missionary contexts?
- What historical insights are instructive for reflection on contemporary understandings of mission and global Catholicism?