A thesis on perception of religious satisfaction among the SKD sisters in various stages of formation

• Main Author: Varghese, Valloppallil Saji
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Nuns; Sisters (in religious orders, congregations, etc.); Nuns > Religious life; Religious life; Counseling Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3450; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10288/viewcontent/CDTG004167_P__1_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explored the religious satisfaction among the SKD sisters in various stages of formation in the following aspects: perception of religious satisfaction, Factors that sustain them in the religious life and factors that enhance and reduce the religious satisfaction. Fifty sisters participated in the study, ten from each of the five stages of aspirancy, postulancy, novitiate, juniorate, and ongoing formation (seniors).The data was collected using a qualitative research design, written interviews and telephone interviews. Responses from the interviews were analyzed. For the telephone interview five participants were selected from the 50 by employing purposive sampling. The findings indicated that the participants experience their religious satisfaction through prayer (personal prayer, common prayers and spiritual direction, etc), community life (support and encouragement from the community and appreciation, etc), and apostolic activities (parish ministry, etc). These factors, including support from family, sustain them in their religious life. The nuns experience religious satisfaction by observing the evangelical counsels and through religious life, being knowledgeable about the self, having an eschatological outlook and experiencing a sense of security. Religious satisfaction for them is happiness and self actualization. Enhancing as well as reducing factors of religious satisfaction are internal (religious motivation and prayer) and external (community life and apostolic activities). Results indicate that the SKD sisters in various stages of formation differ in their perception of religious satisfaction. Psycho-educational programs could be offered in initial and ongoing formation, formators and superiors to enhance self-awareness and religious satisfaction.