Mary JOHNSON, S.N.D. de N., M.L. GAUTIER, Patricia WITTBERG, S.C., Thu T. DO, L.H.C. Migration for Mission: international Catholic Sisters in the United States. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. August, 2018. 210 pp. ISBN 9780190933104 (updf) ISBN 9780190933111 (epub) ISBN 9780190933128 (online resource) ISBN 9780190933098 (hardcover: alk. paper). Reviewed by Ana Lourdes SUAREZ, Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires.

Written by four distinguished social scientists from Trinity Washington University and CARA at Georgetown University, the book analyzes the results of the first study of international sisters living at present in the United States. Readers of the book will find excellent data that help to see who these women religious are, their views, achievements, challenges, and the contributions they are making to religious life, the Church, and society. Both, international sisters that immigrated to the US and later entered religious life; and those that migrated after entering in religious life, bring a rich diversity of life experience, the authors sustain, that serves as a source of wisdom in this time of transnational challenges (p.185). The authors argue that these international sisters are at present “part of an evolving global sisterhood which, as individuals and institutes, crosses the borders of nation-states and hemispheres, in multiple directions, for varied periods of time, fulfilling myriad ministries, all in fidelity to the mission of religious life” (p.194).

The book is arranged in eight chapters and a concluding one. The first chapter addresses a brief insightful historical view of foreign-born sisters in the US. The chapter is preceded by the life history of two immigrant sisters, ancestors of Mary Johnson. one of the book´s author, reconstructed though archival document and family accounts. Their stories illustrate patterns of continuity and change in women religious life over time.

The next five chapters analyze quantitative data coming from a survey distributed to more than 4,000 international sisters in 2015 (representing around 8,5% of all religious sisters living in the US) who are currently in the US for formation, studies, or ministry, from 83 countries. Through instructive graphics and tables, the analysis illustrates the pathways through which they came to the country, their demographics in comparison to US born sisters, their satisfactions and concerns, as well as the challenges that confront them. Chapter 7, analyzes data coming mainly from a separate survey of presidents of US Catholic colleges and universities. The chapter explores the particular case of international sisters who are in the US for their education.  

Qualitative data coming from interviews and focus groups, give voice to the sisters throughout all the chapters, illustrating with their own narrative their joys and satisfactions, as well as their struggles and challenges. Chapter 8 relays entirely on qualitative data. Sisters narrate their own views on the main contributions as international women religious, which are centered on two overarching themes: the benefits of cultural diversity and the benefits of evangelization.
Throughout the book the authors offer a comparison between the international sisters of the nineteenth century and the international sisters in the United States today, finding interesting differences, such as: Nineteenth-century international sisters tended to stay in the US for the rest of their lives. Today, many foreign-born sisters are sent temporarily for ministry or study and intend to return to their homeland. The international sisters of a century ago often served their own ethnic group, frequently from within the ministerial structures of their own religious institute. Today, many international sisters see their mission as including that focus but also transcending those boundaries (p.186). Nineteenth-century foreign-born sisters tended to found institutions (schools, hospitals, orphanages, and so on) while today’s international sisters tend instead to work in organizations that they do not own, from daycare centers to NGOs at the United Nations, or to serve in local parishes (p.189). The ministries of today´s sisters are much more professionalized than in the nineteenth century. They need to meet strict credentialing requirements in order to minister in many professions.

An interesting reflection is offered over a nineteenth century pattern that seems to be coming back. It was quite common then that international sisters were being sent to the United States for ministry. The pattern was much less common when the United States was producing large numbers of vocations in the first half of the twentieth century. However, now this pattern is again becoming more common (p.37), reversing missionary actions to fill personnel shortage of religious people. The authors resist to sustain a “replacement of religious life” approach which would reduce religious life to simply a work force, fulfilling particular functions.

The book ends offering relevant suggestions for religious institutes, Catholic dioceses, and others who interact with international sisters. The overarching recommendation stresses on interculturality, as a rich process to be implemented in all spheres of the Church’s life. This would benefit the building of a more truly intercultural society.