Date of Degree

5-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Education

Advisor

Norman St. Clair, PhD, Committee Chair

Advisor

Lopita Nath, PhD, Committee Member

Advisor

Sister Walter Maher, Committee Member

Abstract

The focus of this ethnographic instrumental case study is to communicate the seriousness of a growing trend in the United States: closings of inner-city/urban Catholic schools by the local diocese. Utilizing Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice (1977) and the Church’s Catholic Social Teaching, this study examined the question: What does it mean for the parish community and the church, as a whole, when the Catholic school that was once a big part of community life is no longer there? This research study examined community members’ role(s), response to, and experience of a closing; examined the implications on person-community-Church relationship; and examine the values and practices of Catholic Social Teaching in relationship to the community process of communication.

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