MC Workshop 5

Inculturation
Sr. Jaruko Doi, MM

As early as 1659, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith reminded missionaries that they were not to change the manners and customs of the people to whom they were bringing the Gospel. When Christianity became strongly identified with Western customs and thought processes, mission became an avenue to change other cultures to be more western. Some missionaries (certainly not all) often tried to condemn the way of life of the local people. However, since Vatican II, mission is approached as a way to recognize Christ in all peoples and customs. Missionaries bring the Word of God so it can grow in the depths of the culture already created by God. There is no single Christian culture, only Christ expressed in as many ways as there are peoples of the world.

Joanne Jaruko Doi, MM is from Los Angeles, CA, nurtured in culture and faith at the Maryknoll Parish and School for Japanese Americans. Entering Maryknoll in 1981, she was in mission in the southern Andes of Peru among the Aymara people and served in the Center of Social Communications, Institute for Aymara Studies, Assumption Parish and popular education.  Graduate studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA enabled the completion of her dissertation “Bridge to Compassion: Theological Pilgrimage to Tule Lake and Manzanar” which focused on spiritual practices of collective memory, post-trauma reconcilation and solidarity. She most recently taught at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, CA as assistant professor of Intercultural Theologies and Ministry, offering courses such as Intercultural Theologies, California Immigrant Theologies, Asian American Theologies and developing immersion courses for the U.S./ Mexico Border, Vietnam/Cambodia, and the Manzanar Pilgrimage.