Dissertation Journey: The Struggles of Catholic Women Priests and How We Can Support Them

Health Update These past few months, I focused on healing and keeping my commitment to my students (to the best of my ability. I finished teaching on May 21, 2021). Healing from cancer, in my case, Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma , is life-changing, takes time and nearly all of my energy. I had four rounds of chemotherapy. I would say a prayer each time the oncology nurses would insert the medicine into the IV line connected to my port, which I named Lucy.  Shortly after I wrote the last blog entry, I entered the hospital for five days of chemotherapy. My body didn't take too well to the medicine being infused into my system. I had hallucinations and lost my appetite. I had to stay in the hospital an extra day to make sure I was eating. I wanted to go home so badly that I forced myself to start eating even though I wasn't hungry. But after a little while, I began to feel hungry.  Dr. Paul, the medical oncologist, consulted with Banner's sarcoma specialist. They decided to forego

The Journey Continues . . .  During February, I focused on my health. I am thankful that I had finished five interviews, pláticas, in January. Two more women priests responded to my request for an interview. I had set up one of them for 2/16/21, but it turned out that I could get my first chemotherapy scheduled that day. I was excited to get started with the chemo because Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, the type of cancer I have, is aggressive and frequently returns. So I need to be just as aggressive with starting the chemo.  The month started with several appointments, an Echocardiogram, a neck CT scan to make sure the cancer hadn't spread to the lymph nodes in my neck. Then, I was scheduled to get a PET scan, but it was postponed due to the insurance needing to get a different doctor to order it, the radiation oncologist, and not the ENT/Rhinologist. I got emotional, and my sister reminded me to stay calm and that we would find a way.  I also had surgery to place a port under my skin

Today is a Good Day Today  is a good day. This is something I'm coming to terms with in my life. I'm going to have good days and not-so-good days. A couple of days after I wrote my last blog post, I learned I have a rare cancer, Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), on January 21, 2021. I'm thankful that my sister, Rachel, was here when I got the news. She had been with me throughout the day because she took me to get an MRI and visit the ophthalmologist. She held me afterward as I cried in her arms. We went for a walk with my granddaughter (I needed to move), and we got Carolina's (a local Mexican Restaurant) for dinner. My sense of smell is almost nonexistent, but I still have a little of my taste left. I ordered a shredded beef taco and a tostada. We got some tortilla chips and salsa (Carolina's salsa is so good!).  It's taken me some time to write this blog post. My dissertation journey blog was supposed to be about my dissertation, but Anzaldúa teaches us to us

  This past week has been both exhilarating and deeply concerning.  I debated whether to write about a health concern that affects my life, my family, my dissertation journey. I don't know how it affects me yet, I'm awaiting biopsy results.  I decided to share it, here on this platform because this news is part of my dissertation journey.  First, I want to share that I completed three pláticas last week and each was unique, precious and healing. I'm thankful to the three Catholic women priests who opened their lives to me, their gifts, their struggles and joys. I learned that a fourth woman priest is willing to join the study. We'll have our conversation at the end of February. I haven't heard from the other women priests yet. I'll reach out to them next week.  I let my dissertation committee know about the health issues I'm facing and also shared that I'm grateful to have this study to work on during this time. I almost cancelled a plática because I lea

Interviews - Pláticas    This past week was a hard one for those of us living in the U.S., especially watching rioters storm the Capitol. My heart and head hurt. Even as I watched and listened to drama being played out, I worked on my research study.  I now have three appointments set up this week to interview or pláticar with the women priests who have agreed to participate in the study. I'm grateful for their willingness to pláticar with me.  I sent them the letter I wrote and a link to the video that I had uploaded to YouTube. The video was too large to send it within the email. I also created a meeting for each of the women on Zoom.  I also followed up with the other women priests that I had also reached out from the list of Roman Catholic Women Priests that I found on the https://romancatholicwomenpriests.org/ website.  One of the priests invited me to her community's online Mass on Sunday, 1/10/21. I have known this priest before she became a priest. She is a gift. I was

Today I wrote drafted a short letter (one page) to the women priests who will be participants in my study. I shared who I am and why I am studying the struggles of women priests. I wrote in part: "I am a woman who loves deeply and tenderly. I have a fire in my heart that refuses to give up no matter what hardships come my way. . . . I call myself a recovering Catholic, a Chicana feminist who bases her life (personal and professional) in spirituality. I jokingly say “recovering” because I go back and forth, trying to decide if I’m going to stay in or leave the Church. . . . I’m a cultural Catholic and more, Jesus’s teachings of inclusivity, love, hope, serving the poor, strike a deep chord within me. . . . Learning about Catholic women priests gives me a renewed hope for my Church." I also created a brief video (3:25 mins) to further discuss why I conducting this study. I want the women priests to get a chance to view me, to get to know me a little more. I shared that I want t