This mixed methods research investigated how young adult alumnae from a Catholic female high school perceive the impact of their high school service experience concerning their "beliefs" about the importance of service, current "engagement" in service, and their beliefs about and engagement with four Catholic Social Teaching principles (life and dignity, care for the poor, solidarity and common good, and rights and responsibilities) related to social justice. This research draws data from young adult alumnae from a Catholic female single-sex high school in a metropolitan city of the United States. The data collection included a web-based survey (N=131), individual interview (n=9), and school documents review. Catholic theology of the human person, and Catholic social teaching principles served as the conceptual framework for data analysis. This research draws data from young adult alumnae from a Catholic female single-sex high school in a metropolitan city of the United States. The data collection included a web-based survey (N=131), individual interview (n=9), and school documents review. Catholic theology of the human person, and Catholic social teaching principles served as the conceptual framework for data analysis. The quantitative data revealed that Catholic high school service program experience positively impacts participants' "beliefs" about the importance of service (65%), and the importance of four Catholic social teaching principles (73%). The qualitative data corroborates with the quantitative findings. However, participants lacked translating their beliefs in to action with only 42% reporting as "engaged" in service. Although a majority of participants (60%) reported as engaged in activities related to four CST principles, in reality only 25% are significantly engaged in service in the past 12 months. Catholic educators are invited to examine their service pedagogy and address factors that contribute to low level of service engagement. Further research is suggested to identify factors that would raise the level of service engagement in alumnae’s young adult life.

Basée sur la perspective des théologies contextuelles, cette recherche porte sur la stratégie discursive des enseignements sociaux catholiques locaux (ESCL) comme discours théologiques qui visent à libérer la population de Madagascar des possibles confusions dans leur discernement social. À partir d’une approche postcoloniale, l’analyse des discours abordés dans cette thèse étudie la manière dont les leaders catholiques élaborent les ESCL. Ces discours sont conçus en fonction de leur interprétation de la situation de Madagascar entre 1982 et 2002. Utilisant l’analyse discursive postcoloniale, le travail développe la vérification des catégories coloniales dans les enseignements sociaux des leaders catholiques. La présence des généralisations et des affirmations non fondées, la manière de penser en dichotomie ainsi que la hiérarchisation des idées et des humains seront vérifiées. L’analyse tient compte de l’importance des rapports qui lient les ESCL à l’identité malagasy et au processus de globalisation néolibérale et de démocratisation sur la Grande île. / Based on the perspective of contextual theologies, this research focuses on the discursive strategy of Local Catholic Social Teachings (ESCL) as theological discourses aimed at liberating the population of Madagascar from possible confusions in their social discernment. Using a postcolonial approach, the analysis of the discourses addressed in this thesis studies the way in which Catholic leaders develop their social teachings. These theological discourses are designed according to their interpretation of the situation of the country between 1982 and 2002. Using postcolonial discursive analysis mean scrutinize the presence of colonial categories in the ESCL. The presence of generalizations and unfounded affirmations, the way of thinking in dichotomy, and the hierarchization of ideas and humans will be verified. The analysis takes into account the importance of the relationships that link the ESCL to the Malagasy cultural identity combined to the process of neoliberal globalization and the process of democratization of the Island of Madagascar.