Sacramental ritual and pastoral care in economic crisis: The study of a young adult group in a Korean immigrant church

In this dissertation, I am concerned, most generally, with sacramental rituals of a young adult group in a Korean immigrant church. Research was conducted for about six months with participant observation (January--June 2004) and three informal individual interviews. The research provides the ethnographic basis for discussion which relates specific kinds of ritual practices of immigrants who are economically vulnerable in current global world. The research ultimately discourses that features of some ritualistic actions help immigrants be resilient so that they contribute to building a loving and caring community. My main argument is that in the midst of han, sacramental rituals become the pathways for individuals and community to appreciate and preserve hope in their daily life which must be an important subject in pastoral care and theology. I argue that sacramental rituals, repeated actions with deeper meanings in God's grace in daily human life, can empower individuals and community to be resilient even if they experience risk factors. Consequently, I consider that sacramental rituals are genuine human endeavors to accomplish God's hope. The research results show three sacramental rituals - farewell, welcoming and storytelling rituals as well as other actions which can be understood as sacramental activities.