On the heels of recently published research related to mental health in congregations, religious transmission in Catholic contexts, as well as congregations flourishing in the face of transition and change, my current research centers on the following subjects.     

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Sociology of Death and Dying​

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My central research interests have shifted to the sociology of death and dying. What does it mean to die well and thus to live well in late modern society? What social narratives and environments give rise to how we think and act in relation to these questions? For instance, how do different individuals and groups in society make sense of these questions based on their social location (e.g., age, social class, gender, race, religion)? Questions like these intersect with current day experiences related to aging, medical assistance in dying, war, beliefs about the afterlife, social ties, and much more. Stay tuned for my forthcoming article, "Spiritual Alienation and Yearning in the Face of Death," plus my next major research project related to death and dying.   

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​​​​Religious Transmission

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My research on religious transmission is increasingly focused on a religious transmission ecosystem that includes parents, congregations, schools, and peers. My current research explores the role that congregations play as part of this religious transmission ecosystem. What are congregations seeking to accomplish in their religious transmission efforts, how do they try to accomplish those things structurally, and what do we learn about cultures and subcultures in the process? I am currently working collaboratively with others on an article, "Religious Transmission in the Congregational System," based on case studies with six congregations across theological traditions and Canadian regions.

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Vocation, Calling, and Career

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As part of my work at the Flourishing Congregations Institute, I am involved in a study that asks these questions: How do Canadian Catholics conceptualize and understand 'vocation, calling, and career' in broad cultural as well as Catholic-specific ways? What narratives or practices are used across Catholic contexts (e.g., home, school, parish) to encourage Catholics to think of and pursue one's vocation, calling, and career? Through the end of 2026, our team is leading data collection, analysis, and dissemination. As results become available, I'll share those on my website.  ​​​​​​​