The nuns’ story: Empirical research into religious, post/colonial, and gender power issues as illustrated by the lives and work of the missionary congregation, the Zusters van de Jacht

This article is based on interviews carried out with sixteen members of the Zusters van de Jacht, a congregation founded in Belgium, and whose Belgian Sisters are today mainly retired community. The served abroad as missionaries throughout world, during aftermath colonial rule, this investigates issues power using three-fold lens religion, post/colonialism, gender. As nationals colonising country Belgium an established church, had certain authority mission field, which they exercised different ways. foreign women religious congregation, held roles leadership influence abroad, allowed them to be effective bringers change help well active entrepreneurs. These transcended gendered submission would have Roman Catholic Church back Belgium. examines where how was experienced their frequently adventurous, sometimes dangerous, missionary lives. It situates life stories Jacht context ongoing debates about role women. makes contribution oral history by presenting extracts from own words.