This collection of twenty-three essays by Duncan Stroik shows the development and consistency of his architectural vision. Packed with informative essays and over 170 photographs, this collection clearly articulates the Church’s architectural tradition.
"Creating the Evangelizing Parish challenges those who realize the importance of evangelization and are eager to make an impact on Catholic Church life today. Co-authors Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack clearly explain the definition of evangelization and offer for further clarification, an "encounter model" of evangelization which specifically places the ministry into the framework of personal relationships. The authors then describe actual parish dynamics and organization in terms of their universal evangelizing purposes as understood by the church." "Creating the Evangelizing Parish is key reading for church leaders who want to take charge of their parishes' direction, establish evangelization teams, and implement effective parish strategies for renewal. Every pastor, pastoral staff member, parish counselor, and other workers in evangelization will gladly welcome this book as a pastoral and practical resource for their ministry. Creating the Evangelizing Parish will richly reward those who look for new directions in their ministry and the church."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
With people pulled in so many directions today, helping people feel connected-to each other, to the parish, and to God-is a major challenge for parish leaders. How do we build a stronger community, in which more and more people are getting involved and growing in faith together? For the past fifteen years, Leisa Anslinger has been working with and listening to parishioners and parish leaders, and in this book she offers eight time-tested and practical ways to help build community by building connections between people. This is an indispensable book for pastoral teams, volunteers, parish councils, and all who work to awaken, inspire, and build the life of your parish. Book jacket.
In this volume Piderit and Morey discuss the problem of declining parishes and bring some solutions to light. The authors pinpoint four basic principles - narrative, norms, benefits, and practices - which have been used effectively by nuns to reach their parishioners for years. In addition, they prescribe creative applications of these principles to address specific problems such as Mass attendance, Eucharistic culture, prayer, and religious education.
Welcome to the Orthodox Church—its history, theology, worship, spirituality, and daily life. This friendly guide provides a comprehensive introduction to Orthodoxy, but with a twist: readers learn by making a series of visits to a fictitious church, and get to know the faith as new Christians did for most of history, by immersion. Mathews-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to “venerate” an icon, the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It’s the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East.
Headlines rage with big stories about big churches. But tucked away in neighborhoods throughout North America is a profound work of hope quietly unfolding as the gospel takes root in the context of a place. The future of the church is local, connected to the struggles of the people and even to the land itself.