Evangelizing Today's Domestic Churches


Book Description

The Catholic family is a domestic church, rooted in God’s love and challenged to hope. Yet Catholic families today are beset with attacks from within and without, as were early Christian house churches. The latter faced persecution and rejection from society and even their own family members. Today’s domestic churches face challenges of materialism, individualism, and secularism, coming through technology, media, and the contemporary culture. The Church must respond to these challenges by seeking new ways to minister directly to families. The future of parish life will depend largely on how a parish supports family life. Drawing on the experience of the early Church, Evangelizing Today’s Domestic Churches invites pastors and those engaged in pastoral ministry to take the lead in helping families recognize their responsibility before God to become vibrant domestic churches.




The Joy of the Gospel


Book Description

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage







Evangelism


Book Description

Not a one-size-fits-all approach, this book provides the reader with healthy and clear parameters for sharing faith applicable to differing cultural contexts in today's world.




Becoming a Contagious Christian


Book Description

Not a book of theory or speculation, here is a proven action plan to impacting the spiritual lives of friends, family members, co-workers, and others. Powerful stories and teachings help readers to gain hope that their friends' lives can change, get free from the misconceptions of evangelism, discover a natural approach to communicating their faith, and more.




The Portal of the Mystery of Hope


Book Description

Translated by David L. Schindler, JrIn what is one of the greatest Catholic poetic works of our century, Péguy offers a comprehensive theology ordered around the often-neglected second virtue which is incarnated inhis celebrated image of the ‘little girl Hope'.




Evangelism in the Early Church


Book Description

Now a modern classic, Michael Green’s Evangelism in the Early Church shows how the first Christians worked to spread the good news to the rest of the world. Studying the New Testament and church fathers, Green explores the earliest methods, motives, and strategies of spreading the good news. He also considers the obstacles to evangelism, using outreach to Gentiles and to Jews as examples of differing contexts for proclamation. Thoroughly informed by primary sources, this book will help contemporary readers learn from the past and renew their own evangelistic vision.




Making Missionary Disciples


Book Description

"I dream of a 'missionary option'... a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything..." Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium Do you have the same dream as Pope Francis? Would you like to see your parish, apostolate, or family flourishing in Christ like never before? In Making Missionary Disciples, Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), explores how to build a vibrant culture of faithfulness and fruitfulness. He doesn't just remind us how every disciple is called on mission to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ. He gives us practical ways to do this in our ordinary daily lives. • Know the three crucial habits of effective evangelization. • Grow in Divine Intimacy following the four essential practices to which the early disciples devoted themselves. • Learn the importance of becoming not only a disciple, but a missionary disciple. • Understand the three-phased "Method Modeled by the Master"--the approach to evangelization modeled for us by Jesus in the Gospels and rooted in Catholic magisterial teaching. Experience the transformation for which we all long--through Making Missionary Disciples.




An Evangelizing Catechesis


Book Description

"With An Evangelizing Catechesis, James Pauley … reveals the essential link for catechists between who we are and what we teach. … In these pages, we encounter what we ourselves are challenged to do: boldly proclaim the Gospel with tenderness, patience, knowledge, and zeal." — Leonard J. DeLorenzo, PhD, University of Notre Dame, author of A God Who Questions The catechist is vitally important when it comes to teaching the Faith. No book, no program, no text, no training can replace the teacher. And that, my friend, is you. In An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ, author and speaker James C. Pauley shows you how every form of catechesis must be evangelistic in nature, fully centered on Christ, and designed to draw students into a life of missionary discipleship. You are a living witness of the Faith, and your relationship with God, the Church, and the sacraments should animate your natural gifts and talents as you teach. This is what will bring about lasting fruit in your catechesis. Filled with powerful testimonies from catechists; the fundamentals of evangelization, catechesis, and discipleship; and even helpful connections for parents, An Evangelizing Catechesis will change your approach to teaching the Catholic Faith. It is perfect for parish catechists, Catholic school religion teachers, parish and diocesan catechetical leaders, youth ministers, RCIA coordinators, pastors, and parents.




Living Metanoia


Book Description

At the very beginning of the Gospels, Jesus calls us to a radical new way of life, saying: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). The word “repent” in Greek is metanoia — but the original Greek word means much more than just repentance. It means to change, to turn, to think differently. Metanoia is not a one-time event but a process, and as Christians we are called to live a life of metanoia. Living Metanoia explores what this looks like in our daily lives, encouraging believers in all walks of life to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. In his down-to-earth, approachable style, Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, addresses basic topics such as who Jesus actually is (rather than who we think he is or who we want him to be); what we need to do in order to inherit eternal life; the reality of evil; and our daily call to a deeper commitment to Christ. Each chapter contains Sacred Scripture to give context and direction, along with reflection questions and a practical “metanoia moment” to help us live a life of change. We all need metanoia — over and over again. Realizing this should be a source of hope and encouragement, for only by living metanoia can we find true and lasting freedom and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, is the president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He has served for more than thirty years as a spiritual director, retreat leader, and formation director, and also served as the director of Franciscan Pathways. He is a well-known author, conference speaker, and pilgrimage leader. Fr. Pivonka is active in the charismatic renewal and serves on the board of Renewal Ministries.