Are you curious about Vatican City, the Pope’s salary, the
making of a saint, or “La Popessa”? Check out The Incredible
Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities by Nino lo Bello.
Discover hundreds of tidbits about the Vatican & it’s most
famous citizens.

Are you absolutely certain that Peter was the first Pope, as
we understand a Pope to be today? Do you wonder who his
first successors were after the Ascension of Christ? You
might enjoy taking a look at Lives of the Popes by Richard P.
McBrien. This is a fascinating guide to the REAL lives of the
Popes.

And were you aware that Pope John Paul II visited Southern
California in 1987? The Holy Father in California’s Southland
is a lovely commemorative issue of that trip and lessons
about our little corner of the Universal Catholic Church.
There are many books about and by specific Popes that
give insight and understanding into the minds of our Pontiffs.

To all Catholics, celebration of Eucharist is central to  our faith. The liturgy allows us to participate in the life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Any of the following books provide new insights about this communal prayer.

In The Mass of the Early Christians, Mike Acquilina  traces the historic development of the Mass from Jesus’ lifetime through the fourth century.

Joseph Champlin’s book The Mystery and the Meaning of the Mass identifies the changeable and unchangeable elements of liturgy and its symbols.

The Proper Balance, A Practical Look at Liturgical Renewal
reviews advantages & disadvantages of recent liturgical renewals, and suggests directions for reflection on liturgy, its styles & significance. This is a timely book in light of the new Mass translation.

Lent is the season of  preparation for Christ’s Resurrection at Easter, is for  many Catholics a special time for prayer, fasting and  renewed spiritual focus. As you engage this season
again, perhaps you could benefit from some library  books dedicated to the season.

The Essential Lenten Handbook: this book provides
everything you need for a richer experience of the 40
days before Easter. It has contemporary and traditional
resources for your spiritual journey.

Biblical Meditations for Lent by Rev. Carroll Stuhlmueller
CP: is a classic that offers daily prayerful reflections
on the readings of the Lenten season.

A Lenten Pilgrimage by Rev. Richard Chilson CSP: follows
the journey of the candidates in the Rite of Christian
Initiation. It encourages all to explore the meaning
of the catechumenate and what it means to be fully
Christian.

Chocolate for Lent by Hilary Brand: uses themes from
the movie ‘Chocolat’ to promote deeper insight into
self discipline, self giving, conversion, acceptance and
maturing in Christ. Even if you gave up Chocolate for
Lent this is a tasty treat.

Most of us are aware that ours is a Franciscan parish. But if
you aren’t clear about what that means, our library collection
on the Franciscans includes many books about this religious
order which makes our parish unique.

G. K. Chesterton’s book, St. Francis of Assisi, is a
biographical portrait of a very human St. Francis, born into a
society moving from the medieval world toward the emerging
Renaissance. He portrays the disillusioned soldier who wholeheartedly embraces a life of joyful poverty and service to others. He describes St. Francis’ view of a world reflecting God in
all people, creatures and things.

In Tales of St. Francis, Ancient Stories for Contemporary
Living, Murray Bodo uses a variety of sources and legends
about St. Francis to demonstrate the saint’s love and
courage living in a materialistic world.

And Marco Bartoli, in his book Saint Clare Beyond
the Legend, tells the story of the enthusiastic first woman
follower of St. Francis. This young founder of the Poor Clares
from her cloistered monastery at San Damaino becomes the
custodian of Franciscan history through her writings.

Starting January 21, 2012, the Parish Library will open Saturdays
9AM to 12 Noon. But we need 2 to 4 library stewards  to do this. Shifts can be 9AM-10:30AM and 10:30-12 noon. Training will be provided. If you love books, meeting people & keeping things orderly, call Pat Thompson 760/433-8433.

NEEDED: Library Coordinator for Parish Library
Training & support will be provided by the outgoing Coordinator.
Skills needed: passion for books & ability to keep things in order, plus enjoying people. Some weekly time commitment
required. If you only 'suspect' you might enjoy this ministry, please call Pat Thompson 760/433-8433.

L I B R A R Y
(OPEN: Sunday after Masses 8am-12pm/Thurs. 10am-3pm
For more info., call Pat Thompson 760-433-8433)

Library Category: Christology
“Who do people say that I am?” This question has been
asked of Christians by Christ for twenty. Answers have varied
from the original disciples to the current day. It is also the
subject of Christology.

An Introduction to New Testament Christology by Raymond
Brown discusses New Testament issues about the identity
of Jesus and why there is a debate. He gives the reader
the biblical background to read further and reflect.
Romano Guardino’s classic, The Humanity of Christ, offers
in-depth analysis of the personality of Christ traced from His
original reality.

Christ of the 21st Century, Evert Cousins surveys spirituality
and theology in the new millennium. He addresses Christianity’s
relevance to the modern world.

YOUR LIBRARY NEEDS YOU!
Starting January 21, 2012, the Parish Library will open Saturdays
9AM to 12 Noon. But we need 2 to 4 library stewards
to do this. Shifts can be 9A-10:30AM and 10:30-12 N. Training
will be provided.  If you love books, meeting people & keeping things orderly,  call Pat Thompson 760/433-8433.

If you prefer original sources of our Catholic faith, here is the best category. Here you will find Papal Encyclicals & letters;  Documents from the Second Vatican Council, plus easy to- understand commentaries; Pastoral letters from the U.S Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) on topics that affect
the every day life of the laity; and copies of the official Catholic
Catechism, plus more commentaries.

If you have questions about the “whys” and “wherefores” of what we as Catholics believe and practice and want to read what was originally written by the Magisterium of the Church, browse this section. After all, they were written for and to us—the laity—the Church. So become informed!

If you are interested in Catholic classics by writers such as Fulton Sheen, C.S. Lewis or Thomas Merton, this is where to look. You will find such titles as The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis; The Cloud of Unknowing by a 14th century mystic; The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton; and The Idea of a University by John Henry Newman.

You will find works by such well-known Catholic writers as Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Sr. Joan Chittister, Richard Rohr, ofm,  Ronald Rolheiser, Jean Vanier Corrie Ten Boom, Matthew Fox, Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, John Powell, S.J., Basil Pennington, M. Scott Peck.

Their works cover every topic from inspiration to prayer, and theology to social justice. Find a treasure for your own faith development.

“Who do people say that I am?” Answers have varied from the original disciples to the current day. It is also the subject of Christology.

An Introduction to New Testament Christology by Raymond Brown discusses New Testament issues about the identity of Jesus and why there is a debate. He gives the reader the biblical background to read further and reflect.

Romano Guardino’s classic, The Humanity of Christ, offers indepth analysis of the personality of Christ traced from His original reality.

Christ of the 21st Century, Evert Cousins surveys spirituality and theology in the new millennium. He addresses Christianity’s relevance to the modern world.

“To those who at this moment are distressed because they
cannot recognize—in the confusion and the changes of today
---the Church of their childhood or even that of yesterday,
this book offers a message: be of courage, the power of the
Holy Spirit is at work deep within the heart of His Church,
breathing into it a fresh youthfulness. It is the Spirit Who is
our living hope for the future.”

This is what the first Pentecost was about. And this is
what Pentecost in 2011 is still about. Cardinal Suenens’ book
is a deeply searching and inspiring inquiry into the role being
played in the Church by the Holy Spirit. Suffering is the seed
of life, and the Church never has greater cause to hope than
when its sufferings are greatest. At these moments, history
has shown that the Spirit releases “a gulfstream of graces”
through the witnesses of the presence of the Spirit within
the Church . . . witnesses such as Pope John 23rd &
Pope Paul 6th.

In his book, Cardinal Suenens describes and justifies this
expectation of supernatural graces (charisms) that can mark
a providential hour in the history of the Church. Come and
rediscover the real meaning of Pentecost alive in
our midst today.

In the United States in the past four decades, the meaning
of the term homemaker has changed and expanded. Today
we consider all people who have any responsibility for
creating and maintaining a household to be a homemaker
because they create a physical, emotional and spiritual
haven for others.

William L. Droel in his booklet The Spirituality of Work:
Homemakers suggests a concept--the spirituality of work--
around which the homemaker can begin to explore the
meaning of this role. He suggests places, people and
practices where that spirituality, that style of awareness,
might uncover the meaning. He also suggests periodic
meditation and reflection during the homemaker’s journey.
And the final section offers ways for the homemaker to find
assistance and support from others.

This short book contains a wealth of information and
practical suggestions to aid today’s homemaker in the quest
for meaning from their essential work in society. As Clyde
Evans says in the forward, “ If all work – all labor – is
participation in God’s on going creation of this world, then
homemaking is . . . the quintessential form of work. For if
home and family and community is the most elemental,
fundamental feature of the kind of world God wants, then
the work associated with creating a home most
fundamentally represents co-creating with God, who has so
consistently and imaginatively tried to be a Home for us.”

During the summer months (June to August)  the library will be open on Sundays only (8 AM to 12 noon, Room 2 of Parish Center). Thursday hours will resume in September. We will
still need volunteers then for Thursdays any time between 10
AM and 2 PM. If you would enjoy a friendly, peaceful place
to share your love of books, please call us.

For further information or to volunteer, call Pat Thompson
at 760/433-8433.

Women Claiming Responsibilty for their own Spiritual Lives
by Miriam Winter, et. al.

Based on a nationwide survey of more than 7,000 women
who spoke out and bared their souls, this book of 1994 is still
unfolding in a long standing debate about the role of women
in the Church.

“I think women should not ask for permission but simply
do. Whatever it is the Holy Spirit calls you to do, do it! I am
a priest by my baptism into Jesus and grace of the Holy Spirit.
We don’t need women in Roman collars and robes, titled,
working to be bishop, cardinal, and politicizing to be Pope.
We need women filled with the Holy Spirit to be Jesus where
we are.” Woman in her 30’s (then)

“We may be on the cusp of a real change---God transforming.
It is a complex but exciting time. We are literally being
asked to choose oppression or liberation. The feminist voice
has mixed itself amid the warring theological voices and will
not be lost. Truly God is blessing the church.” Woman in her
40’s (then)

“There’s no doubt in my mind that a new age is dawning.
I’ve decided to wait actively, living as freely and fully as possible,
trusting that my personal actions will help move us
toward this new awareness. Patriarchy is dead, but the
death struggle is causing much pain.” Woman over 60
(then)

Here is a path-breaking book that reveals how American
women—Catholic and Protestant—are redefining church and
spirituality on their own terms!

Contemplative prayer has been an integral part of the spiritual lives of holy men and women throughout church history. In contemplation, God draws the believer into life-transforming communion with Him.

Author and Sister Kathryn Hermes, FSP, guides the reader through the steps of this prayer style, offering a way “out of the chaos, into quiet.” The author discusses how to prepare one’s self and
delineates the steps: choosing the best place and time of the
day; using scriptural phrases and words to focus on; and sitting in quiet to listen to God’s voice. The exercises are drawn from the writings, teachings, and life examples of spiritual giants and saints. Achieving the highest level of contemplative prayer “becomes a conversation with God" and ultimately union with God.

The author also explains the practices of Centering Prayer
and Lectio Divina as forms of contemplative prayer. “…Many will be moved by the personal voice in this book, as well as grateful for the practical recommendations  fostering prayer.”

Romeo J. Bonsaint, SC, Ph.D

John Taylor, Anglican Bishop of Winchester from 1972 to 1985, wrote: “Recognition is the special gift of the Holy Spirit. He works always by opening people’s eyes to see what they have not seen before.”

When Bishop Taylor died in 2001, he left behind many previously unpublished sermons, a selection of which are included in this small volume. He spoke of a God Who brings love by loving through the darkness into the light; through death into life; Who gives life by constantly stripping away what is past and urging us into the future; Who dares us both to let go and to go beyond the ordinary. God’s commitment to His people is shown in the life of His Son, Jesus, Whom He raised from the dead. The Christian hope lies in this Easter God, Who has promised us that we shall have life more abundantly.

In this little book, John Taylor demonstrates, in his graceful and poetic style, what it means to live as God’s Easter People.

MEDIA/BOOK OF THE WEEK:
Just Coffee: Caffeine With A Conscience
By Mark Adams & Tommy Bassett III

“Like many who travel to developing countries, we thought there was a lot we were going to teach the Cooperative members about business dynamics, working together for a common goal and the policies and procedures of effective management. Instead, as is so often true, we are the ones who learned so much more than we taught.”

The book depicts how Southern Mexican farmers in seemingly permanent poverty worked to support themselves with a living wage and to remain in their home village. We learn about the “Just Coffee” cooperative business development and success, but also about the growers and their relationships
with each other and about the customers who purchase the coffee and benefit from the labors of their love. The farming families shared their hope, trust, and perseverance with the authors.

This is “a fascinating primer in how to respond proactively to economic forces that leave most of us feeling totally powerless. The book is for those who know that Jesus calls us to create the reign of God right here on earth right now.” –Rick Ufford-Chase

A Crucified Christ in Holy Week
Essays on the Four Gospel Passion Narratives
By Raymond E. Brown

Each year during Holy Week we are privileged to hear two different passion narratives. While John’s account is always read on Good Friday, Matthew, Mark and Luke’s accounts are rotated each Passion Sunday. This allows us to explore different stories with different details and perspectives each
year. This format improves reader participation and identification with the events central to our Christian beliefs.

This concise, readable book includes a general introduction to the passion narratives. In this introduction, Raymond Brown summarizes the writing style, factors affecting the differences of the accounts and the resulting benefits. The author then includes an essay on each of the Gospel passion
narratives. Finally, Mr. Brown summarizes the stories, differences, and importance to us in our Christian lives today. Father Raymond E. Brown, S.S. was one of the premier modern, Catholic scripture scholars. He was an author and teacher who served as head of biblical societies and was appointed by two Popes to the Roman Pontifical Biblical Commission. And, in this book, he has summarized and shared his expertise with us.

Lent and Easter with the Church Fathers
By Marco Pappalardo

For over a year the Holy Father, in his Wednesday general audiences, focused on the Church Fathers as a way to tell the story of our Church. The lives and the writings of these important early leaders provided a foundation for our beliefs today. For this reason, their writings can be a Lenten inspiration.

In Lent and Easter with the Church Fathers, Marco Pappalardo includes meditations for the period from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday. Each short meditation includes an introduction and writing excerpt from one of the early Church fathers. The author’s selected excerpts and thoughts about these important traditional documents stress relevance to our modern lives. The range of meditations,
include well known leaders such as Augustine to lesser known such as Athanasius, and are rich in spiritual, moral, dogmatic and ascetic content. The author’s emphasis on modern relevance makes these documents accessible to everyone, not just Church scholars.

Marco Pappalardo is a Salesian Cooperator, journalist, author and teacher. His book, Lent and Easter with the Church Fathers, is a delightful, thought provoking tool and daily companion for prayer during the very special liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter.

MEDIA/BOOK OF THE WEEK: Fasting Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice
by Carole Garibaldi Rogers

Fasting is a universal spiritual practice, common in both Eastern and Western cultures, and part of almost every religious tradition. It is also an important secular practice, often for political or social causes such as peace, justice or solidarity with the poor. This helpful guide has everything you need to make this practice your own. Here you will find perspectives that cross time and tradition, practical helps, historical information, inspiring personal stories, and plenty of encouragement. You will learn about fasting in Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other traditions; practical spiritual dimensions of fasting practices during specific seasons (Lent, Yom Kippur, Ramadan); personal fasting experiences of various peoples; political fasting; and the mind-body-spirit connection attained through fasting.

This is a reader friendly book with a world vision, credible information, practical advice and easy-to-follow instructions.

Chocolate For Lent: A Creative Approach To Your Lenten Journey
By Hilary Brand

Using themes from the film “Chocolate,” this unique approach to the season creates the space for deeper insights into self-discipline, self-giving, conversion, acceptance and maturing in Christ. This book depicts weeks one to five of Lent with themes of: prelude to change, power of a gift,
possibility of change, power of acceptance, and the process of change.

“Provocative questions on the challenges of Christian living in our post-modern world. Readers will never look at ‘giving up chocolate for Lent’ the same way again.
—Professor Mary E. Hines, Emmanuel College

“A smooth spiritual blend of scriptures, social awareness, service, community, prayer, integrity, love, and what i  means to be a follower of Christ.”
—Rose Pacatte, FSP

Fasting: Exploring a Great Spiritual Practice
by Carole Garibaldi Rogers

Fasting is a universal spiritual practice, common in both Eastern and Western cultures, and part of almost every religious tradition. It is also an important secular practice, often for political or social causes such as peace, justice or solidarity with the poor.

Biblical Meditations For Lent
By Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P.

This book offers prayerful reflections on the liturgical readings of the Lenten season, day by day. Readers who are looking for a starting point for their personal Lenten journey will find this book a rich and insightful. It is designed for daily reflection and prayer on the Lenten scripture readings, both
weekdays and Sundays. The reflections for meditation are based on scriptural scholarship and the author’s own prayer experience.

“This book reflects upon the Bible as its words live within our community of faith. Here in the Church is where the different gifts, ministries and works are united in a living, challenging and evolving way. The Church is an integral part of today’s world and comes to terms with problems and crises, its hopes and frustrations through the wisdom of the Scriptures and the ancient traditions of her saints and
leaders.” – Father Carroll Stuhlmueller

The author, Father Carroll Stuhlmueller, is a member of the Holy Cross Province of the Congregation of the Passion. He is a well-known writer and lecturer on scripture.

PARISH LIBRARY
If you think you would enjoy a friendly, peaceful place to
share your organizational gifts and feed your love of reading,
please contact us to volunteer in the library for an hour or
two. We especially need bilingual assistants.
The library is open Sundays (8 AM to 1:30 PM) and
Thursdays (10 AM to 2 PM)---first floor of the Parish Center,
Room 2. For further information or to volunteer, please call
Pat Thompson (760) 433-8433 or Tony Martinez (Spanish)
(760) 277-1986.

Angels Unawares By Megan McKenna

In the United States during the past decades, there has been a renewed interest and fascination with angels. The
belief in angels has a long and honored tradition in Christian heritage because angels play the same role for the church
and believers that they played in the birth, life and death of Christ. This interest and fascination however is universal and
shared in creation myths, music, prayers and stories around the world.

In her book, Angels Unawares the master storyteller Megan McKenna focuses her attention and talents on these
mysterious creatures. These messengers from God to earth instruct and call people to God’s work, divide the heavens,
battle evil, attend saints, and escort, guard and guide God’s people. Angels Unawares first discusses and summarizes
stories about the Bible’s archangels, Michael, Raphael, Ariel and Gabriel. Next, the author turns her attention to the
angels we all know and love. She classifies and summarizes the encounters and stories about the angels that attend,
guard and guide our daily lives.

Like all of Megan McKenna’s books, Angels Unawares is a good read because of her story telling talents and is sure
delight angel watchers everywhere.

Their Stories, Our Stories: Women of the Bible
by Rose Sallberg Kam

“In journeying with women, it is critical to identify role models from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Rose Kam has brought [the familiar women of our bible stories alive.]  These women from our past become part of our present.”  - Tita Diepenbrock

“[Kam’s] remarkable insights into their lives and [her] thought-provoking questions for private reflection and discussion provide excellent [opportunity for our own introspection]. And contemporary psalms at the end of each chapter put the final touch on each woman’s story.”
- Sister Johnelle Becker, O.S.F.

“What good is reading the Bible if no application is made in our daily lives? The reflections, prayers and connections presented in this book make it perfect for any study group.” - Myrna Ohmann

Here is a “clear, warm freshly contemporary discussion of the women of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures . . . [A] delightful ‘read’ that will make your heart sing.” - Virginia Mollenkott

MEDIA/BOOK OF THE WEEK: Everyday Life in Bible Times by National Geographic

In these 448 color-packed pages, a world of marketplaces in man’s early cities comes alive for us today—a world of merchants hawking pots, lyres and melons, and a slave sells for less than a draft animal. The dust and danger of a caravan is stirred as Abraham leads his kin from pagan Ur to the Chaldees. The smell of mud and straw arises as Hebrews make bricks under the lash of pharaohs; the jeers of a Jerusalem mob resound as it surges to the “place of the skull” to watch Roman soldiers execute the Prince of Peace.

In the past century the spades of science have brought forth a treasure of knowledge illuminating the great
narratives of the Bible. Kings and conquests known only in its pages spring to life in texts and monuments.
With such finds as the clay tablets of Sumer and the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran, scholars have revived those distant days when men began to farm, develop plow and wheel, cluster their homes in towns, learn to write, make war and worship.

“To believe there are ruins under a hill, and to find them,” says Dr. James Pritchard, “is one of the thrills of archeology.”  Share that thrill with Dr. Pritchard and other explorers as they probe for secrets at the horizon of history.

MEDIA OF THE WEEK: Inside the California Missions by Cultural Videos

Stretching from San Diego to just north of San Francisco, the 21 Missions of California forever changed the face of this coastal state. Retrace the footsteps of the early California settlers with this unique look at all 21 of the California Missions.

This is the first video to capture the beauty, history and controversy surrounding what would become the foundation for California as we know it today. Tour the churches, the grounds and the living quarters and experience the magnificent architecture which has transformed the California Missions into historical landmarks. Inside the California Missions is ideal for education, entertainment and to help relive the beginnings of early California.

Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, discovers the
contemplative side of faith, the process of becoming empty
and letting go. We are taken along on an exciting journey
and are challenged not only to rethink things, but to live in a new and different way. He encourages us to rely on
ourselves, to listen to ourselves, and to trust what we hear, and what we sense. Rohr teaches active trust, action, contemplation, commitment in the world, and the ability to let go in God. He writes from his soul, from his life, and from his experience.

The book emphasizes having more trust: trust in God,
trust in life and in what it teaches you. He examines such
topics as: the challenge and meaning of community, dealing with our fears and letting go, contemplation, masculine and feminine natures, and the social and political mission of Christians. He encourages us to find paths to the spirituality of a simple life.  “Rohr’s kind of contemplation is an adventure in the wilderness,
letting God call (us) by name and take (us) to a deeper
place of peace that the world cannot give. Less is more.”

Laurie Beth Jones is President and founder of The Jones Group, an advertising, marketing and business development firm, whose mission is “to recognize, promote and inspire divine excellence.” After many years in business, she was struck by the notion that Jesus’ leadership approach with His staff ran counter to most management styles and techniques employed today. Dismayed to find invaluable human energy and intelligence untapped and underutilized, Jones made it her goal to help empower people at all levels of leadership to
review the divine excellence in themselves and in those they serve.

In Jesus, CEO, she creates a plan to heighten awareness in each of three categories of strength behind Jesus’ leadership techniques and to assist in the process of mastering them. Follow the example of Jesus, the CEO, who took a disorganized “staff” of twelve and built a thriving enterprise— the Church. Here is a simple, profound, and often humor-filled approach to motivating

Stories of Lives Transformed by Faith
by Marcia Nelson

By offering intimate glimpses into the lives of people whose
faith has transformed their outlook and circumstances, the
God of Second Chances helps us recognize God’s saving
grace. Marcia Nelson introduces us to women and men who
have fought drug and alcohol addiction, traded crime for
caring, converted loss and illness into compassion and turned
despair into joy. In meeting these people and in sharing in
Nelson’s own journey of faith, we encounter what is best
about us and also most human---the ability to make
mistakes, make amends and make good. Along the way, we
encounter the God who never gives up on us.
 

“In this age where failure and faults are viewed with
disdain, these stories proclaim the power of transformation
and the ability to turn one’s life around — and they do so
without preaching or pious prattle. . . If you ever doubted
that God gives us a second chance, read this book!”

The Priesthood of the Faithful:  Key to a Living Church  by Fr. Paul Philibert

If you are a baptized Catholic, you have been called to the common priesthood of the Body of Christ. What does that mean? Fr. Philibert answers this question in his book, The Priesthood of the Faithful.
The New Testament describes the baptized as “a holy
priesthood” and “a priestly people.” Vatican II clearly taught
that the baptized become “a holy priesthood.” Their personal fidelity and lives, led in loving obedience to the Gospel, become “spiritual sacrifices” offered along with the Body of the Lord in the Eucharist.

This book is the first study in English to explore systemically this key doctrine of Christian faith and examine its significance for the spiritual growth of the faithful and for the revitalization of the
Church. The time is ripe for this long-neglected treasure of
New Testament faith to become central to the Church’s
preaching, ministry and evangelization.

MEDIA OF THE WEEK:  Women and the Shaping of Catholicism  edited by Richard Miller

In this collection of seven lectures on audio CD-ROM, seven distinguished Catholic theologians address the topic of “Women and the Shaping of Catholicism” from the following  perspectives:

Hearing Women’s Voices by Richard Miller, PhD

Women in the New Testament by Susan Calef, PhD

Women in the Early Church: A Portrait Gallery
by William Harmless, SJ, PhD

Women in the Middle Ages by Gary Macy, PhD

Women of the Catholic Reformation and Early Modern Period
by Eileen Burke-Sullivan, STD

Catholic Women in the 19th and 20th Centuries by Robert Ellsberg

Which Mary, Which Woman, Which Church?
by Mary Ann Zimmer, ND, PhD

Presented in Kansas City in 2008 at the 6th Annual
Conference on the Catholic Church in the 21st Century and
sponsored by the University of St. Mary of Leavenworth,
Kansas, and Rockhurst University of Kansas City, these
lectures are timely and relevant for all Catholics.

This video presents a breathtaking picture of the Sistine Chapel

—one of many works of art in the Vatican Museums. These museums represent  five hundred years of papal art and span all the important historical periods. The extraordinary context for the exhibition of these works is the Apostolic Palace which was decorated by the most important artists of the Renaissance.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is among the greatest works of art in the history of the world. This video tour of the chapel’s images from the biblical scriptures is an extraordinary experience of cultural enrichment and spiritual nourishment for anyone who has never seen it---as well as a delightful re-living of those gifts for people who have seen it before.

Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community by Eric Law

A multicultural conference has convened. Everything is in place. The participants arrive brimming with goodwill and even better intentions. But halfway through the meeting, communications grind to a halt, and people retreat to the safety of their own groups. What happened? And how can we keep it from happening again?

Using theology and cultural anthropology, Eric Law, a Chinese-American ordained Episcopal priest and professional consultant in multicultural leadership, explores why certain cultures—most notably whites of European origin---tend, consciously or unconsciously, to dominate in multicultural situations, driving those of other races and ethnic groups into silent rage or outright rebellion.

This is a must read for both the “wolves” and the “lambs” of the world, because it is only through conscious effort and great faith that we can truly dwell together in peace.

“I want a way to live that keeps me involved in what God is doing in me and in the world around me. Do you know a way to live that is like that?” Martha 15.

Way to Live! watches 18 teens and 18 adults tackle Martha’s question. Their different points of view and personal stories make living a Christian life REAL. This team of writers explore Christian practices that arose from their ordinary daily lives, as well as ancient Christian practices. 

Readers will find out such resources as how St. Ignatius of the 17th century shows us how to tune into God, and how Alexx, age 16, learned to deal with his “stuff.”

This is a book that will start teens on the journey of a lifetime, including a modern-day website for youth and youth leaders.

Please visit our wonderful Parish Library to discover many wonderful treasures about the Catholic Faith, saints, bible study, popes, and scores of other topics in published and media formats. We are open every Thursday 10 AM-2 PM and every Sunday 8:30 AM to 12 Noon. We now have Mr. Tony Martinez available for our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters.   Our Spanish library is growing, so stop in and check it out. 

For Information, call Pat Thompson.