Priest/Staff Bookshelf

This week’s pick is Hope Upon Impact, By Julie Overlease a Cure of Ars Parishioner.  Julie tells an unbelievable true story of faith, hope and healing. On a lovely April afternoon a backyard tree cracked and a heavy limb fell. Twelve-year-old Evelyn suffered a devastating blow to her head as she shielded her puppy from harm. She was rushed to the hospital for emergency neurosurgery. This life-threatening event shook her family to the core, and an unbelievable experience was set in motion that may take a lifetime to understand. The astounding details surrounding Evelyn’s accident and recovery are crazier than fiction. Hope Upon Impact: A Miraculous True Story of Faith Love, & God’s Goodness is a book of hope and miracles, in which Evelyn’s mother tells a story of faith in action during a time of crisis, of prayer through pain and darkness, of devoted friendship, and the great goodness and love of God.
 

Consecration to Mary

Read Fr. Brian's review below and click on the book for addtional information.

Left To Tell is perhaps my all time favorite book.  This is a riveting story of survival and forgiveness.  Immaculee Ilibagiza is an amazing person of deep faith and has much to teach us.- Fr. Brian         

Children today are more influenced by their peers than their parents.  How did this happen?  Dr. Leonard Sax has some great insights into parenting today.

In this book, Fr. Jacque Philippe reminds us that as the world grows increasingly chaotic it becomes even more important to maintain our peace!  This is a great read for those who tend to become anxious or worried






In The Way of Trust and Love,  St. Therese speaks to all of us today.  It is a message of great hope not to give way to frustration and discouragement but to delight in our littleness with total trust in God!

Read Fr. Weger's review below & click on the book for addtional information.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist – Brant Pitre

Brand Pitre is an up-and-coming scholar, a student of Scott Hahn. Christianity didn’t come out of nothing; Jesus was Jewish and the early Christians were considered to just be a Jewish sect. We understand Christianity better if we know our Jewish roots. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and Jewish Traditions, he answers many questions about the Eucharist like: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? Where can we find the Eucharist prefigured in the Old Testament? He also has a similar book: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary.  This book takes a similar approach but looks at how Mary was prefigured in the Old Testament.

The Spirit Of Liturgy- Benedict XVI

Based on a book of the same title by Romano Guardini, a Catholic priest and philosopher who was influential for both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis,Ratzinger looks at not what comprises the Mass, but what constitutes the Mass. What really is the Mass?  For a teaser, the first chapter speaks of the Mass asa form of play, not like a theatrical play which you spectate, but like a sport or game children engage in.  It has it’s own rules and way of working that don’tapply to outside the play (think of a handball in soccer, or genuflecting before entering a pew), but yet these rules provide the structure that make the play enjoyable and formative.  We ought to approach the Mass like children coming together at the end of the cul-de-sac to play together. This book transformed how I approached, and now celebrate, the liturgy.

Voyage Too Alpha Centauri- Michael D. O'Brien

Author of the famed book, Father Elijah: An Apocalypse, Michael D. O’Brien writes this science-fiction novel exploring the first ever mission to the next closes star:Alpha Centauri. The hope is to leave some crew members to colonize one of the orbiting, habitable planets while the rest return home.  But what they discover on that planet isn’t quite what they expected. The main character is a Mexican American astrophysicist who originally patented the technology that enabled this sort of long distance space travel. Brought aboard as more of a political stunt than as a valued member of the crew, flashbacks of his Catholic childhood haunt himthroughout his voyage. But the values of the religion from his childhood come to bear fruit as due to his age, he doesn’t expect to survive through the return trip.

Dialoges Of Plato- Plato

One of the most highly praised thinkers of the ancient world, along with Aristotle, Plato is worth knowing. Most thought today, even in varied subjects like science and art, can trace its roots back to either Platonic or Aristotilian schools of thought. It is well worth reading, but more importantly, it is worth discussing with friends. Plato doesn’t have the answers, rather, he asks people in a series of dioalogues what they think, drawing truth out of them while also showing that how they think isn’t fully true. While not a Christian (he lived 300 years before Christ), his school of thought was adopted easily by early Christians. He covers: What is justice? Is it better to be a good person? Do we have immortal souls? Is it better to continue living or to have lived well? What does it mean to be holy?
Is it good to do something that is wrong if it avoids suffering? What is love? 

Created to help a Christian navigate the movements in their soul, St. Ignatius of Loyola constructed a set of spiritual rules.  Fr. Gallagher in a clear, systematic way unpacks the meaning of the rules and provides personal examples of the rules in action. If you desire to deepen your understanding of the interior life, read this book.




Follow the spiritual journey of American Jesuit priest, Fr. Ciszek, who was captured by the Russian army in WWII and spent some 23 years in labor camps and prisons of Siberia. His faith is tested by the fire of many trials of pain, loneliness, doubt, and despair. Read this book to receive deep spiritual wisdom from a man who has wrestled with what it means to live in accord with God's will.
 

Click on the book for more information. Check back often to see what our staff is currently reading. 
           
   Jennifer Summers                                              Susan Lally                                                           John Williams                  CF&E Office                                                   Accounting Office                                                 Director, CF&E Office
                                                                                                                                
                                
      
                 Mary Connor                                                                                                                   Sara Kuhn                               Pastoral Care Coordinator                                                                                              Family Life Coordinator         
                
                               

                                             Shawna Davidson                              
                                          Directory of Religious Ed.                                                    

                                                         

Just Married: The Catholic Survial Guide
 

When you are going through a difficult time, you are not alone. Your parish community is lifing you up in prayer. Be sure to contact Mary Connor, Pastoral Ministry Coordinator to learn of  addtional ways that we can support you. 

Divorce & Annulment
Healing the Divorced Heart: Devotions for Hope & Encouragement


Bereavement/Grief
God Knows You're Grieving
After Miscarriage
Finding Your Way After Your Child Dies


Suicide
Divine Mercy- After Suicide: There is Hope for Them & You

Other
Pray With Me Still: Rosary Meditations and Spiritual Support for Persons with Alzheimer's, Their Caregivers, and Loved Ones

Be Healed

Facing Forgiveness

Click HERE for a link to Best Catholic Books Of All Time