Pastoral Formation-Apostolics

Through selections from his speeches, homilies, and other writings, this work presents Pope Francis's vision of mission--his understanding of what church in a missionary key looks like. It shows how the central themes of his papacy are integrated around the theme of mission and how he seeks to move the whole church forward in a missionary direction not simply developing the church's thinking on mission.

The Joy of the Gospel is a passionate call for every Christian to be constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others. In this apostolic exhortation, Pope Francis responds to the suggestions of the 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization by outlining a roadmap for the Church s pastoral mission and work in the world. He envisions a Church of Spirit-filled evangelizers who exude joy and care for God s people, especially the poor. Instead of retreating into our own security, he says, we must not be afraid to have our shoes get soiled by the mud of the street. Pope Francis warns against spiritual worldliness, disunity, and a spirit of pessimism or defeatism.

'Holiness is a gift that is offered to everyone, no one is excluded; it constitutes the distinctive character of every Christian'.Pope Francis wants the whole Church to promote anew the desire for holiness - in a practical way, for our own time. After analysing and forcefully dismissing two subtle enemies to holiness - contemporary gnosticism and pelagianism - as 'aberrations and obstacles' to holiness, Francis appeals in detail to the Beatitudes of Matthew and Luke. Here lies the path to our happiness, or, indeed our holiness, by living out the demands and joys of the Gospel.

Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within. Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world.

Barron sets forth a thoroughgoing vision for an evangelical catholic theology that is steeped in the tradition and engaged with the contemporary world. Striking a balance between academic rigor and accessibility, the book covers issues of perennial interest in the twenty-first-century church: who God is, how to rightly worship him, and how his followers engage contemporary culture. Topics include the doctrine of God, Catholic theology, philosophy, liturgy, and evangelizing the culture.

In Divine Blessing: Liturgical Formation in the RCIA, Timothy P. O’Malley shows us how we can break out of a classroom model about liturgy and instead invite seekers to be formed by the Risen Christ through the liturgy. This book will give you a process for preparing your catechumens and candidates to learn the liturgy’s symbolic language of self-giving love that will sustain them with divine blessing and train them to be Christ’s disciples in the world.