This month marks the fifth anniversary of this Newsletter. In commemoration of this event we offer a few resources that provide help and support to parish ministry and personal growth.

The Practical Prophet: Pastoral Writings (Bishop Ken Untener, New York/Mahway, NJ: Paulist Press, 2007.) This 278 page volume is a collection of articles and talks by Ken Untener during his tenure as bishop of the Saginaw Diocese (1980-2004). The materials are organized under six headings: Vision and Creative Imagination, Liturgy of the Word, Ministry of Mercy, Consistent Ethic of Life, Ministry of Prophet and the Wider Church. Some of offerings go back to the '80's but they still ring true and will for some time to come. His disarming, informal style contains a depth and insight that surprises and captures one's imagination and spirit. As Bishop Joseph Imesch mentions in the Foreword, "He set the theme for his episcopal ministry at his Mass of Ordination, when he introduced himself to the people of Saginaw with, 'Hi, I'm Ken. I'm here to be your waiter.' To him, ministry was service, especially his episcopal ministry."

Finding God In Each Moment: The Practice of Discernment in Everyday Life (Carol Ann Smith, SHCJ and Eugene F. Merz, SJ, Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2006.) This is not a book to read so much as to ponder. Just as Ken Untener's writings provide theological insights, this volume offers a process for discovering the action of the Spirit within oneself and one's many relationships. The authors' previous book, Moment By Moment, dealt with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This one focuses on discernment, providing reflective materials from scripture, Ignatian materials and Vatican II. The book can help anyone deal with consolation and desolation, make good decisions and choices with inner freedom and engage the question of what God has in mind for us. As the authors write regarding the Emmaus story, "God's ever-creative love continually moves among us, inviting us into deeper relationship with God through relationship with others." (p. 23.)

Keeping the Covenant: Taking the Parish to the Next Level (Thomas Sweetser, SJ, New York: Crossroad Publishing, forthcoming.) This book will be in print soon. The first section helps a parish articulate its mission and purpose in a way that all can understand and own. Next comes a structure that manifests the mission, followed by a planning model that moves the leadership and people from goals into action. The fourth section deals with the art and science of parish leadership, beginning with pastor and staff, then moving on to the pastoral council, commissions and areas of ministry. The final section is about change, including shifts in demographics and ethnicity, the transitions of pastors and conversions related to stewardship and spirituality.

Liturgy.slu.edu: This is a website (no www at the beginning) founded by John Foley, SJ of the St. Louis Jesuits fame and provided by the Center For Liturgy as a service to both those preparing for weekend Catholic liturgies and for the people in the pews. It contains a wealth of background information and options related to the scripture readings and the choice of music used at the weekend Masses. The beauty of this site is that it draws from many different sources and puts them at your fingertips every week, providing depth and creativity to the preaching and variety to the choice of music.

 
Tom Sweetser, SJ & Peg Bishop, OSF
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(www.pepparish.org)

Parish Newsletter - February 2007
A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Reproduced on the OPRFM website with permission