| Book Reviews - Mission - Vision - Church |
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Review
Fr. Patrick Brennan is a well-known author and pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness,
Illinois. In a simple, easy to read format, Fr. Brennan shares with us the wisdom and best-
practices that are emerging from his experience with Holy Family Parish. The book is
filled with great examples of how to organize and lead a vital, faith-filled parish. He
covers a wide range of topics relevant to parish leaders today, including critical issues
of parish governance, empowering lay leaders and ministers, the role of technology in
parish, and ministry for youth and young adults, to name a few. This would be a great
book for parish leaders who are evaluating their parish operations and developing
strategic plans that will enable them to flourish in today's complex parish environment.
Selected Brief Quotes
“We have been made for communion with God, and we have been made for communion with
one another, in many different ways, on many different levels. Parishes ought to be places
and opportunities where we don not experience more of American isolation, independence,
and competition. They ought to be places where we enter into genuine communion, with God
and each other. ” (pg. 23)
“Lateral ministry refers to an empowerment model of ministry. ... Any good staff member is
raising up, training and forming, empowering and enabling parishioners to own and carry out
parish ministry. ... Staff members ought to be empowering consultants ..." (pg. 121)
Fr. Patrick Brennan is a well-known author and pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness,
Illinois. In a simple, easy to read format, Fr. Brennan shares with us the wisdom and best-
practices that are emerging from his experience with Holy Family Parish. The book is
filled with great examples of how to organize and lead a vital, faith-filled parish. He
covers a wide range of topics relevant to parish leaders today, including critical issues
of parish governance, empowering lay leaders and ministers, the role of technology in
parish, and ministry for youth and young adults, to name a few. This would be a great
book for parish leaders who are evaluating their parish operations and developing
strategic plans that will enable them to flourish in today's complex parish environment.
Selected Brief Quotes
“We have been made for communion with God, and we have been made for communion with
one another, in many different ways, on many different levels. Parishes ought to be places
and opportunities where we don not experience more of American isolation, independence,
and competition. They ought to be places where we enter into genuine communion, with God
and each other. ” (pg. 23)
“Lateral ministry refers to an empowerment model of ministry. ... Any good staff member is
raising up, training and forming, empowering and enabling parishioners to own and carry out
parish ministry. ... Staff members ought to be empowering consultants ..." (pg. 121)
| "There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. ... Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness." Bill Hybles Courageous Leadership 2002 |
The Center for Parish Leadership
Equipping Catholic Leaders ~
Believing in Strong Parishes
Believing in Strong Parishes
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