The Saint Katharine Drexel “No Pressure” Book Group

“We read to know that we are not alone.” C.S. Lewis

Faith sharing, friendship, fun, and food are what you will find at Saint Katharine Drexel’s “No Pressure”  Book Group.

Meetings are held in the Monsignor Smith Community Center (formerly called the Social Hall). A meal of pizza, salad, and dessert is served at 6:30 p.m. The book discussion begins at 7:00 p.m.

For additional information contact Sandy at middlef48@icloud.com.

Reading Selections:

• September 10, 2019 – 7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn

• October 8, 2019 – My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell

• November 12, 2019 – The Eight Doors of the Kingdom: Meditations on the Beatitudes by Jacques Philippe
  • The Gospel of St. Matthew shares with us astonishing words of Jesus: a promise of everlasting happiness, far removed from the usual recipes for gratification. Blessed are the poor in spirit! Blessed are those who mourn! Happy are the meek!… Fr. Jacques shares with us a profound clarity to the full scope of meaning behind Christ’s eight beatitudes, and in turn, outlines for us a way in which we can live them in our daily lives. We learn how each beatitude gives insight into how we can situate ourselves in an honest and fulfilling relationship with God, with oneself, and with others, and how to confront head-on the difficult realities of life.

• January 14, 2020 – 7 Secrets of Confession by Vinny Flynn
  • • The understanding that many Catholics have of the Sacrament of Confession is so limited and narrow in its focus that it keeps them from discovering the real beauty and value of this Sacrament — beauty and value that even a young child can understand if it’s presented properly. For too many Catholics, Confession is just a means to an end: cleaning us up from sin so we can receive Communion. But, as Pope Francis tells us, Confession is much more than going to the dry cleaner. It’s an encounter with Jesus, who waits for us as we are. In his years of speaking all over North America, Flynn saw that many Catholics have this limited appreciation of Confession, and the urgent need for clear teaching about this great Sacrament. If you have not yet experienced Confession as a wonderful, personal encounter with Christ; if you do not yet look forward to going to Confession with the same eagerness and expectation with which you receive Holy Communion, this book is for you. It will be a whole new way of going to Confession, inviting you to begin an exciting personal journey to healing and holiness. It may change your life.

• February 11, 2020 – A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
  • • A Good Man Is Hard to Find, first published in 1953, is among the most famous stories by Georgia writer Flannery O’Connor.   O’Connor was a staunch Catholic, and like most of her stories, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” wrestles with questions of good and evil and the possibility of divine grace.

• March 10, 2020 – Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ by Edward Sri
  • • In In Into His Likeness, Dr. Edward Sri provides an approachable but in-depth exploration of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. At the outset, he emphasizes the importance of every Christian’s developing the desire to be a true disciple of Christ and gives the reader a first glimpse of what the life of a disciple looks like. As the book progresses, he unfolds what a true encounter of love with Christ entails and explores the transforming power of God’s grace. He also offers for consideration “the four habits of a disciple”: prayer, the breaking of bread (the Sacraments), fellowship, and the teaching of the Apostles. The book concludes with a powerful call to fulfill every Christian’s mission of evangelization. Into His Likeness is a down-to-earth and tremendously valuable handbook for anyone wishing to pursue Christ wholeheartedly.

• April 14, 2020 – TBA
• May 12, 2020 – TBA

May God and His angels watch over you. Happy Reading!