“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 (NPBG)
Meetings are held in the Blessed Stanley Rother Room. The book discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. In the past we were able to enjoy a meal together then proceed to our discussion. For the Fall of 2020, face masks and 6 feet social distancing are required. The book group does not meet over the summer (June, July, and August) or in December. For additional information contact Toni at mtwinslow@comcast.net.
2021 -2022 Schedule
September 14, 2021
Traveling Light by Max Lucado
Weary travelers. You’ve seen them-everything they own crammed into their luggage. Staggering through terminals and hotel lobbies with overstuffed suitcases, trunks, duffels, and backpacks. Backs ache. Feet burn. Eyelids droop. We’ve all seen people like that. At times, we are people like that-if not with our physical luggage, then at least with our spiritual load. We all lug loads we were never intended to carry. Fear. Worry. Discontent. No wonder we get so weary. We’re worn out from carrying that excess baggage. Wouldn’t it be nice to lose some of those bags? That’s the invitation of Max Lucado. With the Twenty-third Psalm as our guide, let’s release some of the burdens we were never intended to bear.
October 12, 2021
Learning to Pray; a guide for everyone by James Martin S.J.
In The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, Father James Martin included a chapter on communicating with God. Now, he expands those thoughts in this profound and practical handbook. Learning to Pray explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice in our lives.
A trusted guide walking beside us as we navigate our unique spiritual paths, Martin lays out the different styles and traditions of prayer throughout Christian history and invites us to experiment and discover which works best to feed our soul and build intimacy with our Creator. Father Martin makes clear there is not one secret formula for praying. But like any relationship, each person can discover the best style for building an intimate relationship with God, regardless of religion or denomination. Prayer, he teaches us, is open and accessible to anyone willing to open their heart.
November 19, 2021
I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair
by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck
2018 ECPA Christian Book Award Winner
2018 Christopher Award Winner
Friendship takes on new meaning in this true story of Justin and Patrick, born less than two days apart in the same hospital. Best friends their whole lives, they grew up together, went to school together, and were best man in each other’s weddings. When Justin was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease that robbed him of the use of his arms and legs, Patrick was there, helping to feed and care for him in ways he’d never imagined. Determined to live life to the fullest, the friends refused to give into despair or let physical limitations control what was possible for Justin.
So when Justin heard about the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trek through Spain, he wondered aloud to Patrick whether the two of them could ever do it. Patrick’s immediate response was: “I’ll push you.”
I’ll Push You is the real-life story of this incredible journey. A travel adventure full of love, humor, and spiritual truth, it exemplifies what every friendship is meant to be and shows what it means to never find yourself alone. You’ll discover how love and faith can push past all limits—and make us the best versions of ourselves.
[source:https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Push-You-Journey-Wheelchair/dp/1496421701]
December 2022
Christmas Break – No Meeting
January 11, 2022
Life is Messy
by Matthew Kelly
“The greatness of the human spirit often shines brightest when the world is darkest.”
Based on his own heart-wrenching personal journals, Matthew Kelly shares how the worst three years of his life affected him, by exploring a most beautiful question: Can someone who has been broken be healed and become more beautiful and more lovable than ever before?
[source: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/life-is-messy.html]
February 8, 2022
Last Word of Saints and Sinners
by Herbert Lockyer
The last words of the dying have fascinated readers throughout history. They provide a brief glimpse through the window of human character, revealing the fears, hopes, courage, and legacies of both the famous and not-so-famous. This collection of seven hundred quotes features the last words of kings, commoners, atheists, poets, politicians, and martyred Christians. Carefully researched and collected by well-known author Herbert Lockyer, these final utterances cover a wide variety of topics including heaven, hell, good, evil, justice, judgement, and even humor. Also included is a helpful introduction by the author, outlining the historical context of the “last words” as well as a summary of the Christian view of death.
[source: https://www.christianbook.com/last-words-of-saints-and-sinners/herbert-lockyer/9780825431579/pd/431573]
March 8, 2022
Be Transformed by the Healing Power of the Sacraments
by Bob Schuchts
Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award: Sacraments. (First Place).
How can Christians grow spiritually in the midst of our sinfulness? How can we transform our lives in a way that allows us to share in the resurrection of Jesus?
God has already given us the perfect solution—the sacraments.
Whether it is the wound of past hurts, the strain in our relationships, or the stress of daily life, we all need to be comforted and made whole by Christ. In this follow-up to his bestselling Be Healed, Bob Schuchts explains how the sacraments can fuel your emotional and spiritual healing and bring you closer to God.
Based on more than thirty-five years of experience as a therapist and decades spent in parish ministry, Schuchts demonstrates how each of the seven sacraments can be a life-changing encounter with Christ, communicated through the power of the Holy Spirit. He pairs each healing sacrament with one of the seven deadly wounds that emanated from original sin in the Garden of Eden. We perpetuate and deepen those wounds each time we sin, but the sacraments are God’s remedy for sin. They give us a way to restore us to wholeness in Christ.
In Be Transformed, You’ll discover how each sacrament can help you heal from wounds that can impede your relationships and sense of self-worth. With Schuchts’s help, you’ll learn how:
- Baptism makes us beloved children of God, healing our wounds of rejection
- Holy Communion heals our wounds of abandonment by inviting us to share in Jesus’ abiding presence
- Confirmation overcomes our powerlessness through the power of the Holy Spirit
- Holy Orders heals wounds of confusion and disorder by re-establishing God’s authority in our lives
- In marriage, God’s faithful love heals wounds of fear and mistrust
- Reconciliation restores purity and releases us from shame
- Anointing of the Sick provides enduring hope to overcome our hopelessness
Be Transformed offers all of the tools you need for a fresh understanding of the sacraments, including reflection questions, scripture meditations, prayers, and inspiring stories. You’ll come away hungry for the sacraments in a way you never knew possible.
[source: https://www.scribd.com/book/336948082/Be-Transformed-The-Healing-Power-of-the-Sacraments]
April 12, 2022
Rediscover the Saints
Twenty Five Questions That Will Change Your Life
by Matthew Kelly
This is not just another book about the saints. Both personal and practical, this book proves the saints are not long gone, but alive and well–and ready to join you on your journey! Discover how inviting the saints into your everyday life will open your eyes to the amazing possibilities God has in store for you!
[source:https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/rediscover-the-saints/RSAI.html]
May 10, 2022
TBD
