The Sacred Conversation

A great preacher understands the power of God's Word and knows how to communicate that power in the most effective way possible. With The Sacred Conversation: The Art of Catholic Preaching and the New Evangelization priests will be renewed in their mission to preach the Gospel and equipped to do so with practical advice from Fr. Joseph Mele. Fr. Mele surveys the current norms in Catholic preaching and supplies helpful background on the Church' s most recent teaching on the subject. Paying special attention to the needs of the lay faithful, Fr. Mele then provides priests with the "nuts and bolts" of homiletics to ensure their preaching penetrates the hearts of those in the pews. An essential text for priests and seminarians. About the Author Fr. Joseph Mele is Vicar General in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, director of formation at St. Paul Seminary, and director of post-ordination formation. He graduated from St. Francis College and St. Francis Seminary, Loretto, Pennsylvania and was ordained on May 5, 1973. He received a master' s degree from Duquesne University and his doctorate in philosophy in 2008. Fr. Mele is the author of The Sacred Conversation: The Art of Catholic Preaching and the New Evangelization. Endorsements "As one responsible for forming our future priest-evangelizers for the Church in the United States, I would highly encourage seminarians to read Fr. Mele' s excellent work. How often we preachers get frustrated because of our human limitations inpreaching. Fr. Mele gives us excellent direction on how to keep our preaching fresh, lively, and meaningful. As a seminary rector, I will encourage my seminarians to read this excellent reflection on preaching." --Fr. James Wehner, Author, Rector-President of Notre Dame Seminar "The very core of the vocation of the priest is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This has been done well and not-so-well throughout the years. Fr. Mele lays out the history and the problems of Catholic preaching and then offers some very practical ways for the preacher to be God' s Instrument of the Good News. Read this book and become the Instrument God is calling you to be!" --Fr. Larry Richards, Author, radio host, and founder of The Reason for Our Hope Foundation "Preaching for the new evangelization! From his experience aspastor and seminary rector, and drawing upon many years of responsibility for the pre-ordination and post-ordination formation of priests, Fr. Mele truly understands the challenges and the urgency of effectively preaching the Word of God in the twenty-first century." --Fr. Thomas Acklin, Author, Rector and Professor of Theology, St. Vincent Seminar "This is more than a manual for good techniques. It' s a recovery of the very purpose of liturgical preaching: to guide us into the divine mysteries. Fr. Mele has produced a manifesto for a Church alive with grace." --Mike Aquilina, Author of numerous bestselling books, including The Fathers of the Church "It is not often that a book on homiletics can be recommended for a general audience as well as the priest and deacons meant to learn from it. But I am giving Fr. Joseph Mele' s The Sacred Conversation to friends that will never provide a homily in their lives. His steps for a ' reform of the reform' of Catholic liturgical practices are inspiring to those of us who are in the pews, not just the pulpits." --Robert P. Lockwood, Author, national columnist for Our Sunday Visitor

Cultivate the potential for deeper connection in every conversation. "To think of conversation as a sacred art challenges us to imagine all the conversations in which we participate, from the acquaintance we run into at Target to the dialogue for which we've spent weeks in preparation, as a potentially sacred conversation." --from the Introduction We often find ourselves distracted and overwhelmed by a constant stream of information and demand for connectivity. Now more than ever, we need to develop our capacity for greater presence in our daily lives and relationships. One of the best ways to do this is by improving the quality of our conversations. Dr. Diane M. Millis offers us inspirational stories, insights and spiritual practices from many faith traditions to increase our awareness of the deep, natural holiness waiting to be unlocked in our everyday encounters. This resource is a catalyst for anyone who would like to enrich seemingly ordinary conversations as well as for leaders in educational, ministry and corporate settings who want to: Increase their capacity to listen deeply Become more self-aware and attentive to others Learn how to move beyond conventional topics to exploring purpose, meaning and values in conversation.

Engaging in interreligious, intercultural, and interdisciplinary conversations throughout the world, the Sisters of the Holy Cross remain steadfast to their call to be women of compassion, bearing witness to God’s desire for the transformation of human hearts and human relationships. The author, a member of the congregation, discusses “sacred conversations” as a way of achieving this goal.

"A testimony to the power of prayer as a form of sacred conversation"--

Develop your capacity for greater presence in daily life and relationships. These inspirational stories, insights and spiritual practices from many faith traditions will unveil the deep, natural holiness waiting to be unlocked in everyday encounters.

Through the power of everyday words, find and deepen your connection with faith and self in the spiritual practice of writing. Whether you approach this book primarily as a reader or a writer, you can open a rich correspondence with yourself and learn what your own heart has to say. Karen Hering offers a path of self-exploration and a contemplative practice of writing that engages memory and imagination, story and poetry, images and the timeless wisdom of world religions and myth-ology. It will open your ear to your own truths while opening your heart to the world around you. Blending writing prompts, meditations, and stories, this book invites you to begin wherever you are and discover your own unique relation­ship with language, spirituality, and the world around you. The next chapter is yours to write, and Writing to Wake the Soul offers all you need to write it.

Imagine the best conversation you've ever had -- one that set your heart on fire, challenged your thinking, brought you closer to God, and inspired you to act. Recall how that conversation made you feel and how it changed your heart and your life. Such interactions rise to the level of the sacred -- sacred conversations -- dialogues that transform hearts, strengthen relationships, and make the world a better place by converting compassionate love into action. Conversations like this are rare but accessible to all of us all the time, regardless of where we are on our spiritual journeys. Dr. Christopher Reed provides a divinely inspired, scientifically tested, step-by-step process for guiding interactions between "seekers" and "helpers." We are all seekers, and we can all become helpers. This book will show you how to relate to others in their pain, frustration, hopes, and dreams. You will also learn: The six components of peak communication How you can invite, understand, and illuminate others through your conversations Three historical and scriptural reasons we should study and use sacred conversations How to stop, connect, reflect, and choose the best course of action in dialogue Five ingredients in the anatomy of sacred conversations Practical ways to build community, give thanks to God, and show gratitude for others Using Scripture, real-world examples, key scientific studies, and stories from his own formation, Dr. Reed provides approachable, fun-filled, well-researched advice on how you can use sacred conversations to become your best self and build closer relationships with others and with the Lord. Sacred Conversations offers a set of "how-to" tools for application, including flow charts, lists, and resources on the "Rules of the Road," the "Sacred Conversations Model," the roles of seekers and helpers, seven lessons for sacred conversations, and conversation starters to help you apply the model now to improve your life and help people in need. These pages will inspire your heart and reveal how everyday interactions can lead to spiritual growth, deep connections, and meaningful impact. This isn't merely another Christian self-help book. It's an inspired invitation to transform your life, and our world, one "sacred conversation" at a time. These spiritual encounters between people who want to grow in faith and virtue and live more purposeful and fulfilling lives will open your heart to hear God's voice more clearly and respond to His love more generously.

The newest addition to the CCAR Press Challenge and Change series, this anthology creates a rich and varied discussion about ethics and money. Our use of and relationship with money must reflect our religious values—this book aims to start a comprehensive conversation about how Judaism can guide us in this multi-faceted relationship.