Special
section: Family Life
Upswing in youth ministry texts includes both oddities and
pearls
By ARTHUR JONES
NCR Staff
WASHINGTON -- John Roberto is encouraged. In
terms of both youth and family ministry, while the change is not dramatic,
its there. Theres momentum and a much clearer sense of vision and
philosophy about ministry to families and clearer direction about what parishes
need to be doing.
Roberto is worth listening to. Hes been around a while. He
grew up in youth ministry and retreat work, is a former diocesan youth director
in Bridgeport, Conn., and Richmond, Va., who in 1978 founded his own Center for
Youth Ministry Development to do things you couldnt do in a
diocesan office -- development, research, creating training programs.
Later, as he broadened out across parish activities, he dropped the word
youth from CMDs title.
In some parishes, Robertos manuals are the ministry Bibles.
Parishes dont have the stamina to do more, said Roberto,
so todays programs give them a way to enrich what theyre
already doing. And there are a lot more programs today than there ever
have been, including the centers.
In two decades the center has trained 7,500 youth ministers, seen
more than 300 people through a postgraduate level Certificate of Advanced
Studies in Ministry program, developed justice ministries such as Young
Neighbors in Action and published a score of resources.
Family-focused books from Catholic publishers generally are on the
upswing. NCR asked around and came up with a selection that included some
pearls and some oddities.
Surely the oddest is the 1,000-page, Serving the Human Family:
the Holy See at the Major United Nations Conferences, published by the Path
to Peace Foundation and Our Sunday Visitor, $39.95. It looks like one of
those books published to impress or please someone in high office and, given
the contents, is about as exciting as the legal notices at the back of a rural
weekly newspaper. Useful to a narrow cadre of scholars, no doubt. I
couldnt find it in the OSV catalog.
OSV highlighted front and center Father McBrides
Family Catechism. McBrides adaptation from the Catechism of the
Catholic Church has his customary light touch and chatty narrative style.
Given its segments for reflection, its probably aimed as much at
religious education classes and parish groups as at families.
At $9.95 and 228 pages, Alba House is distributing Family
Values from the Australian Society of St. Paul priests and brothers. If you
dont mind reading Mum for Mom, Family Values seemed the
best among the books received in terms of helping families raise kids. Written
by Margaret and Gerard ODonnell, who have four children ages 23 to 3,
there is a beguiling sensitivity in Family Values. Its easy style and
layout looks at promptness, prayers, obedience, generosity and industriousness.
Old- fashioned family and civic virtues seen through the Christian prism, and
Christian virtues placed in todays household. Nicely done. Of course,
American parents can chuckle over these Aussie children setting the table at
tea time. Other than that, it makes the ocean crossing easily enough. At $6.95,
its a bargain for any family.
OSVs catalog had a stack of parenting and teen books,
but they didnt send any. The catalog opens with a colorful offering:
Welcoming the Little Ones, about establishing a faith-filled nursery for
children 12 to 36 months ($19.95, 132 pages), struck me as just the thing for
home or church group moms wondering where to begin.
Alba offers another St. Pauls product: Family Life in
Christ by Brian Grenier, a Christian Brother, ($4.95, 112 pages). Topics
include Joy in Family Life, Gentleness in Family Life and the like. It seemed
fine, and Im sure there are dozens of variations on this theme available.
One, undoubtedly, is Ave Maria Press Lets Say
Grace: Mealtime Prayers for Family Occasions throughout the Year by Robert
M. Hamma ($7.95, 118 pages). Graces for days when cousins or friends visit. All
very thoughtful. Its a pity the Presidents Day grace wasnt
used to make a stronger point. It mentions that Lincoln freed the slaves but
doesnt mention that Washington owned them. With prayers referring to
saints as different as Elizabeth Ann Seton and Dorothy Day, its a handy-
to-have-in-the-buffet book.
Somewhat more serious and learned is Celebrating at Home:
Prayers and Liturgies for Families, by Deborah Alberswerth and Laura Loving
from United Church Press, ($15.95, 132 pages). It is designed for
intergenerational worship at home on days as distinct in meaning as Martin
Luther King Jr. Day and Valentines Day.
I already had a Tabor booklet on How to Start Elizabeth
Ministry in Your Parish. It describes the ministry as an outreach
by the parish community to women during the joys and sorrows of the
childbearing years. A great ministry. But it undoes itself with its tacky
add-ons. Like the aftermath of a Disney movie, Elizabeth Ministry comes
trailing T- shirts, mugs, keepsakes and totes.
Between Fathers and Sons, by Jesuit Fr. Michael Smith, gets
down to serious family business, ($16.95 and 114 pages). Its a
process -- small group focused. I received only the introduction.
Seems sound and commonsensical.
The award for the best title has to go to Alba Houses God
Could Be a Teen, No One Understands Him Either. I didnt see this
James Pernice product ($4.95, 113 pages), but Im wearing a smile as I
type.
National Catholic Reporter, September 4,
1998
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