Below you will find tables of contents of recent issues.

What they do, forgive
 

ON THE COVER:  Le Repentir, second in a series  of three windows entitled Vitrail du Pardon by Marie-Nicole Boivin, Ronald Blanchard,  and a group of volunteers, installed in St. Agapit Church  in Deux-Montagnes, Quebec (Paroisse Ste-Marie-du-Lac). Photo by Michel Chartrand.

From Inside ML: Forgiveness may be the hardest task for those who would follow Christ. We are called not only to forgive one another but to treat with compassion and mercy those who wish us harm. It is a simple thing, in general, to forgive a friend, to accept an apology, to overlook a moment of weakness against the backdrop of a good relationship. It takes a different discipline entirely to approach reconciliation without any strings attached. To forgive without expecting a response on the part of another is how Christ has taught us to live. It seems contrary to our human nature, but in baptism we gain access to the divine in us, and so we are able, if we choose, to forgive without counting the cost. (More)

Features

Nothing but hope
Ronald Raab
The journey of sacrament

Reconciliation within the eucharistic liturgy
Paul Turner
Healing the broken

Reflections on confession
Michael Kwatera
Confession and youth

Room for reconciliation
Donna M. Cole and Helen Keating
Reconciliation and community

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Lent – Passion 2007 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Christmas on Monday / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Christmas Confession / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Church Technology Guide
• Artists Directory

Online Artists Directory

Closer in community
 

ON THE COVER:  Holy Spirit by Arthur Stern,  Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Menlo Park, Calif.

From Inside ML: What does it mean to be community? The answer is a challenge to a culture treasuring individuality above all else. We who claim the name “Christian” are called to witness to a community that binds us not only to all who believe but to service in that name. That community extends beyond our own existence to embrace and call upon all of the saints, those who struggled as we do with their human nature but whose faith sustained them despite the trials of this world. Being a part of that community demands that we look beyond our own level of comfort and go about the hard work of mourning with those in sorrow, tending to those in pain. It also means that we rejoice together, praise together, share as one the wonder that comes from being a risen people. (More)

Features

Story-stained Sundays
Ronald Raab
Hidden message of faith

"Assembly Required!": Enhancing the ministry of the liturgical assembly
Marc DelMonico
Celebrating participation

The gift of spiritual friendship (part 3)
Kathleen H. Brown and David M. Orr
Being bread for one another

"Blessed are they who mourn; they shall be consoled"
Lizette Larson-Miller
Community ministry of consolation

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Winter Ordinary Time 2007 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Reviews
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Disposing of Religious Articles / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Our Lady of Perpetual Help / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Church Technology Guide
• Artists Directory

Online Artists Directory

Witnessing to God's purpose
 

ON THE COVER:  St. Peter's Catholic Church in Boerne, Texas. Gregory M. Davis, AIA, architect and liturgical design consultant. Photo by Larry Pearlstone.

From Inside ML: Being a Catholic Christian is a challenge most days. On bad days, it can be literally excruciating, a particularly appropriate word (from late 16th-century Latin excruciat, “tormented,” from the verb excruciare, based on crux, cruc-, “cross”). As leaders, people often point to us and demand to know how we can continue to work in a church whose worship style can often be stale and meaningless, whose treatment of women is patronizing, and whose dishonesty of late is legendary. We can’t even dispute the charges.(More)

Features

The gift of spiritual friendship (part 2)
Kathleen H. Brown and David M. Orr
The union of hearts

It took God 6 days: A model for ongoing adult faith formation
Scott Rutan
Creation-based formation process

Illuminating the interior life of Catholic youth
David M. Bristow
Insight into Catholic adolescence

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Christmas 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Memorial / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Memorials in Privileged Seasons / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Church Technology Guide
• Artists Directory

Online Artists Directory

Making the common holy
 

ON THE COVER:  Women of the Resurrection by M. J. Anderson,  installed at Church of the Resurrection, Solon, Ohio.

From Inside ML: We are a sacramental people, so when we think about how we make common elements holy, we often look first to our eucharistic elements. Bread and wine are changed in our presence, transubstantiated by a great mystery of our faith into something beyond the understanding of our human senses. “When God’s people gather for prayer, the most intimate and all-embracing aspect of their life together occurs: the moment when they touch, taste, smell, hear, see, and share those hidden realities that would otherwise remain imperceptible. Together they adore the holiness of God and give expression to the unceasing life God has given them. God nourishes them as a community and makes them holy through the use of ordinary perceptible signs of water, oil, bread, and wine, transformed by extraordinary grace” (Built of Living Stones 140). But not only are these signs made holy; here too we shatter darkness with the fire of love as that extraordinary grace makes each person holy, changing our essence into sacrament for all the world. (More)

Features

"Finding the Bible": Spiritual direction for parish staffs
Ron Raab
Restoring the spiritual core of parish ministry

Spirituality of ministry: Human skills for a spiritual ministry
James J. Greenfield and Kevin M. Nadolski
Five skills for discipleship

The gift of spiritual friendship (part 1)
Kathleen H. Brown and David M. Orr
Journeys of faith, conversion, and healing

Iconography in the liturgical assembly: A view from the kingdom
Scott O'Brien
Embracing the communion of saints

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Advent 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Sponsor / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Blessing Religious Articles / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Church Technology Guide
• Architects & Liturgical Consultants Directory
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory

May we serve as you intend
 

ON THE COVER: Washing of the Feet by Claire M. Wing, installed at St. Gerard Catholic Church in Lansing, Mich. To view images of the complete work, visit www.clairewing.com.

From Inside ML: Discernment is the foundation of ministry. Doing as we are called to do, serving as God intends, doesn’t always fit comfortably into what we think is our life plan. Deliberate listening, prayerful focus, and active openness to where the Spirit is moving in our lives and in our world are actions that come with practice, time, and maturity. They are Christian life skills that come from reflecting on our history and tradition, engaging actively in our rituals, entering into sacramental moments, and seeking the graced moments that make up our faith journey. Finding ways to encourage discernment, and to build up our faith skills is a challenge in our busy lives. This issue of ML offers some ways of approaching these needs for reflection, moving toward discernment, and entering into authentic service. (More)

Features

Can you drink of the cup?
Mary Amore
Methods for reflecting on the cup

Being single and single again
Philippe Bazin
Spirituality of single life

As I have done for you: Humility in ministry
Donna M. Cole
Ritual model for humble service

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Fall Ordinary Time 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Sharings
• Reviews
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Sponsor / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Blessing Religious Articles / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Church Technology Guide
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory

Lifting life heavenward
 

From Inside ML: The challenge of the Christian life is to remain ever aware of the life that is to come. We walk a delicate line between heaven and earth, grasping the promise of eternity with both hands even as our feet continue the earthly journey. Called to lead purposeful lives of loving service, we lift our lives heavenward that we may make the world around us a better, more just, place for all. There are many ways that we do this, but when we raise our voices in song, our sung prayer literally floats heavenward, bearing the hopes, fears, needs, and joys of a faith-filled people into the presence of a loving God. The music of our liturgies serves the graced purpose of speaking what might otherwise be left unsaid. (More)

Features

Surviving Thriving in music ministry
Michelle Rego
Ministering well despite challenge

Song that leads to silence
Roger F. Repohl
Contemplative communion chant

Liturgical music
David Haas
Music as formational element

Lifting life heavenward: Music as prayer
Deanna Light
Prayer in song

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: End of Summer Ordinary Time 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Singing at Mass / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Great Amen / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory

Holding in mind eternity
 

From Inside ML: Church architecture provides not only shelter from the natural elements but refuge from the clamor of daily life. Often taken for granted, our church buildings are formed around the culture of the community, their history and vision of their future, and their sacramental life, based on the liturgy sustained within. Standing as sacrament themselves, visible signs in the world of a graced presence within, church buildings have served as landmarks, vessels for some of the world’s greatest art, and social centers, solid reminders of Christ acting in the world. (More)

Features

Sustainable church architecture
Bill Beard
Honoring creator and creation

Owning the mystery: Encountering God in place and space
Carol Frenning
Symbolic content of church buildings

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Summer Ordinary Time 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Bulletin Insert: Catechumen / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Rite of Reception / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Classified Ads
• Directory of Artists, Architects, and Liturgical Consultants
• Online Artists Directory

 “In my name, baptize and teach”
 

From Inside ML:  Conveying the powerful joy of faith in Christ Jesus is a responsibility mandated for every believer. In baptism we are called to live as people of light, to cast off the garments of sin and death. We take up the white garment of service as our baptism demands that we, too, baptize, that we teach as we have been taught. Even as we engage in this salvific action in our daily lives, we serve in a specific way in the ministry of initiation. One of the greatest gifts of the Second Vatican Council was to restore the catechumenate and to revise the order of baptism of adults. In 1988, the resulting restored Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults offered the church not only a method for formation of new believers but an invitation to a journey of revelation for the whole community of faith. The catechumenate became the model on which faith formation at every level is structured, and the role of catechist now falls to all who answer the gospel command. Loving as we have been loved, we journey together to and through the cross. (More)

Features

Rite fire
Ron Raab
Initiation as community challenge

Mystagogy: An ancient ministry for a contemporary church
Scott O'Brien
Embracing a sacramental vision

Entering the vineyard: Ministry basics
Introduction to ministry for the catechumenate

Art as ancient catechetical tool
Helen Keating
Art in faith formation

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Summer Ordinary Time 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Sharings
• Bulletin Insert: Catechumen / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Rite of Reception / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Web Resources Listing
• Classified Ads
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory

Witnessing to the word
 

From Inside ML: Continuing our year-long journey through the great commission, this issue of ML explores ways of witnessing to the word. Preaching the gospel is a responsibility of all the baptized. Although not all of us may preach or proclaim the gospel at liturgy, each of us is called to bring the light of God’s word wherever shadows are found. In every area of liturgy and life, the good news stands between despair and hope, fear and freedom, and ultimately between death and eternal life. (More)

Features

The evolution of a reader
Thomas B. Iwanowski
Identity in the word

The prayerful preacher: Some images
Honora Werner
The preacher's many faces

Ministry Formation Resource Guide
Directory for continuing formation
 

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• Preparation Guide: Easter Season 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Sharings
• Bulletin Insert: Lay Preaching / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Sunday Scriptures at Home / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Bulletin Board
• Classified Ads
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory

The great commission
 

From Inside ML: With this issue of Ministry & Liturgy, we begin our 33rd year. In many ways, we continue the firewatch begun in year 32, for that task is eternal, but now we stir up the coals. Now we turn toward the future, confident that despite the turmoil permeating our church, God’s Spirit will prevail. (More)

Features

“When did I see you ill?” The call to serve the sick and the dying
James Donohue
Focus on care of the sick

The journey home: Focus on hospice ministry
Roslyn A. Karaban
Traits of hospice ministers

To be an instrument of healing: Formation of ministers to the sick
Kathleen Hope Brown with David M. Orr
Finding the “thin places”
 

Departments

• Inside ML / Donna M. Cole
• Worship Times / Todd Flowerday
• Calendar
• Preparation Guide: Triduum 2006 / Kay Murdy, Ada L. Simpson, Deanna Light and Paul A. Tate
• Sacred Space / Helen Keating
• The Rite Stuff / Mary Testin
• At the Table of the Word / Bruce Janiga
• Sung Prayer / David Haas
• Liturgy in Context / Deanna Light
• Keeping the Faith / Leisa Anslinger
• Pray, Believe, Learn, & Live / Eliot Kapitan
• Reviews
• Bulletin Insert: Dance / Paul Turner

Bulletin Insert: Visits to the Sick / Paul Turner

For more bulletin insert resources, try the Index of Bulletin Inserts

Marketplace

• Parish Resource Directory
• Advertisers Index for this issue
• Bulletin Board
• Classified Ads
• Artists Directory
• Online Artists Directory