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WHY SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES WORK
Msgr. Timothy O’Brien and
Margaret Gunnell
Paper, $7.95
64 pages, 5½" × 8½"
ISBN 0-89390-371-X
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The key to forming Christians is forming small communities. In a small
Christian community, says Msgr. Timothy O’Brien, you can’t be
anonymous. You have to share your faith — and relate to others. And
“to be in communities with Jesus is to experience the Father’s
unconditional love of everyone.” This little book is a must-read for all
newly formed faith-sharing groups or anyone contemplating forming such a
group.
Reviews
“Tim O’Brien’s insights on where the church has been,
where it needs to be today and the need for small communities are well
worth reading.”
— The Rev. Arthur Baranowski, board president, National Alliance
for Parishes Restructuring into Communities
“Why Small Christian Communities Work addreses the
ecclesiology behind small Christian communities in readily understandable
language. This is a good book for typical ‘pew people’ to
further their understanding of faith and church.”
— Barb Darling, editor, Buena Vista Ink, Boulder,
Colo.
“This book does a great deal of work for its reader: It offers a
synthesis of much theological development; it places the theological issues
in dialogue with pastoral issues; and in doing so, it offers a model for doing
pastoral theology in the parish.”
— James L. Fredericks, Ph.D., professor of comparative theology,
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
“A concise, clear, readable survey of the early Christian precedent for
home-based faith groups, this book opens the door to invite Catholics back
into church.”
— Suzanne Skees, contributor to Reader News Service
and other publications
“Fr. Tim gives an excellent presentation of how christology and
ecclesiology lead naturally into sharing our experience of God with our
brothers and sisters in small Christian communities.”
— John O’Connell, Ph.D., dogmatic theologian, pastor, Holy
Redeemer Church, Bray, County Wichlow, Ireland
About the Authors
Tim O’Brien is a senior priest in the San Jose Diocese, currently
serving at St. Mary’s Church in Los Gatos, Calif. Active in the
formation of small Christian communities (SCCs), he was challenged and
encouraged by his cousin, a professor of theology, to research the
theological grounds for SCCs. His response is this book, which affirms that
“small Christian communities allow us to live the identity and mission
that we have as followers of Jesus Christ.”
Margaret Gunnell is a freelance writer and a consultant for non-profit
organizations. She resides in Forest Ranch, Calif., where she owns and
operates Moccasins Press, a desktop publishing company.
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