A Summer Reading List

When it comes to adult faith formation at my parish, Christ the King in Chicago, I am often reminded that many folks go away for the summer. That doesn’t mean that we can’t plan adult faith formation opportunities during the summer months; it just means that we might need to adjust our expectations when it comes to attendance. Another option, however, is to find a way to “travel with” people as they scatter to the […]

Dear Pope Francis in the Classroom

As we were finishing up faith formation class the other day, I showed my class a new book: Dear Pope Francis. It is a hardcover, colorful book of letters and drawings from children around the world to Pope Francis. The best part of the book is that Pope Francis answered each of the letters. His answers are not one- or two-line answers, but thoughtful, multi-paragraph answers that an elementary-age student can understand. I fell in […]

52 Ways to Get Mission and Mercy in Motion

As you may know, my most recent book is now available: A Church on the Move: 52 Ways to Get Mission and Mercy in Motion. Many parishes are using this book with their parish staff and/or parish pastoral council and other groups of parish leaders to jump-start some creative brainstorming for energizing their parish faith communities. In the book, I provide 52 practical ideas that can contribute to getting a parish out of the rut of […]

Bringing Pope Francis to Children

While you may not be able to bring Pope Francis to your faith formation session as a guest speaker, you can still bring him closer to the children you teach! By now, I’m sure you have heard of the amazing book, Dear Pope Francis. In this book (also available in Spanish), Pope Francis answers questions from children around the world. Some are fun. Some are serious. And some will quietly break your heart. But all […]

What Would You Ask the Pope?

If you could ask Pope Francis one question, what would it be? What would the children you work with ask the Pope? In Dear Pope Francis, the Pope’s first book for children, he personally responds to 30 questions from children around the world. The book is published by Loyola Press, and we’re excited to share it with you. The Wall Street Journal shares the story behind the project and the book’s trailer here. Dear Pope […]

Coming Soon: A Church on the Move (My New Book!)

Welcome to the New Year, friends! I am excited to announce that in just a few short weeks, my newest book—A Church on the Move: 52 Ways to Get Mission and Mercy in Motion—will be available! If the New Evangelization is to have any hopes of success, our parishes must experience a radical revitalization. In order to accomplish this, however, we do not have to implode our parishes and rebuild them from scratch. In my new book, […]

The Catechist’s Backpack Is Here!

I’m thrilled to announce that my new book, The Catechist’s Backpack: Spiritual Essentials for the Journey, co-written with Julianne Stanz, is now available from Loyola Press! Here is an excerpt: Backpacking is a fun, healthy, and physically challenging way to enjoy a journey of discovery. Of course, anyone setting forth on a backpacking journey knows that there are many things to take into consideration and certain necessities that need to be packed. In a similar […]

Coming Soon! The Catechist’s Backpack

It’s a New Year, so it must be time for a new book by Joe Paprocki! Well, almost time! Here is the cover for my upcoming book, co-authored with my good friend Julianne Stanz: The Catechist’s Backpack: Spiritual Essentials for the Journey. The General Directory for Catechesis tells us that catechists must be formed in three areas: being, knowing, and doing (#238). I’ve provided catechists with books on doing the work of a catechist and […]

For Those Who Can’t Get Enough of Pope Francis!

For those of you who can’t get enough of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Loyola Press is proud to offer Pope Francis: Life and Revolution, a biography of Jorge Bergoglio, written by his good friend and internationally respected journalist, Elisabetta Piqué. Over 75 individuals were interviewed for Pope Francis: Life and Revolution, including lay people, priests, bishops, and cardinals who have known or worked with Francis at various times in his life. Insights from these […]

Discussion Questions for Under the Influence of Jesus!

I am very excited to share this news with you: discussion questions for my book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ, ARE NOW AVAILABLE! Thanks to my good friend and co-worker, Carrie Freyer, and to the Marketing Department at Loyola Press for designing this resource and making it available for folks! These discussion questions make it possible for small faith groups and book discussion groups to spend some time reflecting […]

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