Fourth in a Series

I may have come up with a good idea. It springs out of this series of columns about books that might be of special interest to Catholics.

One of the great changes in the Catholic Church since Vatican II has been the multiplication of lay leaders. From lectors and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass to directors of religious education and lay catechists, there has been a kind of explosion of people being directly involved in ministering to others.

I applaud the change. It is more than fitting that it happened. Even if we had an overflow of priests and religious, it still would be fitting that lay people assume leadership roles in the Church. Even if there were a surplus of priests and religious, it would still be fitting that others be directly involved in bearing witness to faith through some organized apostolate.

In addition to the multiplication of lay ministries since Vatican II, we have witnessed the restoration of the permanent diaconate. This also would be fitting even if we had a surplus of priests and religious.

I view the increase of lay leadership as a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church. When I think of the number of Catholics other than priests and religious involved in actively bearing witness to their faith and trying to reach out to help others, I am encouraged and even inspired.

All of the leadership roles in the Church require some training and education and some of the roles involve a commitment of years. The commitment to preparation for service is a beautiful sign of faith. My idea involves ongoing education for leadership. The idea has grown out of my own training, education and experience.

It is a program of reading. The program would encourage all leaders to read two books a year, the same two books. The following year two different books would be chosen. The program could be a parish program or even a diocesan program.

I can imagine people in a parish or a diocese casually discussing the books from time to time during the year. Since everyone in a leadership role would be reading these books, there would be much to discuss, much to share, whenever leaders gathered together for any kind of meeting. After four or five years, there could be noticeable consciousness raising and possibly a strong conscience formation that would happen among the leaders.

Of course the reading of the books would be encouraged for an increase in knowledge and a strengthening of commitment. There would be no exams, nor would anyone be pressured to read them. Rather, what would be hoped for would be an enthusiasm and excitement concerning the reading because it would be looked upon as a means for both individuals and community to grow.

Two books that I think would be both accessible and interesting, even inspiring, are Father Michael Himes' "The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism" (St. Anthony Messenger) and Eugene Kennedy's "Would You Like To Be a Catholic?" (St. Anthony Messenger Press). Both authors are talented writers and their books are highly readable.

Himes, a Brooklyn priest who teaches at Boston College, is truly a great teacher. His book consists of 10 chapters: Trinity, Grace, Incarnation, Salvation, Church, Baptism, Eucharist, Sacraments of Vocation, Reconciliation and Tradition. When I read "The Mystery of Faith," I can hear Mike's voice. Each chapter contains what seem to me to be original insights into our faith or at least insights that seem to be expressed in a new way. The following is an example:

"When God chooses to give Godself away outside the Trinity, we speak about grace. And what happens when God gives Godself away outside the Trinity? The universe. The universe exists because God loves it completely, perfectly, absolutely at every moment. You and I exist because we are being held in being by God."

Kennedy's book is a wonderful, insightful and inspiring presentation of what it means to be a Catholic. Everyone, not just those who are not Catholic but are contemplating becoming Catholic, might profit from it. Reading Kennedy's book might cause Catholics to undergo a kind of conversion in the sense that they enter more deeply into what it means to be Catholic.

Perhaps I am just a dreamer but I can imagine people involved in the Church at least occasionally discussing the insights in these books and profiting both from reading them and talking about them. After two or three years and five or six books, we might see a kind of explosion of knowledge and grace.