Matt Rousso – New Orleans/Gulf South Chapter

We have begun a “Pope Francis Reading Club” in the New Orleans area to encourage Affiliates and as many people as possible to be in touch with the creative, visionary, and challenging thinking of our wonderful Pope Francis. We will only occasionally read a book by the Pope. Most of the time we will read copies of recent talks, homilies or excerpts from interviews he has given.

A highly enthusiastic group of 20 people helped develop the plan for the reading club. We will meet once a month at the Archdiocesan Retreat Center (the Cenacle), in Metairie, LA, on Monday evenings from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. There is no fee but we may make an occasional small free-will offering for the use of the Cenacle, the copy machine, etc.

For the month of August we are asking members to read The Joy of the Gospel, written in 2013, in which Pope Francis gives his fundamental vision for the church and society and includes most if not all of the issues he will deal with in more depth during his following years as Pope. We will discuss The Joy of the Gospel Monday, August 26. Our September meeting will be Monday, September 30.

If you are interested in joining the Pope Francis Reading Club and need a copy of The Joy of the Gospel or would like more information, please contact Matt Rousso: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.. 

The text is also available online: "Evangelii Gaudium".

We hope you will join us for what we believe will be a most fulfilling and enriching experience. If you don’t live in the New Orleans area and want to read along with the us you could email your comments or questions on the readings to Matt who might be able use them at their meeting.

As we struggle to make appropriate responses to the situations in our families, in our neighborhoods, and in the world, Cultivating Nonviolence offers alternatives. Affiliates  are invited to learn more online and in person about nonviolence. The Cultivating Nonviolence program was developed for JustFaith in conjunction with Maryknoll and Pax Christi. It will help us to:

• Develop personal peace,
• Learn more about nonviolence,
• Use nonviolence in all our relationships,
• Envision a better world.

The eight-week October/November session consists of:

• On-line readings and videos,
• Personal and virtual discussions, and
• Nonviolent practices to stretch our capabilities.

Each week we will share our thoughts and learnings through conference calls, emails, and Facebook.

We will read key sections of the engaging book, Personal Nonviolence, A Practical Spirituality for Peacemakers, by Gerhard A. Vandehaar. Copies can be ordered through Amazon, or we will email copies of short sections.

Contact Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss (Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.) for information or to register.

Affiliate Book Group

 

The Affiliate Book Group resumes April 2019!

Come join us. We suggest reading and discussing ~

Choosing Peace
edited by Marie Dennis

 

(https://www.orbisbooks.com/choosing-peace.html)

 

Email Bob at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo. with your best day
and time for a weekly telephone conversation, and any
additional books or authors you’d like us to consider.

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Take a Starring Role!

How do you participate in your chapter?

Some possibilities:

• Prepare meeting sections, i.e., Spirituality.
• Invite new members.
• Lead a book/article discussion.
• Take notes and write a meeting report.
• Suggest possible new actions.
• Organize a potluck meal.
• Take your turn as Chapter Coordinator.

Your chapter appreciates your involvement!

Our fourth Book Group session will begin soon after Easter. We need your help to determine good times to meet and to select a book to read and discuss. The committee has come up with four possible titles:

• Faith in the Face of Empire

• A Sense of Wonder

• Thomas Berry, Selected Writings

• Flannery O’Connor, Spiritual Writings

Check out these and more Orbis Books at: http://www.orbisbooks.com. We also welcome your suggestions. To join a group, please contact Bob Short at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..

If our telephone book group doesn’t work for you, an alternative is available. Robert Ellsberg, Orbis Books publisher, has recently announced:

For those who enjoy Orbis books, and look forward to the type of spiritual and theological engagement reflected in this month’s new titles, we invite you to join our new Orbis Book Club.

Next month we’ll be launching this new reading club on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/orbisbooks), beginning with Jim Forest’s acclaimed work, At Play in the Lions’ Den: A Memoir and Biography of Daniel Berrigan.

Members will receive a discount and an opportunity to interact with the author and other readers. Help us spread the word!

This fall, book groups will be reading Trails of Hope and Terror by Miguel de la Torre (http://www.orbisbooks.com/trails-of-hope-and-terror.html). The seven conference call “meetings” run from Sept. 8th (Friday 1:00 pm ET … 10:00 am PT) through October 20th. Email Bob Short: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.. Join us if you can!

What book would you like to read next? Both current and potential book discussion group members are invited to suggest titles. We have found Orbis Books (www.orbisbooks.com) to be an excellent source, with the advantage of their 40% discount for Maryknoll Affiliates and book group members.

The next book group session begins in September. Readers will be contacted by email to help choose the book and their preferred meeting time. Previously, book groups met via free conference calls on Tuesday or Friday mornings or Sunday evenings. Additional times can be arranged if a person volunteers to act as contact person. To add your name to the list of readers and receive book group emails, to suggest a book, or to volunteer as a contact person, please email Bob Short at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..

• Book Group: If you want to participate in a new Affiliate Book Group in the fall, or if you would be able to coordinate a book group, contact Executive Coordinator Bob Short at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..

• Book Suggestions: Post your ideas for a good summer read at the Maryknoll Affiliates Facebook page. If you have a suggestion for a book for next fall’s book group, contact Bob.

• Book Reviews: The NSFA would love to publish your book review – tell us what you liked or didn’t like about your latest read. Send it to Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo..