Mary Elizabeth Sperry - Scripture in the Parish: A Guide for Catholic Ministry

A more biblically literate Catholic Church means a more vibrant Catholic community in the midst of the world. Mary Sperry does a tremendous job making the sacred Scriptures more accessible. A deeper appreciation for the Word of God will help bring about a deeper renewal in the Church today, in particular, biblical prayer ( lectio divina ), leads to a more intimate relationship with the Risen Christ. This book will be a great resource for both parish ministers and the ministries entrusted to their care, as well as any person desiring to become more biblically literate.

Deeply rooted in the magisterial documents of the Church, Mary Sperry has provided a superb primer to understanding the importance of the Bible in the Church. She reminds us that Scripture should never be an add on or extra element to anything that the Church does, particularly at the parish level, but rather, the Bible must be an integral part of parish life. Most helpful are the Ministry Spotlight sections, which provide useful tips for those engaged in the various parish ministries. So, pick this book up, read it, and when you are finished, use what you have learned to bring Scripture to the heart of your local parish.

I will gladly recommend this compact, practical volume to catechists, those in programs of formation for ministry, and those already involved in Scripture study groups. It provides easily digestible ingredients that taken together will help ministers serve an appetizing dish to those who want to feast at the table of Gods Word but sometimes feel intimidated by what seems to be a large menu. Clear writing style, useful and relevant information about the purpose, content, and interpretation of the Bible, and suggested ways to address the questions or needs of various groups (RCIA teams and participants, youth, catechists, homilists, baptized adults, music ministers, etc.) make for an extremely useful guide.

Cover design and illustration TurnStyle Imaging, Inc.

Excerpts from documents of the Second Vatican Council are from Vatican Council II: The Basic Sixteen Documents , by Austin Flannery, OP 1996 (Costello Publishing Company, Inc.). Used with permission.

Excerpt from the English translation of Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests, and of Deacons 2000, 2002, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Excerpts from Preaching the Mystery of Faith copyright 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

2013 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, microfiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint Johns Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sperry, Mary Elizabeth.

2013019806

To the often underappreciated women and men

who staff our parishes with love, commitment,

and professionalism,

most especially my beloved sister, Kathy,

who has served the people of Saint Catherine

Laboure Parish

for more than a quarter of a century.

Contents

Acknowledgments

This book was written in the months surrounding my fathers death. My dad, William Francis Sperry, taught me to write and always expressed interest in my writing projects. In one of our final conversations, he talked me through writers block. I love you and miss you, Papa.

Nothing I have accomplished in my life, including this book, would have been possible without the loving support of my mother, Katherine. I love you, Mom. You are my hero. My sisters, Carol Ann and Kathy, provided invaluable support and encouragement. And thank you to Hershey, the best dog in the world, who knows nothing but how to love.

Very special thanks are due to Father Neil Sullivan, one of the finest priests I have ever known. His compassion and pastoral care for the people in his charge inspire and humble me. You have my deepest respect. Many thanks to Father Bob Lubic, another wonderful priest, who read the entire book and gave me good advice. If you worry about the future of the priesthood, I wish you could meet these men. They love God and his people so much.

Thank you to Dr. Trish Sullivan Vanni for her enthusiasm about acquiring this book and to Barry Hudock and Andy Edwards for bringing it to birth. Thanks as well for your patience, compassion, and flexibility.

I am grateful to Helen Osman and Paul Henderson, my supervisors at USCCB, who make it possible for me to write about the love of my life, the Bible.

Thank you to my Facebook friends who crowd-sourced the Appendix. I couldnt have done it without you! See, social media can be a good thing.

My thanks to my friends who let me bounce ideas off them, who listened to me complain, and who always believed that Id produce something worth reading: Jennifer, Lisa, Vicki, Noreen, David, Stephen, Evette, Rae Ann, Chris, and Lisa.

And to Henry, my godson: as I wrote this book, you were growing beneath and within your mothers heart, waiting to be born. You dont know it yet, but you inspire me to be a better and more faith-filled person. I cant wait to meet you!

Introduction

Its almost impossible to overstate the importance of the Bible in the life of the Catholic Church. The Bible is an essential part of the eucharistic liturgy and is part of every sacramental celebration. It underlies church teaching, illuminating and illustrating the truths of the faith.

Despite the Bibles importance in the church, the Christian faith is not a religion of the book. Christianity is the religion of the Word of God, a word which is not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living ( Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] 108). As Christians, we do not place our faith in a collection of words written over the centuries. Instead, we believe in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who became flesh and lived and died as one of us. A relationship with Jesus, built on the foundation of love, must be the center of each Christians life. Those who serve the people of God in any ministry, ordained or lay, professional or volunteer, temporary or long-term, must base their ministry in their relationship with Christ, the one High Priest.