Priestly Ministry and the People of God: Hopes and Horizons

Overview

 "And the people of God say: Amen! A brilliant practical theological examination of the Catholic priesthood. Both the process and the content of this book can lead us to a better future.”  —Kathleen A. Cahalan, Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, author, Introducing the Practice of Ministry

 “This book is like a well-tuned and multi-layered orchestra voicing the future of the Church and the ministries that will enable it to flourish. We have long needed fresh and deep thinking about the priesthood involving all the people of God. Courageous in reimagining new ways of theologising about priesthood, Priestly Ministry and the People of God is essential reading for anyone interested in the leadership of the Church and the formation of its ministers and priests.”—Maeve Louise Heaney, President, Australian Catholic Theological Association

 “There is no more pressing topic for scholarly as well as pastoral consideration in the Church at this time than the future of priesthood and ministry. If you have any doubts then read this book. The fresh approach to questions simultaneously ancient and new is engaging, creative, and thought-provoking.”—Eamonn Conway, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick

A group of leading Catholic scholars, seminary rectors, a cardinal, and a bishop consider ways of transforming priestly ministry in response to a document created by a Boston College faculty seminar, “To Serve the People of God: Renewing the Conversation on Priesthood, and Ministry.” Transforming Priestly Ministry presents the hopes and horizons for the future of the priesthood in the Catholic Church.

 Thomas H. Groome is Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College for over forty years; recognized worldwide as a senior scholar in the field.  Author of some ten widely distributed and translated books, including What Makes Us Catholic (HarperCollins, 2003) and Will There Be Faith (HarperOne 2011).  Chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry in BC’s School of Theology and Ministry and former Director of BC’s Church in 21st Century Center. He is a member of St. Ignatius parish at Boston College.

Richard Lennan is a priest of the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Australia) and is Professor of Systematic Theology and Professor Ordinarius in the STM, where he chairs the Ecclesiastical Faculty. Richard has a doctorate in theology from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, where his dissertation was on Karl Rahner’s ecclesiology. He currently serves on the editorial board of Theological Studies. He assists with weekend liturgies in Divine Mercy parish in Quincy, MA.

Richard R. Gaillardetz was the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College and the current chair of the BC Theology department.  Dr. Gaillardetz previously taught at the University of Toledo from 2001 to 2011 as the Thomas and Margaret Murray and James J. Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Toledo and at the Graduate School of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston from 1991 to 2001. He has published numerous articles and has authored or edited thirteen books.