While most parishes struggle to attract young members, Saint Clement Parish in Chicago stands out with a mostly young adult congregation. Father Peter Wojcik’s preaching style could explain some of its success.
Preach
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A preacher should offer the congregation a challenge—not cheap grace
Listen to Gemma’s homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B, in which she explains how her experience of poverty in Brazil gave radical significance to Christ’s words: “Make your home in me as I make mine in you.”
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Bishop Stowe preaches on the climate crisis for Good Shepherd Sunday
On this week’s episode of “Preach,” Bishop Stowe shares how he connects the image of the Good Shepherd from the Gospels to the climate crisis.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
To be a good preacher, pray more and read widely
Good preaching requires mastery of rhetoric, particularly the tools of repetition and organization, says John Baldovin, S.J. But also, he adds with hyperbolic emphasis, “you have to read, read, read, read, read and pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.”
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Striking a chord: The debate on singing in the homily
“The idea of a preacher who sings as a part of their homily is part of many African American cultural traditions,” explains Kim Harris. “The songs carry so many of our stories, hopes, and beliefs, and what we’re thinking about and believing and preaching about.”
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‘Beyond the edges of humanity’: A Good Friday homily from the frontlines of war
Right there at the cross, in Jesus, our humanity doesn’t fall beyond its edges. Even there, even then, he continues to love. And even in that dense darkness—or loneliness—that he experiences as a human being, he doesn’t let himself forget that he is loved too.
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When preparing to preach, treat your homily like music
Ed Foley, O.F.M. Cap., discusses how, when preparing one of his homilies, he meticulously annotates his manuscript, like a conductor’s score. “Where’s the crescendo? Where’s the pause? When do the trumpets come in?”
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Ukraine military chaplain: Preaching hope to a world at war on Good Friday
When reflecting on the life, death and resurrection of the Lord while living in a state of military invasion and active war, “everything becomes more authentic,” and “God ceases to be just a concept,” says Andriy Zelinskyy, S.J. “He really becomes a source of life and all hope for you and for those who are around you.”
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
A Preacher’s Guide to Holy Week: These are long liturgies. Be brief!
The “Preach” team sought the expertise of two esteemed liturgical scholars and practitioners, Kim Harris and John Baldovin, S.J., to give preachers a whistle-stop tour of the readings and liturgies for this sacred week.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Father Rob Galea’s preaching strategies for reaching disengaged youth
“Explain the resurrection to me in two minutes without using any church language.” This is the challenge that Father Rob Galea tells “Preach,” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., he sets for his staff to ensure they can easily relate to the young people they serve.