If so, how does it work, how is it organized? I’m trying to put together a parish-level book reading club, really aimed at people with some college education or degrees, who can handle more work than just reading from a bible study guidebook.
I want to focus on not just the technical content of the books, but on how to use that book information for evangelization.
Specifically, how often do you meet? how does the meeting run? how large is your group? do you meet monthly? or at what intervals?
I’m part of a non-parish reading group. Our leader chooses our books. Attendance varies from a handful(5-8) of very committed readers to up to fifteen, depending on what is being read. We meet monthly on a weeknight. Our meetings run two hours and one member is charged with throwing out an opening question designed to break open the reading for discussion.
Readings are oriented around a theme or author and we take a break for literature/poetry between some of our heavier readings. (Waugh, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Francis Thompson, Walker Percy, Michael D. O’Brien might fit here for you).
Some books are read over several months. In your case, your group would find it difficult to get in depth with Augustine of Crocker in two hours for example, and thus will need to break some books into sub-components.
You might consider your readership. Is this an invitation only group or open to all parishioners? Will they actually read the books on that list, or will they become overwhelmed or lose interest and drop out? Perhaps Augustine needs to be saved for later when a bit of momentum is developed. You may have to revise your reading list as you go along to better support or challenge your membership
A lightweight start (not on your list) would be Rome Sweet Home (Hahn) and the question of conversion in our lives, Bible Basics for Catholics (Bergsma) coupled with a reading or two to open up additional ways of getting into the Bible, or Perhaps a book on the saints with each member charged with introducing him/herself via a saint or two and a discussion of the different ways these saints point us towards God. This gives people a chance to introduce themselves and gives you a feel for how you might want to develop your reading list.
In terms of evangelization, personal formation seems a sound first step. Perhaps moving towards the study of an encyclical (such as Rerum Novarum) and thinking about its implications at the micro and macro scales? Pondering distributism and thinking about how to support catholic businesses and families in your area? Creating a talent share board and encouraging parishioners to swap talents?
Back to reading, here are two links that might be helpful:
stpaulcenter.com/library/scripture/#historical-literary-study
stpaulcenter.com/library/apologetics/
May God bless you and your parishioners.
Amen.
