The First Five Years of Priesthood by Dean R. Hoge
Reports indicate that many newly ordained men are feeling demoralized and some are resigning. The accounts raised many questions. How widespread is the problem? What difficulties are the recently ordained priests facing? Is the problem due to changes in lay attitudes or to changes in the ordained themselves? Is the situation different from what it was ten or twenty years ago?
The First Five Years of the Priesthood is a collaborative work of the National Federation of Priests' Councils and the Life Cycle Institute of The Catholic University of America that considers this phenomenon. It explores the experience of early priesthood and is based on a pilot survey of two groups - recently ordained priests active in service and those who have resigned.
The research team minimized interpretative work on the findings and engaged credible voices in American Catholic life to write commentaries on the implications of the findings. The First Five Years of the Priesthood includes both the research findings and commentaries.
Chapters are The Setting of the Priesthood Today," "Attitudes of Newly Ordained Active and Resigned Priests," "What Makes for Satisfied Newly Ordained Priests?" "Four Types of Resigned Priests," "Life Experiences of Newly Ordained Active and Resigned Priests," and "Recommendations Made by the Priests."
Dean R. Hoge is a professor in the department of sociology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He has done sociological research serving American churches for 31 years and has authored several books and articles on American religion.
Experiences of Priests Ordained Five to Nine Years by Dean R. Hoge
A study of recently ordained Catholic priests, the book includes six commentaries from researchers and priests developing different aspects of the findings. The eight chapters are short and readable, with charts and tables presenting the data. The first chapter is a summary of major findings. This book is for people doing ministry formation in the Catholic community, ordained or not ordained, vocation ministry or continuing education or clergy at universities or seminaries.
International Priests in America: Challenges And Opportunities by Dean R. Hoge
Foreign-born priests have always played a significant role in America. Only from 1940 to 1960 did the church produce enough native-born priests to serve its parishes. In the past, those priests usually came from Europe, most notably Ireland. In the future, most of the world will be served by priests from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, particularly India and Nigeria. Sixteen percent of the priests serving in the United States since 1985 are foreign-born and the number is rising. But many Americans prefer not to have them in their churches, saying the language and cultural differences are too great, and the screening isn't sufficient. Who Will Lead Mass? Illuminates the voices of parishioners, lay ministers, diocesan leaders, as well as priests, as this phenomenon is studied. This groundbreaking book is guided by two questions: Should the Catholic Church in the United States bring in more international priests? If so, how should this be done? Dean Hoge and Aniedi Okure, O.P., renowned researchers, provide new data. In conclusion four additional commentators spell out the implications and findings.
Bounce: Overcoming Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Cassandra Gaisford
From the best-selling author of Mid-Life Career Rescue, Stress Less and How to Find Your Passion and Purpose: a powerful, inspiring, and practical book about boosting resilience, overcoming obstacles and moving forward after life’s inevitable setbacks.
Are you feeling flat? Despondent? Stressed or lacking energy? If so, you’ve come to the right place. It’s time to turn up the volume and get your vitality back.
Bounce offers short, sound-bites of stand-alone readings designed to help you cultivate resilience and awareness amid the challenges of daily living.
Gently, conversationally, and with humor, Bounce: Overcoming Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy offers strategies for seeing and thinking differently. For many people, the approach is nothing less than transformational.
More than a collection of thoughts for the day, Bounce: Overcoming Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy offers a progressive program of holistic—mental, emotional, physical and spiritual—study, guiding you through essential concepts, themes, and practices on the path to well-being, joy, and happiness.
The teachings are gently humorous, sometimes challenging, occasionally provocative, but always compassionate and kind, and, seemingly infinitely wise.
Words Made Flesh: Scripture, Psychology and Human Communication Fran Ferder
Reflective, insightful, and useful, this enduring favorite sucessfully integrates solid scriptual research with contemporary psychological insights. All those interested in communications skills and better relationships will find it useful.