CATHOLIC BOOK CLUB
OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA PARISH
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

MISSION STATEMENT:

We, as practicing Catholics, believe in and strive to follow the mandate to know, love and serve our Lord.  Through the reading and discussion of books and the watching of movies that are true and faithful to the Teachings of the Catholic Church, we will increase in knowledge of our Faith and grow in a loving relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Founder and Head of our religion.

SEPTEMBER CATHOLIC BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE

     It’s September and that means it’s time to hit the books! The Catholic Book Club will begin again to read and discuss a new series of 20 Answers books from Catholic Answers to help us learn more about our Catholic Faith. By reading and discussing these four short books which range from 72-79 pages each, we will grow in our relationship with Jesus as well as learn to defend and evangelize our Faith. 
     The Catholic Book Club meets each Monday from 7:00 - 8:15 pm in the Rectory Basement Meeting Room. Our next session will begin on Monday, September 13th with “20 Answers:  The Rosary” which reveals the history of this devotion, explains why it’s not “Mary-worship,” and shows you how to pray it more fervently to unlock the graces God offers through it. 
     If you are interested in joining the Book Club or if you have any questions, please contact Julie by calling or texting her at 508-320-2965. Once you sign up, she will be able to get the four books to you (for a total cost of $5.00) and give you the reading assignment. A complete list of the upcoming books along with descriptions is available below.
     We hope you will join us and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to grow in Faith and community here at Our Lady of Częstochowa!

20 Answers:  The Rosary

Is the rosary biblical? 

What are some of the historical signs and wonders associated with the rosary?

If Scripture says that Christ is the one mediator between God and man, isn’t it wrong to pray to Mary for her intercession?

How can praying the rosary increase our faith in God and His promises and help foster greater love and holiness in our families?

In this 73 page book written by Tom Nash, you will find smart, solid answers to these questions and many more.

Everyone recognizes the string of beads with a crucifix on the end as a symbol of Catholicism.  But the rosary is not for piety-signaling or hanging on your rearview mirror - it’s a powerful tool for prayer and meditation.  20 Answers:  The Rosary reveals the history of this devotion, explains why it’s not “Mary-worship,” and shows you how to pray it more fervently to unlock the graces God offers through it.
 

20 Answers:  Protestantism

How did Protestant Christianity begin and spread?

What are the distinctive beliefs of Protestantism, and how do they differ from Catholic teaching?

How do “non-denominational Bible churches” compare with the “mainline” branches of Protestantism?

Why are some Protestant groups anti-Catholic, and what can I do to foster better relations with them and help them understand Catholicism?

Since the Reformation, Christianity has been split into many competing groups, each differing from the others but almost all claiming to represent the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ.  How did that happen?  And how can we better understand—and work to heal—those divisions?  20 Answers: Protestantism gives you a perfect beginner’s guide to the historical roots of Protestantism, its liturgical and doctrinal flavors, and its impact on the evolution of global (and especially American) Christian culture.  Most of all, it offers proven advice for finding common ground with Protestants while sharing your own Catholic faith.

20 Answers:  The Early Church

How did the Church begin and spread? 

Why is it important to learn about early Christianity?
  
Who were the successors of the apostles and other leaders of the early Church?
   
Were the doctrines and sacraments of the early Church different from those of the Catholic Church today?
 

As Catholics we can’t truly know who we are without knowing where we came from—those earliest Christians who, succeeding Jesus and the apostles, codified and built upon the teachings they inherited.  20 Answers: The Early Church reveals the legacy of our forefathers in the Faith, showing how they lived and what they believed.  And perhaps most importantly, how the Church they governed, guarded, and preached was the same Church that Jesus founded and the same Church that we have inherited almost two millennia later. 

20 Answers:  Judaism

What are the basics of Jewish belief and practice?

How does modern Judaism differ from the Hebrew religion of the Old Testament?

Is Christianity to blame for historic anti-Semitism and for not doing enough to stop the Holocaust?

What should we do—and not do—to foster constructive dialogue with Jews about Jesus and the Catholic Church?

Judaism is the ancient foundation of Christianity, the religion of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob… and Jesus.  Yet many Catholics, perhaps intimidated by its unfamiliar terms and traditions, remain ignorant of its beliefs.  20 Answers: Judaism dispels that ignorance with a helpful overview of Judaism’s history, its forms of worship and sources of doctrine, its various movements from biblical times to today, and more.