Return – How to draw your child back to the Church by Brandon Vogt

Vogt’s thoughtful and thorough analysis of why the children of faithful Catholics leave the Church, and his hugely practical “game plan” of how to respond when it becomes clear to us that those we love have lost, rejected, or never truly grasped the faith, is an excellent antidote to the despair that many Catholic parents are feeling at this time. The first part of the book helps readers gain perspective and hope about the journey their child is on, including advice about how to pray and fast for them. Another section of the book is filled with ways that parents of teenage and adult children can initiate and maintain a loving dialogue with them. The final section deals with how someone might reconnect with the Church, and gives helpful information about the common objections that stop many people from returning to the Church.

Recommended for parents preparing to send their children into the world, and also for those struggling with the choices of their adult children.

The Little Way by Judith Bouilloc and Sara Ugolotti

This charming book is a child’s introduction to the teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. It is a book in translation on two levels. First, it is beautifully translated from French; second, it is Thérèse’s journey to holiness translated into the hiking journey of Henry, a boy on his way to the summit of a mountain. Anything written in translation has an intriguing mystery around it, a feeling that greater meaning lies behind the simple story we are reading, and The Little Way is no exception. It reads like an allegory, although we know that it is in fact describing a very real spiritual journey. It’s a book to be read to children at bedtime, a book that will gently plant seeds in their minds of the greatest adventure they will ever embark upon: the journey to God. It is also a book for adults who are drawn to Thérèse and wish to walk her little way.

Recommended for children 8 and over, and for adults who want to know more about the spirituality of St. Thérèse in simple terms.

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry A. Weddell

Sherry Weddell’s book is for all those who seek to share the gospel with others. However, it takes into account the reasons for both the massive drop in mass attendance that we have witnessed over the last few decades, and the failure of so many who are in the pews to become “intentional disciples.” Intentional disciples are those that are “all in,” who have made a commitment to following Jesus that governs their life and helps them begin the journey to holiness. Weddell’s book draws on a wealth of information, including studies and surveys evaluating the successful ways that people are initiated into a lively faith, as well as countless examples of real-life parish successes (and failures) of how to draw people into discipleship. Weddell also includes a wonderful five-step description of the early stages of conversion, with advice about how to support that process sympathetically and respectfully.

Recommended for those who are involved in any church onboarding or evangelization, and for anyone seeking wisdom about helping someone move from being kindly disposed to faith to calling themselves a disciple.