Liguori BLOGs to create Faith Based Community

Hello:

I am currently in the midst of 3 different posts, but I switched to this one because I thought I could get it up in a hurry (hah). One of the reasons I have been too busy to post my own material lately is that I have been busy wooing others to help expand the family of Liguori Publications BLOGS. Though I have fun writing Dark Glass and I think that it does accomplish its purpose, I am convinced that the charism of the Redemptorists can only be expressed through the addition of writers who live it every day. I think it will be particularily interesting to see the unique and personal perspectives that will become apparent as new BLOGs are brought on-line.

I have grand plans for this BLOG strategy and envision contributing writers from all slices of life. In the not too distant future, we should have at least one Spanish language writer, a couple of semi-retired priests, an author and a few members of the laity contributing this scheme. My hope is to create a Faith Based Community where anyone of any faith or ideal can question, learn and interact.

As in most things, to build large - you must start small. We began with the Liguori Press Release BLOG, which may be the dryest BLOG on the entire web. Then we added Dark Glass. Dark Glass lacks theological perspective, but demonstrates how a BLOG can interact with the outside world. Next came Saintly Sinner that comes closest to being an extension of the Redemptorist's work. TBS Bookviews was our last addition, but again is pretty dry and doesn't make for very engaging reading.

The next phase of the project is almost here. Some time after Thanksgiving, I expect to bring a warm and personal BLOG on-line that will be written by the same lady who administers the TBS Bookviews site. [Name withheld] has worked with the Redemptorists in varying capacities for more than a decade and is close to our editorial process here. She has a rich family life and adorable grandchildren. She will be able to relate to readers in a way that I cannot.

In early January we should open the doors on a unique mystical experience as Br. Secundo Pia Colobanus D'Silva is lured from hiding in his Oconomowoc retreat center to share himself with the wider world. Trust me, this one will be a trip that absolutely anyone is sure to enjoy and learn from. [11-22-05 For once, we are ahead of schedule. Please take a look at Mystic Alchemy]

I'm working on others and hope to have some more announcements soon. I really think the quality of the upcoming writers will be top notch and worth reading. Today I'm going to close by featuring A Presence that Disturbs: A Call to Radical Discipleship by Anthony J. Gittins, C.Ss.P. I don't usually copy the description text for a book but I thought this dovetailed nicely with today's topic and resonants with the themes that have been emerging from our focus group.

This powerful, moving and "disturbing" book looks at the contemporary issues
that block the attainment of a revitalized Church--a Church united rather than
fragmented, a Church tuned to justice for all rather than to provincial myopia.
A Presence That Disturbs will engage the general reader and the specialist alike
with a fresh perspective on what it means to follow Christ.

Peace,

P. Del Ricci - Dark Glass