July 8, 2010  For Immediate Release:  New Ave Maria Press High School Textbooks Receive Catechism Conformity  Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce the release of two textbooks that have been found in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and are intended for the freshman level courses of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' new curriculum framework. ...

NOTRE DAME, IN--In the tradition of Teilhard de Chardin and Thomas Berry, Judy Cannato invites spiritual seekers to embrace the way in which an understanding of religion and the spiritual path is informed and illumined by cutting-edge science. Cannato's newest book is a must-read for those interested in how the new cosmology and the Christian story can be understood in harmony with one another. ...

Notre Dame, IN--In November of 2007 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops unanimously approved a new Curriculum Framework for the development of catechetical materials for young people of high school age. Continuing its commitment to producing top-quality religious education textbooks and resources, Ave Maria Press is pleased to announce the release of Catholic Essentials: An Overview of the Faith by Michael Amodei, the very first handbook of the Catholic faith written to the outline of the new Framework. ...

Notre Dame, IN--Currently in the U.S., there are over 30,000 lay ecclesial ministers serving the Catholic Church, and another 16,000 studying in ministry formation programs--nearly five times the number of men preparing for ordination to the priesthood. ...

NOTRE DAME, IN--Msgr. Charles M. Murphy's The Spirituality of Fasting explores the meaning and practice of fasting through multiple approaches. Murphy has studied and reflected upon the purpose of fasting for many years and was able to discuss the issue personally with Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Walter Kasper. ...

Notre Dame, IN--Parish-proven and customizable for diverse audiences, The Bereavement Ministry Program provides everything needed to begin and nurture a parish-based program of bereavement care for individuals and families. New and seasoned ministers alike will benefit from the wisdom, sensitivity, and expertise of Jan Nelson and David Aaker in meeting the needs of those in their communities who experience loss. ...

NOTRE DAME, IN--Noted spiritual guide and author Christine Valters Paintner offers a rich exploration of the four elements--water, wind, earth, and fire--and sheds light on how meaningful engagement with the natural world can enhance the experience of Christian prayer. ...

Notre Dame, IN- According to America magazine, "The most important Catholic group that you may never have heard of is the Sant'Egidio community." National Catholic Reporter stated that Sant'Egidio has managed "to broker peace accords in war-ravaged countries, pressure the United Nations to pass a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, and run one of the most successful anti-AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa. ...

Notre Dame, IN-- In the wake of The Cross, Our Only Hope, and The Gift of the Cross, this accessible Advent resource offers a scripture verse and brief reflection for each day of Advent and the Christmas season; it also makes an affordable introduction to the themes of the Holy Cross spiritual tradition. ...

Pope Benedict Announces June 2009-2010 as "The Year for the Priest": Expert on Clergy and Religious to Release Book on Priestly Devotion to Eucharist Notre Dame, IN--On March 16, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared a year of the priest in an effort to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests. ...

Notre Dame, IN- What began in 1979 as a response to a random bulletin board posting would ultimately change Sister Marilyn Lacey's life--and the lives of countless refugees. In vivid prose, Sister Lacey narrates her twenty-five year spiritual journey of work with those displaced by conflict and disaster. ...

NOTRE DAME, IN--Drawing from the deep tradition of the Catholic faith, Lisa Hendey coaches Catholic moms in how to care for themselves--heart, mind, body, and soul--so that they can better love and care for their families, their neighbors, and their Church. ...

Notre Dame, IN-- Dom Jean Leclercq, O.S.B., who accompanied Thomas Merton on his final trip to Thailand, wrote that Merton "had developed a style that spoke to a great number of his contemporaries." He was convinced that READ MORE ...

NOTRE DAME, IN--At a time when Mass attendance, Confession, and the celebration of Catholic weddings are all declining, Msgr. Peter Vaghi strives to bring the focus of the Catholic faith and teaching back to the sacraments. Msgr. Vaghi's newest book, The Sacraments We Celebrate explores the scriptural foundation, history, and symbolism of each sacrament. ...

Notre Dame, IN- Following The Cross, Our Only Hope, this Lenten meditation book features daily reflections by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, including Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.; John I. Jenkins, C.S.C; and Mary Ellen Vaughn, C.S.C. Scripture verses and brief, insightful reflections are included for each day, starting on Ash Wednesday and continuing through the Saturday after Easter. ...

Notre Dame, IN--Just after Thomas Merton's death in 1968, Catholic social activist Catherine de Hueck Doherty wrote to Merton's abbot: "In some strange mysterious way I never quite understood, [he] was in part my spiritual son." This friendship originated when Merton worked at Doherty's Friendship House in Harlem, and this volume of warm, candid correspondence traces nearly three decades of friendship through thirty-one surviving letters--fourteen written by Merton, and seventeen by Doherty. ...

Notre Dame, IN - In 1991, Pope John Paul II introduced a new Bible-based interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. Building on a growing worldwide interest in this interpretaton, best-selling authors Amy Welborn and Michael Dubriel [read more] ...

Notre Dame, IN-- Praying Our Goodbyes has touched the lives of countless readers, helping to heal the hurts caused by goodbyes and the anxieties encountered with difficult life changes. Twenty years after its first release, Rupp's most popular book continues to heal and inspire in times of particular turbulence and change. ...

Notre Dame, IN--The Recollected Heart, recently updated and back in print, is the essential guide for incorporating the pattern of The Rule of St. Benedict into a spiritually refreshing retreat--without leaving home. Written over fifteen hun?dred years ago and freshly interpreted by such contemporary writers as Kathleen Norris, Joan Chittister, Esther de Waal, and Macrina Wiederkehr, The Rule and its model of monastic spirituality have shaped our world and provided countless pil-grims a method of prayer that never goes out of style. ...

Notre Dame, IN- Blending insights from Christian contemplative practice and contemporary psychology, Dr. Robert J. Wicks--well-known speaker, therapist, and spiritual guide--introduces what he calls "prayerfulness," a way of being truly in the present to experience God and life in dynamic new ways. ...