An initiative of The Dynamic Catholic Institute

REDISCOVER the Beauty OF CATHOLICISM

THE DYNAMIC CATHOLIC BOOK PROGRAM

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MissionTo encourage Catholics to make spiritual reading a part of their lives by making great Catholic books available for Mass distribution.

VisionOnly 1% of Catholics read a Catholic book last year. Imagine how a parish or diocese would be transformed if every Catholic read two great Catholic books each year.

By distributing low-cost copies of great Catholic books we believe we will help millions of people discover the beauty, genius, and modern relevance of Catholicism – and together we will raise morale among Catholics; engage disengaged Catholics; increase engagement among practicing Catholics; bring new life to parish communities; inspire a new generation of vocations; demonstrate how easy it is to evangelize simply by giving someone a book; and inspire Catholics to feel good about being Catholic.

In an effort to make this possible for every parish and diocese, The Dynamic Catholic Institute (TDCI) will provide two great Catholic books each year for just $2 per copy in bulk quantities, which includes the cost of shipping and handling.

Overview of the Program

The Dynamic Catholic Book Program (DCBP) begins with the distribution of books one Sunday after Mass. In hundreds of parishes this alone has been enough to spark renewed enthusiasm in the community. But, in addition to the book itself, we have developed a full range of resources to help a parish maximize the effectiveness of this initiative. These resources include: bulletin and pulpit announcements; small group discussion guides; a Bible study; homily notes; and a comprehensive set of guidelines to help you successfully launch the program.

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Benefits of the ProgramIt would be a mistake to think of this program as just passing out books. It is much more than that! The DCBP is changing the very psyche of American Catholics at this time. Parishes nationwide are experiencing higher levels of energy, engagement, and involvement in their Church community and thousands of faithful parishioners have had their faith taken to a new level as a result of implementing the DCBP.

Would you like to:

Invite & inspire the men and woman in your parish to Rediscover Catholicism?

Engage disengaged Catholics in your community?

Help fellow parishioners to feel good about being Catholic again by educating them about the Church’s incredible contribution to society for more than 2,000 years?

Energize parishioners to participate more fully in their spirituality and faith community?

Teach parishioners about the modern relevance and timeless genius of Catholicism in order to equip them to live their faith in this ever-changing world?

Ignite a desire for continuous learning among parishioners? Awaken the spirit of evangelization in your community?

Increase your Sunday collections so you can provide incredible ministry for the people of your parish?

Fill your church every Sunday like at Christmas?

These are just some of the benefits of this program. You will be amazed at the return you receive for your $2 investment. Set aside the spiritual benefits for a moment and focus just on the financial benefits.

If one person comes back to the Church because you give them a book on the way out of Church this Easter or Christmas and that book reengages them, here are the statistics: If that person is 40 years old and lives to be 80, and puts just $10 in the collection basket each week, that returning Catholic will contribute $520 over the next year...and $20,800 over the rest of his/her lifetime. That is a $20,800 return on your $2 investment.

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The Logistics We have designed a five-step process to launch the DCBP in your parish/diocese. The process will minimize the amount of time required by parish staff and volunteers while maximizing the impact of the program.

The Five-Step Implementation Process

1. Funding

Think big. Don’t let your parish budget limit the amount of books you distribute. Parishioners and priests at churches nationwide have gotten creative in their approach to securing dollars to implement the DCBP. A list of ideas that have worked well for other parishes in need of funding is provided below:

• Find four people to contribute $500 and you can gift your parish with 1,000 copies;

• Ask ten people to contribute $100 and you can gift your parish with 500 copies;

• Invite your local Knights of Columbus to sponsor this effort;

• Have your priest talk about the DCBP from the pulpit and then do a second collection to benefit this initiative in your parish;

• Reach out to all committees and ministries at your parish. Some of these groups may include: Women’s Fellowship, Men’s Fellowship, Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Musicians and Choir, Bible Study Groups, Christ Renews His Parish Communities, Adoration and Prayer Teams, Life-Teen, Theology on Tap, Youth Groups, Pre-Cana Class Participants, NFP Class Participants, RCIA Participants, Hospitality Teams, Prison Ministries, Bereavement Ministries, and Parish Council. Ask each group to help sponsor the DCBP.

• Contact local business leaders, many of whom can be found within your Church directory or the back of your weekly bulletin, and invite them to make a tax-deductible donation to your parish for the purpose of the DCBP;

• Add a ‘P.S.’ message at the end of all personal and/or church emails inviting people to support the DCBP in your community;

• Allow youth groups to host a car wash or bake sale to raise funds. Prior to their event, the young people should secure matching gifts for whatever they raise to immediately multiply their efforts; and,

• Talk about the significant impact and minimal investment of the DCBP to as many people as possible. Often times, we cannot know who may be ready to step forward with funds to help!

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We welcome any new techniques you discover to raise funds for the DCBP at your parish, so that we can share these suggestions with others. Please email your comments to Krista Athey at Krista@DynamicCatholic.com.

2. Ordering

Once you have determined the desired quantity, ordering books is easy! Simply visit www.DynamicCatholic.com/parishbookprogram. Ideally, one book should be made available for every household in your parish. Depending on how up to date your parish list is, we recommend that you order enough books for 75% of registered families. For example, if you have 1,000 registered families, we recommend you order 750 books.

More than 32% of people in your Church pews at Easter and Christmas only attend Mass these two times per year. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to reengage these people, so this should be factored in your order quantity as well. If you have any questions prior to placing your order, you may contact a member of TDCI staff at 513-766-8398. Orders may also be mailed to:

The Dynamic Catholic InstituteAttn: DCBP2330 Kemper LaneCincinnati, Ohio 45206

3. Scheduling

Schedule a date to distribute the books in your parish. The most effective time to distribute books is at Easter and Christmas for maximum impact; however, books are available year round.

4. Promotion

Place announcements in your parish bulletin leading up to the distribution of books to build anticipation in your community. Sample bulletin announcements are provided by TDCI and are located at www.DynamicCatholic.com/ParishResources. Please feel free to submit variations of these announcements that prove to effectively reach people.

Ask your pastor to read the book and consider using one or more of the homily ideas to introduce the book on the Sunday they are being distributed. It is also powerful to continue using homily ideas in the weeks following the book distribution, as people begin reading.

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Other simple ways to promote the DCBP include:

• Add information about the DCBP to your Church website;

• Invite all committees and ministries at your parish (list provided in Step 1, Funding) to spread the word about the DCBP;

• Secure a newspaper article or submit a Letter to the Editor of a local paper sharing about the DCBP in your community;

• Send an email to all parishioners prior to the Sunday Mass when books will be distributed; and,

• Hang posters at church leading up to the Sunday distribution.

5. Distribution & Volunteers

Arrange for friendly volunteers to pass the books out as people leave Church. Often times, the people who need a copy of the book may not have the courage to pick one up if they are simply left on a table for the taking, which is why it is important to add this personal touch. Volunteers should be stationed at each exit of the Church.

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Maximizing ImpactIf you really want to maximize the impact of this program in your community we recommend you pay special attention to the following:

a. Get clear about follow-up programs before you distribute the book. Schedule book studies and discussion groups at different times to suit the schedules of various participants. These programs are available from The Dynamic Catholic Institute at no cost.

b. Seriously consider distributing the books at each of your Easter and Christmas Masses. For millions of Catholics this is the only time they come to church each year… and these individuals more than most need and deserve an opportunity to rediscover the beauty and genius of our Catholic faith.

c. Order plenty of books. This is not a sales pitch. If there are not enough books, the people who need them the most will be the ones who miss out – and you will lose a valuable opportunity to re-engage them in the life of your parish.

Think big. This is an incredible opportunity to put a great Catholic book in the hands of many Catholics who do not read Catholic books.

Dream big. Imagine two or three thousand copies being passed out at your parish as people leave Church this Christmas.

Make the investment in your community and you will reap a hundred fold return.

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Costs and OrderingThe cost of the books is just $3 per copy for order quantities up to 499 and $2 per copy for quantities of 500 or more books ordered. This price includes the cost of printing, shipping and handling, as well as all promotion and follow-up resources. Books may be ordered in quantities of 44, 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000. We can also accommodate intervals of 100 books for any order in quantities greater than 500 copies.

The easiest way to place your order is by visiting www.DynamicCatholic.com/parishbookprogram. Credit card payments are secure and immediate.

If you wish to pay by check you can do so online at our website using eCheck, or you can email info@DynamicCatholic.com and request an Order Form.

Current Titles

Each year, two new titles will be made available, one at Easter and one for Christmas. Our current titles are:

• Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly• Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor by Allen Hunt• A Father Who Keeps His Promise by Scott Hahn• My Life with the Saints by Fr. James Martin, S.J.• The One Thing by Matthew Kelly

U S A $ 2 7 . 9 5 | C A N $ 2 9 . 9 5 | A U S $ 3 5 . 0 0

OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, Matthew

Kelly has seen more of the world than most

presidents and more of the Church than most

bishops. Now, in this unique and timely book,

he proposes that Catholicism is not a lifeless

set of rules and regulations, but a way of life

designed by God to help each person reach

his or her full potential. With remarkable in-

sight, Kelly dispels dozens of the myths that

surround the rejection of Catholicism today

and provides a profound and practical vi-

sion of what will lead the Catholic Church to

thrive again in the future.

Rediscover Catholicism is quickly becoming

the most read Catholic book of our times.

From the spellbinding opening story, Kelly

grips his readers and takes them on a life-

changing journey to rediscover the genius

of Catholicism.

“There are many – Catholics and non-Cath-

olics - who do not want to rediscover Ca-

tholicism. Others think that religion, and

Catholicism in particular, has no place in the

modern context. I will admit that Catholi-

cism is old. But let me ask you a question. If

you found a really old treasure map would

you throw it away just because it was old?

No. The age of a treasure map doesn’t mat-

ter. What matters is whether or not it leads

to treasure. Catholicism is a treasure map.

It may be old, but it still leads to treasure.

Let’s rediscover it together… and help oth-

ers to do the same.”

AT A TIME WHEN MANY CATHOLICS ARE

DISILLUSIONED, QUESTIONING THEIR FAITH,

AND FILLED WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THE

RELEVANCE OF CATHOLICISM IN THE MODERN

WORLD, THE VOICE OF ONE MAN CRIES OUT TO

THE WORLD’S LARGEST FAITH COMMUNITY WITH

A CLARITY THAT IS RARE AND INSPIRING.

Rediscover Catholicism, takes us on an adventure of life-changing

proportions. Beginning with our common yearning for happiness, Kelly

reveals the essence of authentic Catholic spirituality while addressing

some of the most important questions we face today both as individuals

and as a Church.

• Are you happy?

• Are you living an authentic life?

• Do you really think you will find happiness where you are looking?

• How would you like your life to change?

• What is God’s dream for your life?

• Why have so many people rejected Catholicism?

• What does it mean to walk with God in the modern world?

• Do the saints have anything to offer you?

• Is Jesus still relevant?

• Can the ancient traditions of Catholicism help us deal

with the modern challenges of our lives?

In each generation a leader comes forth who is able to

bring Christianity to life in a way that revitalizes individuals,

communities, and the universal Church. Once you experience

his bold, brilliant, practical, and inspiring style, you will soon

understand why so many people consider Matthew Kelly to be

one of the great spiritual voices of our times.

“God always wants out future to be bigger

than our past. Not equal to our past - big-

ger, better, brighter and more significant.

God wants your future and my future, and

the future of the Church, to be bigger than

the past. It is this bigger future that we need

to start to envision and imagine.”

“One of the most incredible abilities God

has given the human person is the ability to

dream. We are able to look into the future

and imagine something better than it is to-

day, and then return to the present and work

to make that richly imagined future a reality.

Who is doing this for the Church? Together,

let’s start to envision an incredible future for

the Church.”

MATTHEW KELLY is a New York Times

bestselling author of fourteen books, a world-

renown speaker, and a business consultant

to some of the worlds largest companies. To

learn more about his work visit:

www.DynamicCatholic.com

www.theBestVersionofYourself.com

www.FloydConsulting.com

COVER DESIGN: FACEOuT STuDIO

AuTHOR PHOTO: PEGGY MCHALE JOSEPH (continued on back flap)

(continued from front f lap)

Rediscover Catholicism

Matthew Kelly

A SPIRITuAL GuIDE TO LIVING

WITH PASSION & PuRPOSE

New York Times bestselling author

of The Rhythm of Life

Red

iscover C

atholicism

KE

LLY

“An extraordinary book! I have been a priest for 50 years and I don’t know

a book that has revitalized the faith of more people... or brought

more people back to the Church than Rediscover Catholicism.”

—FATHER RON RIEDER Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Church Huntington, Indiana

Rediscovering Catholicism_MECH.indd 1 11/30/10 2:32:02 PM

spiritual memoir / saints $15.95 U.S.

My Lifewith the Saints

JA M E S M A R T I N, S J“One of the best spiritual memoirs in years.”—Robert Ellsberg

M A R T I N

My Life w

ith the Saints

•

•

ISBN-13: 978-0-8294-2644-1ISBN-10: 0-8294-2644-2

One Of Publishers Weekly’s best bOOks Of the year—

Winner Of the ChristOPher aWard—

Winner Of the CathOliC Press assOCiatiOn bOOk aWard

a Publishers Weekly best bOOk Of the year

sPeCial editiOn

James Martin has led an entirely modern life: from a lukewarm Catholic childhood, to an education at the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to ministry as a Jesuit priest, to a busy media career in Manhattan. But every step of the way, he has been accompanied by some surprising friends—the saints of the Catholic Church.

Martin’s best-selling memoir encompasses saints throughout Christian history—from St. Peter to Dorothy Day, St. Francis of Assisi to Mother Teresa—and chronicles the author’s lifelong relationship with them. His witty, vibrant, and stirring stories enable readers to discover how the saints guide us throughout our earthly journeys and how they help each of us find holiness in our own lives.

“An outstanding and often hilarious memoir” —Publishers Weekly

“Remarkably engaging” —U.S. Catholic

“Delightful” —First Things

See www.LoyolaPress.com/James-Martin

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Talking Points & Desired Outcomes

• Only 1% of Catholics read a Catholic book last year. Imagine if every Catholic read two great Catholic books a year. That alone would be a game-changer for the Catholic Church in the United States.

• 32% of the people in the pews at a Catholic Church at Easter and Christmas only attend twice a year --- and so, these are our only chances to re-engage them. Sometimes a book is all it takes. Books change our lives. Don’t send them home empty-handed this Easter or Christmas.

• Is the DCBP the perfect and complete answer to re-engaging disengaged Catholics? No. Is it better than doing nothing? Yes.

• Is everyone going to read it? No. Will it change the lives of those that do? Yes.

• Is it worth the investment? Forget the spiritual benefits for a moment and focus just on the financial return for your parishes’ investment. If one person comes back to the Church because you give them a book on the way out of church this Easter and Christmas, they read it, and it re-engages them in your parish, here are the statistics: Assuming that person is 40 and lives to be 80, and puts $10 in the basket each week. That returning Catholic will contribute $520 over the next year and $20,800 over the course of the rest of his/her life. All because you distributed a $2 book!

Let’s take this one step further… if you distribute 1,000 books this Christmas and 99 of every 100 copies distributed fails to reengage someone, are you being a good steward of the gifts God has blessed you with? From a financial perspective using the above model, the ten people bought back to your parish from the 1,000 books distributed would provide a return of $206,000 for your $2,000 investment--a worthwhile financial return on your investment?

From a spiritual perspective what value does Our Lord place on returning even just one lost sheep back to the flock?

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“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” Matthew 18:12-14

This book is bringing people back to the Church. If you had to give away 500 hundred copies for one person to come back to the Church, would it be worth it?

Questions

If you have any further questions regarding the DCBP, please feel free to email Krista Athey at Krista@DynamicCatholic.com.

This project is an initiative of The Dynamic Catholic Institute.www.DynamicCatholic.com

Contact Information

The Dynamic Catholic Institute2330 Kemper LaneCincinnati Ohio 45206United States of America

Phone: 513-221-7700Email: info@DynamicCatholic.com

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What are People Saying?

“I have been away from the Church for twenty years, but last Christmas something drew me to go. On the way out of Mass everyone was handed a copy of the book and for some reason I read it. I came back to the Church because of this book.”Lindsey G. • Cincinnati, Ohio

“This book brought me back to the Church!”Mary J. • San Diego, California

“Brilliant! Whoever thought of this has gotten beyond the complexity to a simple idea that is really re-engaging Catholics.”Brian W. • Des Moines, Iowa

“This book brought my son back to the Church!”David H. • Denver, Colorado

“His friend gave the book to my husband and I never thought he would read it, but he did. This book brought my husband back to the Church!”Sally R. • Orlando, Florida

“I have been a priest for 50 years and I don’t know a book that has revitalized the faith of more people… or brought more people back to the Church.”Fr. Ron Rieder • Huntington, Indiana

“This book brought my daughter back to the Church!”Jose A. • Phoenix, Arizona

“This is the first time the Church ever gave me something tangible. I know it sounds crazy, because the Church does so much for people… but this is tangible, in my hands, and it really made me stop and think.”Jessica B. • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania