Family Books

Praying Together: Ideas for Developing Family Prayer in Your Home by Karla Hardersen.

Parents are their children's first catechists and formators in the faith. Praying Together offers parents and families insights into how they might make prayer a more intrinsic part of their daily life and foster an understanding of prayer as communication and relationship with God. This book will help families develop ritual moments of prayer together at home as well as help foster a greater attention to the presence of God in everyday life.

978-1-61671-428-4 | Paperback | 6 x 9 | 112 pages | Language: English

What's the difference between being a grandparent and being a Catholic grandparent? You'll find the answer to this question and much more The Catholic Grandparents Handbook. This book offers ideas and inspiration on how you can incorporate faith, hope, love, and fun into your relationship with your grandchildren. Topics such as the importance of prayer, sharing faith, passing on family history, and preserving family traditions are explored. You'll also find valuable advice on helping grandchildren through difficult times, supporting grandchildren who are unchurched, and building strong relationships even when grandchildren live far away. Whether you are an experienced grandparent or awaiting the arrival of your first grandchild, this handbook will support and affirm you as you grow in your role as a Catholic grandparent. 

Author: Lorene Hanley Duquin

ISBN: 918-1-59325-329-5

232 Pages

Paperback 8x5.25

This book is a practical, encouraging guide for “the rest of us”: Catholic parents that want to impart the faith to their children but aren’t quite sure where to start. Topics include leading by example, having conversations about faith, reading the Bible as a family, learning about the Saints, praying together, learning what the Mass means, celebrating special/feast days and liturgical seasons (Advent, Lent), and finding community with other Catholic families. Tommy and Karen emphasize that this a doable task and, with humor, let the reader know that there will be plenty of “fails” along the way but not to give up trying to develop a faith-filled family life. 

Authors: Tommy and Karen Tighe

ISBN 978-1-59325-350-9

Binding Softcover

Size 8 x 5.25 Inches 

Why is My Teenager feeling like this?: A Guide for helping teens through Anxiety and Depression by Author  David Murray

"Helps parents to guide their teens through anxiety and depression with biblical and practical solutions"--  

Have you ever looked at your anxious or depressed teenage son or daughter and wondered,  Why is my teenager feeling like this?

In this companion guide to his book for teens  Why Am I Feeling Like This?, pastor and counselor David Murray offers spiritual encouragement and practical direction for parents and other adults who want to help but don't know where to start. Structured around eighteen real-life examples, Murray provides tips for having open conversations with teens about anxiety and depression, as well as discussion questions, Bible verses for memorization, and prayers. With these tools in hand, parents and teenagers alike will be equipped to experience freedom from the chains of anxiety and depression.

In this accessible work, Pastors Chandler (Steps Leader Kit) and Griffin lay out a plan for Christian parents to foster vibrant faith in their children. The authors describe their book as a guide for implementing intentional spiritual leadership in the home--rather than a traditional parenting how-to--and open by explaining, "Your child's faith does not rise or fall based on how well you follow the precepts of this book, nor does it depend on your proficiency as a parent." The authors caution readers not to compare themselves to other families, suggest Christ's grace is the key component to developing a life of faith, and emphasize that leadership is modeled by daily interactions and ordinary routines that focus on three aspects of life: time (habitual scriptural learning), moments ("taking advantage of opportunities to communicate God's truth"), and milestones (working toward goals). Included are tips for bringing "rhythm and intentionality" into daily routines, such as during meals, commutes, and children's bedtime routines. Scripture, questions for reflection, and charts for weekly and monthly family plans, appear throughout. Showing that "it is never too soon and it is never too late to start discipling your household," this useful guide will provide Christian parents activities and motivation for creating a Christ-centered home environment.  

Family - A circle of strength, founded on faith, joined in love, kept by God.

Wall Plaque with wire & floral accent.

Before You Split: Find What You Really Want for the Future of Your Marriage

No one ever stops being a mom or a dad. So when our children become adults, we still worry about them and want to care for them. One way we can still care for them is to lift them up in prayer. When we do so, God's love for them and for us Is unleashed. We are able to replace our concern with a love that comes from the heart of God. Our Father moves mountains of worry and discouragement, leaving new refreshment and delight in its place. This book is designed for parents who want to pray for their adult sons and daughters with the kind of power that makes a real difference in matters of the heart. 
Gives parents hope, encouragement, and a renewed commitment to pray and to relate lovingly to their adult sons and daughters.
Addresses the desire to be a better parent and shows how parents can best pray for specific needs.
Each chapter ends with a series of questions for reflection and introduces a "prayer skill" that will enable parents to persist in prayer and try new ways of praying for their adult sons and daughters.

Authors: John & Therese Boucher

ISBN: 978-1-59325-207-6

184 Pages 

Paperback 8 x 5.25 Inches 

Take it from people who know! Being a special needs parent comes with deep, often unexpected challenges that can shake your faith to the core. Drawing from their personal experience, David and Mercedes Rizzo share openly the myriad challenges of parenting a special needs child, while offering grace-filled counsel on practical steps you can take and suggested prayers to invite God into your situation. Topics include finding doctors and specialists who will treat your child with respect and kindness; advocating for your child's individualized education plan; preparing your child to receive the Sacraments; giving attention to your marriage and your other children; and preparing your child for adulthood.

Face your challenges with the power of prayer! For every parent and caretaker of a special needs child, this resource will build your faith and offer practical ways to incorporate hope and prayer into your daily life. 

Authors: David & Mercedes Rizzo

ISBN 978-1-59325-340-0

Binding Softcover

Size 8 x 5.25 

In her book In the Mystery's Shadow, Susan Swetnam draws on her experience serving thousands of ill and dying clients, often in hospice programs, as a certified massage therapist-and also on her experience of caring for her own husband, who died young of cancer. She explains how this sometimes difficult work offers not just the fulfillment of giving comfort to people who need it, but also moments of breathtaking wonder, moments that hint at the untold complexity of being human and affirm our sacred connections with each other. She writes of the hard lessons caregivers learn about themselves, while at the same time knowing the strange and humbling sense of being used in the service of God's love. Insightfully connecting end-of-life care with the liturgical year, Swetnam invites those who care for the sick and dying, whether professional or volunteer, to stay awake to the sacred implications of their labors.

Paperback 168 pgs , 5 3/8 x 8 1/4 

Publication Date: 06/15/2019

As a young Christian woman, do you struggle with insecurities and feel bogged down by the pressures and expectations of society? Do you find it challenging to take care of yourself and be a faithful daughter of God?

Emily Wilson Hussem used to feel the same way. In Go Bravely, the Catholic musician and speaker offers twenty bits of advice that will equip you to tackle your deepest concerns about relationships, self-esteem, and dating while strengthening your faith at the same time.

"Sometimes even the smallest acts of living out faith require great bravery."

In Go Bravely, Wilson Hussem offers readers warm and friendly encouragement as she shares her experiences with other young women as their youth minister as well as her own struggles with insecurity, relationships, loving and forgiving herself, and living her faith. You"ll feel right at home as she challenges you to be a light in the world while simultaneously offering you easy-to-digest advice on your most pressing questions.

Author: Emily Wilson Hussem

Format: Paperback

Pages: 160

Trim size: 5.x 8.inches

On-sale date: April 27, 2018

Dan DeMatte, former star of the A&E reality series God or the Girl, and his wife, Amber, unlock the keys to marital happiness and saintly holiness by guiding you on a thirty-three-day, at-home study for couples that will not only strengthen your marriage but also reenergize your relationship with God and improve your entire family"s walk with Jesus. The retreat will help you incorporate the virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience into your marriage so you can become the spouse, parent, and Catholic you"ve always wanted to be.

The ultimate goal for the Christian life is heaven, but what path should a couple take to get there?

The DeMattes, who have worked together in youth and family ministry for more than fifteen years, believe it"s holiness living as Jesus did.

Giving and receiving love and living for the sake of others especially your spouse and children will help you achieve holiness, the DeMattes say. You can even find holiness in the everyday tasks of marriage and family life such as doing the dishes, changing diapers, and cleaning up messes.

In The Three Secrets to Holiness in Marriage, the DeMattes walk you through a thirty-three -day retreat that culminates in consecrating your marriage to Christ. They will help you achieve perfect love for each other, your family, and God by incorporating the virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience into your life. This retreat will help you fall deeper in love with Christ, your spouse and children, and the world God calls you to serve.

Each chapter includes discussion questions and a prayer for couples.

Author: Dan and Amber DeMatte

Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

Trim size: 6 x 9 inches

ISBN: 978-1-59471-799-4

On-sale date: March 16, 2018

Ready for College: Everything You Need to Know

In high school you live with your parents. In college you live with your friends. In high school a ten-page paper was a bear. In college it's a gift. The people you thought were nerds in high school are okay in college. With everything from how to say good-bye to mom and dad, to tips for getting along with a difficult roommate, Ready for College gives first-time college students what they need to succeed. Michael Pennock offers some wise warnings and advice to help students make an easy transition from high school to college. More than just the nuts and bolts, Ready for College shows adolescents that college is a time to develop a sense of self, not bound by previous ties, yet intimately connected with the love and lessons of family life.Ready for College provides a spiritual dimension, encouraging college students to develop an ongoing relationship with God through the practice of their faith. This book is a must read before first-time students move to college and register for the first semester of classes.

Author: Michael Pennock

ISBN: 9781893732926

6" x 9" Paperback

160 pages

Then Comes Baby: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Three Years of Parenthood

Greg and Lisa Popcak popular Catholic authors, radio hosts, and marriage and family experts present this unique guide to caring for one"s baby, self, marriage, and spiritual life in the first three years of parenthood.

In Then Comes Baby: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Three Years of Parenthood, Greg and Lisa Popcak lend readers the benefit of their twenty-five years" experience in parenting and marriage and family counseling to help them navigate the earliest years of parenthood. They recommend rituals, routines, and tips on how to manage feeding, fatigue, and finances and how also to prioritize marital bonding and faith life, suggesting that setting the pattern early will pay dividends later. The Popcaks coach Catholic couples as they become first-time parents as they adjust to their new identities and help them face the inevitable challenges of parenthood with ideas for bonding with babies and getting sufficient sleep and nutrition all while seeing these everyday experiences through the lens of Catholic teaching on the purpose of family life.

Author: Gregory K. and Lisa Popcak

ISBN: 9781594714115

5.5" x 8.5" Paperback

288 Pages

On-sale date: November 3, 2014

BeDADitudes: 8 Ways to be an Awesome Dad

In BeDADitudes, internationally known marriage and family expert Greg Popcak draws on more than twenty years as a counselor as well as his own experience as a father to show how the Beatitudes can be viewed as a practical guide to understanding the love of God and applying that love to being a better father.

In the first book to uniquely focus on the Beatitudes and fatherhood, Greg Popcak helps you stop focusing on yourself and instead focus on God, learning how to be the father God wants you to be by becoming a servant leader in your home.

As a father of three children, Popcak realized that Jesus" call to be humble in the first Beatitude Blessed are the poor in spirit stands in direct opposition to what modern men learn growing up. Instead, they are taught they should live a life of unbroken success, defined by promotions at work and beautiful wives and honor students at home.

The Catholic author, speaker, counselor, and radio host will show that when you practice meekness, you will connect with your family by asking them questions and listening closely to their responses. By practicing mercy, you come to know your own sins, the difficulties that lie on the path to sainthood, and how your family needs to hear about God"s grace in their lives.

In BeDADitudes, you discover the profound love of God found in the Beatitudes and understand how that love can transform you into being an awesome dad.

Author: Gregory K. Popcak

ISBN: 9781594717185

5.5" x 8.5" Paperback

192 Pages

On-sale date: March 3, 2017

A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul

Guided by the example of the saints, Hendey eloquently links personal stories, scripture, prayer, and soul-strengthening exercises into a spiritually rich and deeply practical resource for Catholic women. This edition includes a new preface and cover and is updated with information about saints canonized since the first edition.

Allow The Book of Saints for Catholic Moms to help you grow in your faith and enrich your heart, mind, body, and soul by spending each week of the year with Lisa M. Hendey and a different saint. This award-winning spiritual guidebook introduces you to popular saints such as Th erese of Lisieux, Teresa of Calcutta, John Paul II, and Patrick, as well as lesser known but equally inspiring saints such as Gianna Beretta Molla and Damien of Molokai.

Each week Hendey offers:

• a thematic prayer intention;
• biographical and devotional information about the saint;
• lessons she learned from each saint;
• daily scripture meditations;
• prayers;
• activities for moms and children; and
• practical, spiritually rich steps that help moms incorporate the wisdom and exemplary faith of each figure into their own lives.

Author: Lisa M. Hendey

ISBN: 9781594712739

6" x 9" Paperback

352 pages

Good Enough is Good Enough: Confessions of an Imperfect Catholic Mom

The truth about parenting is that you don't have to get everything right and your family doesn't need to be perfect. Colleen Duggan learned those lessons through years of struggling with unrealistic expectations.

In this frank and intimate story, Duggan explores the emotional and spiritual healing that needed to take place in her life in order to be the parent, spouse, and follower of Christ God created her to be. Sharing both funny parenting moments and difficult times of self-scrutiny, Duggan invites us to join her in experiencing God's healing mercy and shows how to allow that healing to rejuvenate our lives and revitalize our families.

As a child, Duggan smoothed over the jagged edges of her difficult home life with good grades and perfect behavior. By the time Duggan was an adult, her drive to constantly be in control was her way of life. It was only when she began raising her family that she realized how damaging this compulsion was for both her and the people around her.

That's when she began her faltering journey toward letting God be in control.

In Good Enough Is Good Enough, Duggan shares her heartaches learning her child has a genetic disorder that might lead to cancer; realizing that her drive to do and be everything for everyone strained her marriage; and struggling with feelings of worthlessness after leaving her job to become "just" a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom. She also shares parenting difficulties we've all faced trying to keep her kids quiet during Mass; wondering whether she's giving them enough opportunities for growth; and balancing time spent on herself, her kids, and others. With each story, we feel the brokenness she tried to cover by being a "perfect" parent and the eventual realization that she needed to find healing.

Through the saints, the Sacraments, and Catholic traditions and literature, Duggan found the Church a place where God's love and healing grace embraced her. She invites us to the same conclusion: whether we are dealing with everyday frustrations or life-changing tragedies, it is in the heart of the Catholic Church that we are finally free to let go of our facades in order to embrace our brokenness and find healing.

Duggan has created a study guide for small-group use.

Author: Colleen Duggan

ISBN: 9781594717314

5.5" x 8.5" Paperback

160 pages

On-sale date: April 13, 2018