Michael J McGrath

Answering the Call: How God Transformed the Lives of Nineteen Catholic Deacons Michael J McGrath

Description: Answering the Call is the story of nineteen Catholic permanent deacons from the Diocese of Savannah (Georgia) whose lives underwent profound transformations as they embarked upon a journey of self-discovery which revealed to them both the awesome power of God and the holiness of everyday life. When these deacons, who come from vastly different spiritual, professional, and educational backgrounds, responded to God's call, they soon became aware of the profound impact their decision would make on their lives as husbands, fathers, and, most of all, servants of God. Any person who experiences a crisis of faith or wants to deepen his or her relationship with God, will find the theological, pastoral, and spiritual aspects of these essays informative as they will inspire further reflection and discernment. Each of the essays can be read as a guide to ministry that provides personal and experiential advice about how to minister in a God-centered and healing manner. A person considering a religious vocation, or any man discerning God's call as a permanent deacon, or is a candidate or a deacon now, will appreciate the honesty with which each deacon describes the expected and unexpected stages of his journey. Endorsements: ""To read Answering the Call is to have the chance to peak behind the curtain and see God using ordinary men and women in extraordinary ways. This book should be on the reading list of diocesan diaconal formation programs around the county, not least because the stories reveal the importance of sound spiritual, human, and academic formation for success in ministry."" --Rev. Charles A. Bobertz Professor of Theology St. John's University About the Contributor(s): Deacon Michael J. McGrath serves at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Statesboro, Georgia, and he is a professor of Spanish literature and culture at Georgia Southern University. He is the author of more than forty publications, including the book Religious Celebrations in Segovia (1577-1697) and articles on religious drama in seventeenth-century Spain.