Tools for Rebuilding: 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish Better

By Michael White and Tom Corcoran

In their barn-burning first book, Rebuilt, Michael White and Tom Corcoran shared their story and vision of building better Catholic parishes. Now, in their eagerly-anticipated second book, White and Corcoran lay out seventy-five proven tactics for getting the job done.

Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran know that the fundamental work of the Church is to evangelize--to introduce people to Christ and make them disciples. Still, they're the first to admit: "the difficulty comes when we reach down into the details and get to work." In Tools for Rebuilding, White and Corcoran share seventy-five foundational tactics that helped to rejuvenate their parish. Their candid, hands-on advice gives a clear way forward--one that will make church matter to the people in the pews and that anyone working in parish ministry can implement.

Principles/tactics include:
Get the Right People on the Bus
Christmas Is Over, So Throw Out the Dead Poinsettias
Stop Advertising (Other People's Stuff) in Your Bulletin
Don't Let the Insiders Take All the Good Seats
Just Because It's Slow Doesn't Mean It's Holy
When It Comes to First Communion, Just Surrender
Funerals Are Scud Missiles
Preach the Announcements
Start Getting Rid of Fundraisers
Everything Takes Longer (Than You Think)
Pastor, It's Not All About You
Stop Trying to Make People Go to Church and Make Church Matter

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ave Maria Press
• Release date: Nov 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781594714450

Michael White

Michael White was a science lecturer before becoming a full-time writer and journalist. He is the author with John Gribbin of the bestselling ‘Stephen Hawking – A Lifetime in Science’. He is a regular contributor to the ‘Sunday Times’, the ‘Observer’,the ‘Daily Telegraph, GQ, Focus’ and ‘New Scientist’.