STREET-LEVEL DISCIPLE: A MEMOIR

By Frank R. Ardito

One part of my book is about some of the turbulence and unrest in our country in the 60,’s, and 70’s, and my humble attempts to respond to such issues as street gang violence, race discrimination and conflict, poverty, riots and near riots. The issues dominating the news today were also present in that earlier period of unrest in our country. Did black and brown lives matter in the turbulent 60’s and 70’s? How about white lives, did they matter?

A second part of my book is a challenge to those of us who are people of faith. The world is overflowing with problems, needs, violence, poverty, and more. I see all of this as opportunities, profound opportunities for us to bring our faith beliefs to all the situations we encounter in our daily life. No one of us alone can resolve all these problems, but by trying to bring Christ’s love and presence to our brothers and sisters in our communities and world, we can make a difference. We can help build the kingdom of God on Earth.

In the Street-Level Disciple, the author revisits his last book, The Street Sweeper, with new additions that he hopes you will find interesting.

Mr. Ardito brings to his book decades of compassionate involvement among young people with expert knowledge of and experience with community organizing and leadership development. Permeating the profoundly human stories of gang outreach, peacemaking on the streets, and one-on-one encounters is Frank’s abiding faith in God and God’s ability to reconcile the diversity of Americana. The author comes across as an embodiment of the best of Catholic Action; and in The Street-Level Disciple, he continues to challenge us to a renewed Discipleship.

Rev. D. Bruce Nieli, C.S.P.

Former Director for Evangelization

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Once again, Frank challenges us through his heartfelt stories to take up our call as lay people to be disciples in the world wherever we find ourselves. Frank’s stories of living his spirituality in the city of Chicago take the reader down to street-level as if they are actually with him as he confronts racism, hatred and violence. In the end we discover it’s really all about building trusting relationships and imitating Christ which is the focus of lay vocation.

John Donahue-Grossman, National Catholic Speaker

Frank’s book has been an attempt to provide a chronicle of his public life in civil service; his attempt to practice discipleship in the workplace. His apostolate over the years unfolded in a secular setting, and his interactions were conducted in secular terms. That is, his life and this chronicle is a testimony that the Christian vocation is neither relegated to churchy environs nor expressed in lofty language. As Frank mentions in his book, the very notion of a Christion vocation means looking for holiness in the ordinary, it means awareness at some level that grace occurs in pedestrian settings.

Bill Droel, Board Member, National Center for the Laity

A member of a great generation of YCW leaders of the 1950s, Frank moved to work with the Chicago Commission on Youth Welfare, where he became involved in many of the leading social issues (in Chicago). Guns, gangs, housing, molotov cocktails, race problems, riots, the war on poverty - Frank faced and lived through it all.

Stefan Gagacz, Secretary, Austrailian Cardijn Institute

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644686850