Outside the Walls: Encountering God in the Unfamiliar

By Kenneth P. Paulli OFM and Richard N. Fragomeni

Outside the Walls: Encountering God in the Unfamiliar, has simplicity and sagacity, compassion and challenge. In this conversational book, Fr. Paulli shares nine personal stories, which range from a humorous encounter with a nearly one-hundred-year-old woman, to a disturbing encounter with a desperately poor, pregnant Haitian woman. The sharing of these stories, and the reflections upon them, invite the reader to consider their own personal stories and how God can be encountered in and through them, often if they but move outside the walls. Furthermore, each chapter, in a way, stands alone allowing the reader to stay with it for as long as they want. Similarly, chapters can be revisited time and time again. Finally, each story, each chapter leads to a series of incisive questions and a prayer that will surely assist the reader in their spiritual journey for years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973614289

Kenneth P. Paulli OFM

Fr. Paulli, a Franciscan priest of Holy Name Province for nearly thirty years, is a member of the First Year Seminar faculty, as well as an associate professor of education at Siena College, Loudonville, New York. He is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions across the United States. Fr. Paulli holds a bachelors degree in business from Siena College, a masters degree in systematic theology from the Washington Theological Union, and a doctorate in religion and education from New York Citys Columbia University. Outside the Walls: Encountering God in the Unfamiliar is Fr. Paullis first published book.

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Copyright © 2018 Kenneth P. Paulli, OFM.

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Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-1429-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1430-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-1428-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018900319

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/14/2018

Dedication

A miei carissimi genitori,

Maria Luisa e Paolo Giacomo (defunto)

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

1:     Francis and the Walls of Assisi

2:     No, I Am Not the Pope

3:     The Buffalo Chip Saloon

4:     Shamus

5:     Haiti: A Knock at My Window

6:     The Gift of Compassion

7:     Weston Priory

8:     East Side Elementary School

9:     Haiti: No Shoes

10:   Home: and Yet so Far from Home

About the Author

About the Artist

Foreword

It was the Solemnity of All the Saints 1978 when I first met Ken Paulli. He was an undergraduate student at the University of New York at Albany’s campus. I remember the moment: it was the evening celebration of the feast, and he was in the Communion procession on my side of the aisle. As he approached the head of the line, he reverently bowed, and I immediately sensed something most unique about this young person. I shared with him the Body of Christ. We have been in a communion of friendship ever since. Amen!

Through these nearly forty years, I have known Ken as: a pupil, a mentee, an undergraduate student, a graduate student, a doctoral student, a young Franciscan in formation, a newly ordained parish priest, a college professor, a college administrator, a parish mission preacher, and, now, as a published author. Therefore, it is with great gratitude that I write this foreword to his first of what I am sure will be several books of this genre.

Outside the Walls is an autobiographical memoir of sorts, a record of his spiritual journey into the mystery of Christ. Each chapter of this book is inspired by the founder of the Franciscan Order, Saint Francis of Assisi. From this inspiration, Fr. Ken, a member of the Order of Friars Minor, shares a personal story of encountering God through the most unlikely encounters with others. Moreover, in an effort to understand what God is asking of him through these human/divine encounters, he draws upon his Franciscan tradition, as well as the Roman Catholic tradition, to make sense of the mystery that is unfolding as a gift into his heart. In all