Small Christian Communities: Vision and Practicalities [Paperback]

James O'Halloran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2002

Provides insights and suggestions on the vision and practicalities of small Christian communities, or basic ecclesial communities. These communities are neither mere pastoral strategies nor part of a helping movement in the church; they are church. Furthermore they are emerging as one of the most significant ways in which the Spirit is implementing the communitarian vision of church proposed by Vatican II. An improvement on earlier books, this benefits from years of experience in many parts of the world: much of the writing is new, the spirituality more developed, and the theological, spiritual and practical elements better integrated. The author has enlisted enormously experienced and knowledgeable people to write about the communities on their own continents. The profiles update the situation to the turn of the millennium and are as complete as any available. Clear about the elements of a viable ecclesial vision for the 21st century.""--National Catholic Reporter. ""One of the best introductions to small Christian communities.""--The Tablet. ""This book is a must for anyone involved with small Christian communities. The Trinitarian vision is stupendous.""-INK. James O'Halloran is a Salesian priest who has worked with small Christian communities for over thirty years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'At last the book I have longed to see from the person best fitted to write it. Whatever the form of ministry, lay or ordained, I was able to recommend this book as one filled with wisdom. For me this is the Book of the Year.' - Coracle, Iona, Scotland 'It is as concise and as full a description of small Christian communities as I know.' - Christian Socialist, UK 'This book is a must for anyone involved with small Christian communities. The Trinitarian vision is stupendous.' - INK, USA 'One of the best introductions to small Christian communities.' - The Tablet 'Clear about the elements of a viable ecclesial vision for the 21st century.' - National Catholic Reporter 'The greatest breakthrough to forming small Christian communities will likely be this book. I'm confident the Holy Spirit has inspired the work.' - Director, Tacoma Seafarers Center, USA. 'The author is to be commended for a very accessible and well researched book.' - Intercom

About the Author

James O'Halloran is a Salesian priest who has worked with small Christian communities for over thirty years as member, coordinator, and promoter. This mission he has carried out worldwide - with a predilection for Africa and Latin America - from the halls of academia to parishes and far-flung mission stations. Among other places he lectures, or has lectured, at All Hallows, Church of Ireland Theological College, The Priory Institute, Kimmage Manor, Maynooth, and Milltown Park, Ireland; Selley Oak (Birmingham University) and Ushaw College, England; Kenema, Gaba, Karen College, Tangaza, Jomo Kenyatta College, Thika Pastoral Centre, Tzaneen Pastoral Centre, Africa; La Salle University, Philadelphia, USA; Notre Dame University Australia, and La Universidad Catolica, Quito, Ecuador.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Columba Press; 2nd edition (December 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856073874
• ISBN-13: 978-1856073875
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,582,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical guidelines for a Christian movement, October 25, 2003

By 

Joseph Boenzi (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Small Christian Communities: Vision and Practicalities (Paperback)

James O'Halloran is no stranger to the topic of small, ecclesial communities. Since his days as a Salesian missionary in Latin America when he first encountered the Christian community movement, and through many years of facilitating beginning communities on every continent, Fr. O'Halloran has come to know the theology and the mechanics of Christian communities from within.

It is as an "insider" that O'Halloran publishes this guidebook. As he did in his earlier work, "Living Cells" (Dublin: 1980, 1984) and its expanded version called "Signs of Hope" (Maryknoll: 1991), O'Halloran presents only enough community theory so as to enable his readers to move into practice.

This is the second edition of "Small Christian Communities." The first edition appeared in 1996 (Columba Press, in Ireland, and Orbis Books, in the USA).This expanded edition is meant to be a "pastoral companion," a guidebook of sorts.

O'Halloran begins by offering a "vision" of small Christian communities based on a biblical and pastoral experience of Church. He then goes on to offer ideas and models for meetings, and presents helpful reading lists and bibliographies that allow community members to delve in more deeply into topics and themes that they may find vital. In the third section of the book (entirely new to this edition), he presents a history of the development of the movement of Basic Ecclesial Communities. This section features essays from other pastoral leaders: Robert Pelton comments on the experience in North America; José Marins on Latin America; Thomas Dabre for Asia; Paul O'Bryan on Oceania; Ian Fraser on Europe. Each account works from experience rather than from abstract theory.

The book shows strong biblical roots. O'Halloran explains how communities may approach the Word of God in prayer, for discernment, for Bible sharing and study, and biblical references abound throughout the volume. At the same time, the author grounds his discussion in the present. The Word of God never discounts the experience of living persons. The scriptures, after all, are not a book of recipes. The God who speaks in the Bible continues to speak to the faithful through the urgent events of their own lives, their own community. Therefore, it is important to ask: what are the "burning issues" that communities face? What steps are necessary for good pastoral planning and how can community members critically evaluate their pastoral plan so that it becomes truly effective? Where part does prayer and spirituality play in the life of the community? O'Halloran examines all these themes with the simplicity and know-how of someone who has already journeyed along the path.

O'Halloran's style is easy-going. He writes in the first person, almost as if he is inviting his reader to join in the conversation. He alternates history with contemporary praxis, spirituality with team theory in chapters that move quickly from narrative to point-form outlines; from step-by-step procedures to expressive role plays. Each chapter (in parts 1 & 2) ends with a series of questions which, as one would suspect, are good "discussion starters." Throughout the book, O'Halloran displays the art of the storyteller. He cites the saints and recalls personal experiences, weaving everything together to carry his point.

The continuous movement from discussion to concrete example makes "Small Christian Communities" particularly useful, but what is most striking is the theology of Church that undergirds the entire work. The Church is a communion, and the root of this entire experience of Church, O'Halloran explains, is to be found "in the Blessed Trinity. Here we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who through their intimate loving and share are one God, or one Community. As they say in Africa, `There are three dancers but only one dance.' Now we were created in God's image... We were not meant to exist in isolation. Right from the beginning God's will was that we be a community of brothers and sisters without divisions; there can be differences that enrich, yes, but division, no." (p. 15).

Understanding the Church as a Communion means that Christians recognize that the Church is part of the kingdom of God, but not identical to that kingdom. Wherever there is justice, the kingdom is there. Conversely, where there is injustice, the kingdom has not yet fully arrived. Small Christian communities must be about proclaiming the Gospel, hastening the kingdom. Therefore, they must work to root out injustice, facilitate cooperation, promote community. The small Christian community's sense of urgency distinguishes it from a prayer group; its prophetic and sacramental lifestyle distinguishes it from an "action group."

Based on the success of James O'Halloran's earlier writings, I would venture to say that "Small Christian Communities" should prove to be a valuable resource for Christians who are interested in fostering educative and pastoral communities.