Books

Keeping The Faith: Making a Difference by Wilson D. Miscamble

Reviewed by Michael Daniel

Contents - Apr 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain' - Peter Westmore John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family to open in July 2001 - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Former Townsville Bishop's admissions on liturgy practices - Bishop Raymond Benjamin Is Townsville the model for Ballarat's priest shortage? - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop Curtiss on implementing the theology 'mandatum' - Archbishop Elden Curtiss US parishioners more outspoken about church "renovations" - Zenit News Service Thomas More Centre Summer School 2001: "Building a Culture of Life" - Michael Daniel How to avoid banal, superficial liturgies - Bishop Kevin Manning Rights of unborn are inalienable - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Tanzania's Father Winfried makes return visit to Australia - Martin Sheehan Letters: Melbourne RE texts (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Sponsorship (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Legal action (letter) - Chris Joseph Letters: Inaccuracy (letter) - Fr Michael Kalka PP Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: ACU Syllabus (letter) - John Kelly Letters: Stations of the Cross (letter) - Charles Bignold Letters: Good responses (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Letters: Dress code (letter) - Raymond de Souza Review Article: A 'silly book' from ACU professor of theology - Frank Mobbs Books: Keeping The Faith: Making a Difference by Wilson D. Miscamble - Michael Daniel (reviewer) JESUS - Jubilee Edition Video - Johanna O'Farrell (reviewer) Books: 'Contraception: The Hidden Truth' by Christine de Stoop - Katie Forster (reviewer) Books: The Apostles' Creed, Defend the Faith and other apologetics topics - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse, by Roland J. Worth - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Reflection: Giving witness to the Gospel of Life - Rebecca van Rensburg

(CSC, Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 2000, 132pp, plus appendices, $19.95. Available from AD Books)

Keeping the Faith is a short book of reflections composed by Fr Wilson Miscamble, an Australian priest who is a member of the Holy Cross order and professor of American History at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. These reflections emerged through his interactions with tertiary-aged students. The style of his writing is specifically geared to a young adult audience, as is the content of the reflections. Thus, topics such as developing a faith life as a student, relationships and marriage, employment and parenting are covered.

The chief strength of this work is the author's ability to present the Church's teachings in a positive light to which young people can readily relate. Fr Miscamble calls on his readers not only to strengthen their faith, but to make a positive impact upon the Church and society as people of faith.

Keeping the Faith would make an ideal gift for a young adult, as well as being a useful basis for young adult discussion groups, since major topics relating to Catholic belief and practice, together with issues that specifically interest young people, are covered in this series of reflections.

Michael Daniel teaches at a Melbourne independent college.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 3 (April 2001), p. 17