Bumping Into God Again

People look for God's presence in many places. They gather in the basilicas of Rome or at the red rocks in Sedona. I find God's presence quite nearby-in the magnificent complexity of the human person. -Dominic Grassi We bump into God's grace every day in all kinds of humorous, serious, mysterious, random, and sometimes completely unlikely ways. This charming collection of thirty-five stories reveals one person's myriad encounters with God in both the mundane and extraordinary moments that make up our days. This is not a book about ideologies, but about people. . . . There are miracles and ordinary moments to celebrate, grace and joy to share, silly folk and saints to relish. -Dominic Grassi A natrual storyteller, Dominic Grassi invites readers to share his warm memories of life in Chicago over the past five decades. He shows how God is reflected in the people we meet every day: a butcher, a bookstore owner, a short-order cook. With rich and often funny descriptions of human triumphs and struggles, laughter and tears, youthful pranks and quiet maturity, Grassi uncovers grace in the most unexpected places. Stories such as Wisdom Teeth and Window Washers and Thumping Watermelons help us see not only moments of grace in Grassi's life but also times when we too have unexpectedly bumped into God.

Thirty-five entertaining and touching stories that show how family moments can bring the greatest spiritual rewards. We find everything we need for spiritual growth as we picnic with the children, go to the grocery store, and pick up the morning paper. The author's intimate approach invites us to recognize the grace that exists within our own lives. We needn't pull over and look for enlightenment; the divine is always present, even in the carpool lane.

"In Good People, celebrated novelist Jon Hassler examines goodness with warmth, humor, and poignancy by exploring the many meaningful relationships that have enriched his life. He describes his parents and grandparents, childhood playmates, fellow teachers and writers - including the renowned fiction writer J.F. Powers - and shows how the goodness in these people has inspired the good people in his fiction. Written in the same engaging style as his novels, Hassler's stories reveal much of his own background, including his strong Catholic faith and the places that have shaped his writing."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

“Just call it 'Chicken Soup from a Catholic Priest's Soul.'” —The New World“Grassi invites readers of all faiths to share warm memories of life in Chicago.” —Skyline Magazine“Here are brief flashes of the divine in the most love-starved place, harried moment, and difficult person. This is a soulful book, a funny and satisfying reminder that attention is often prayer.” —Carol DeChant, author of Momma's Enchanted Supper Bump into God with Dominic GrassiIn everyday life, encounters with God can be incredibly subtle and easily missed. We can be brought to tears when we come across God in the hands of a healing doctor, in the smile of a courageous teacher, and in the concern of a caring parent. In these and so many other small and delicate ways, God touches us, graces us, and changes our lives forever.Bumping into God Again presents thirty-five opportunities to celebrate and find meaning in our shared human experience. These gentle stories remind us that unexpected grace can be found in countless ways, both simple and marvelous. We need only be open and listening.

Sabrina Bond’s “Running From Her Father God” is about Elizabeth Forbes. In 1968, Liz was born in the after math of a blizzard. Her parents getting to the hospital was no small miracle itself. Liz’s life is full of miracles; her brother was almost shot before her, and her mother survived an abusive relationship before kicking her father out. In high school, Liz rebels against her mother by befriending a much older man. As she finished high school, she also begun hanging out with the wrong crowd even more where she saw many people die, get pregnant, had abortions, and do other destructive things to themselves at such a young age.

People often ask Dominic Grassi the question "Why are you a priest? "Even unasked, it hangs in the air throughout his busy days as a pastor of a large Chicago parish. Sometimes, he ask it of himself.The answer unfolds in the stories he tells in this book--vivid tales of the way the youngest son of a North Side Chicago grocer has been privileged to witness the workings of God's grace and love in the lives of the people he serves.In each of these tales, Fr. Grassi paints a candid portrait of the joys and difficulties of priestly life. But, as he explains, the joys always outweigh the heartache. "I am just an ordinary person who still finds incredible joy, profound awe, silencing mystery, and overwhelming peace as a priest," he writes. These too-uncommon qualities--joy, awe, mystery, and peace--are abundant in his stories. They are the convincing answers to the question "Why are you a priest?" They are the reasons why Catholics can rejoice that God still calls men like Dominic Grassi by name.

"Living the Mass is a rich and resonant meditation on the Eucharist that will deepen the liturgy for those on both sides of the altar." —Andrew Greeley "We Catholics don't go to Mass; we go back to Mass—from having been 'sent forth' the last time! Grassi and Paprocki explain why, how, and where in this important new book." —Gregory F. A. Pierce, author of Spirituality at Work The concluding prayer of the Mass is a command: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. We are charged to go forth and quite literally transform our families, our communities, and our world through the redeeming sacrifice of Christ as celebrated in the Mass. Fr. Dominic Grassi and Joe Paprocki use this challenge as the starting point for their inspiring and illuminating look at the central act of Catholic worship. They ask, What would our faith look like if we truly understood the gift of the Eucharist? Living the Mass will stir a new passion for and a greater understanding of this sacred two-thousand-year-old celebration offered freely to all who come, to all who believe.