Priest helps brother priests transform lives through powerful homilies
Priest helps brother priests transform lives through powerful homilies
Greendale, Wis. – A local priest who lives in Greendale and ministers in Hales Corners has set out to help priests deliver powerful homilies based on life experiences and life changes in a book he recently published. “Homilies to Transform Hearts and Minds” was released in April and is Fr. Andre Papineau’s, SDS eleventh book.
“This book comes out of my interest in writing homilies and sermons, as well as my interest in transitions and conversions,” says Fr. Andre, who teaches Homiletics and Storytelling at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners. Fr. Andre has taught there for 31 years.
Everyone experiences transitions, or life changes, both good and bad – growing up, graduating, getting married, having children, relocating, losing a job, going through a divorce, dealing with illness or loss. In his book, Fr. Andre makes comparisons from Biblical passages to problems people face today.
“Change is often painful, but it’s necessary for growth and conversion,” says Fr. Andre, “Life changes are like growing pains – they may be painful, but they’re necessary.”
Conversions occur when people deal with change – they go through a change of heart and mindset. “All conversions are transitions – people can go through transitions and make a change for the better – a conversion. Not all transitions are conversions – people do not always change for the better.”
Fr. Andre says there are three phases to transitions that become conversion experiences – breaking up (the problem), breaking down (feeling lost, uncertain), and breaking through (the light at the end of the tunnel).
In the past, Fr. Andre has given storytelling workshops, something he’d like to start doing again more regularly.
To purchase “Homilies to Transform Hearts and Minds” from Resource Publications, visit www.rpinet.com. The book is also available on Amazon.com.
