A year ago, I took part in a church retreat that puts a lot of weight on small groups as a way to maintain growth in one’s faith. While I fully see the value of this practice, it is an unknown concept for my home parish, so finding this resource was a blessing.

The layout of the book flows well and is full of practical and thought-provoking ideas. Each section has two or three points of reflection and conversation. It makes the concept of forming and sustaining small groups approachable. The only area I felt was a little lacking in information was the guided approach into how to help form groups (or assign/help parishioners find the right group for them). Maybe this could be addressed in a future edition of this book?

This is a perfect resource for any individual or church group who is even contemplating implementing small groups to become a core part of your church community.

“Do not despise small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”- Zechariah 4:10

I recall being invited once to a Christian "home gathering." The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and I longed to have a similar experience in my own parish.

Small groups can be a game-changer for a faith community, helping to create an environment where people can discuss the message of the week's homily against a background of trust and confidentiality.

This quiet revolution is on full display in the new book The Transformative Power of Small Groups: a 7-Step Guide for Building Vibrant Catholic Communities.

Authors Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran have created a field manual for launching, maintaining, and growing small groups within a parish. This is a nuts-and-bolts book filled with highly useful information and insights.

The writers make a compelling argument for small groups to revitalize the faith among church-goers. I found myself cheering them on throughout this book, which would be a wonderful gift for the priest or parish manager in your life.