ARTICLES

New book offers hope for lay ministers

By Sandy Grecco
of The Catholic Virginian

She never really saw herself as a writer, but for the past several years Barbara Hughes has been led into places and been introduced to people that have literally forced her hand. A popular columnist and contributor for the Catholic Virginian, Barbara has followed God’s leadings even further by writing a book experts are calling a “transformative work” and “an excellent spiritual guide for lay ministers.”

“I find it amusing, and somewhat reassuring that God takes us places we would never venture on our own,” said Barbara.

Inspired by her own experiences as well as those around her, “Ministry and the Mystical Path: Formation Guide for Lay Ministers” explores the various stages the active apostolate face when they journey through prayer toward a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. Written to be a resource and spiritual guide for professional staff, catechists or volunteers working for the church, the book offers all giving their time and talent to ministry a guide for keeping their faith strong even through difficult situations.

“Sometimes when reward isn’t visible it is hard to see hope in what we are doing,” said Barbara. “Yet it is through our difficulties — our ‘dark nights’ — where St. John of the Cross says we can find deeper union with God.”

Paralleling the works and writings of mystics and contemplatives such as John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Barbara’s book brings the wisdom of their teachings into the 21st century in hopes that people today may see themselves in many of the same settings.

In the forward of the book, Kevin Culligan, O.C.D. at the Institute of Carmelite Studies states, “She shows, for example, that ministry’s inevitable disillusionments, hardships and suffering can be like the dark night of the contemplatives, God’s way of purifying the motivation of ministers, deepening their faith, and secretly communicating to their souls.”

The request of Father Kevin Culligan to read the initial manuscript of the book was just one of a “perfect storm” of events that helped bring this book to publication. It all began with a request from Barbara’s friend Vinita Hampton Wright, a well-known editor and currently part-time editor for Loyola Press in Chicago. “She asked to read a few of my columns from the Catholic Virginian, and then she told me, ‘You have 5 or 6 books here,’” said Barbara. “I can’t say I was pleased to hear that.”

Busy with retreats and a myriad of commitments, it took some convincing before Barbara realized how passionate she was about the kinds of spiritual expertise needed in all areas of ministry.

“As a facilitator and director for retreats I saw a lot of disillusionment in the eyes of people I met working for their churches and ministries,” said Barbara. “And I knew that in my own life I’d found wisdom in the writings of St. John and St. Teresa, but they are not that easy reading.”

Published this past April by the National Catholic Educational Association, it took Barbara almost 14 months to write the book she hopes will show the active apostolate how to get past inherent instincts to “just get through it,” and to “not be so eager to get rid of the struggle but rather to embrace it.”

“It is sometimes that struggle we’d rather avoid,” said Barbara, “that is the means for a deeper relationship with God. “

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