Kathleen A. Cahalan – författare

Opening the Field of Practical Theology introduces students to practical theology through an examination of fifteen different approaches—ranging from feminist to liberationist, Roman Catholic to evangelical, Asian American to Latino/a. After an introduction to the field of practical theology and its broad range of practice today, the book features chapters written by leading experts in the discipline. Each chapter has an identical structure to facilitate comparison, covering historical context, key features and figures, norms and sources of authority, theory-practice, contexts, interdisciplinary considerations, areas of current and future research, and suggested readings.Opening the Field of Practical Theology is an ideal introduction to the field, highlighting the diverse ways practical theology is engaged today.

Opening the Field of Practical Theology introduces students to practical theology through an examination of fifteen different approaches—ranging from feminist to liberationist, Roman Catholic to evangelical, Asian American to Latino/a. After an introduction to the field of practical theology and its broad range of practice today, the book features chapters written by leading experts in the discipline. Each chapter has an identical structure to facilitate comparison, covering historical context, key features and figures, norms and sources of authority, theory-practice, contexts, interdisciplinary considerations, areas of current and future research, and suggested readings.Opening the Field of Practical Theology is an ideal introduction to the field, highlighting the diverse ways practical theology is engaged today.

Ministry is often examined in terms of who the minister is, not what the minister does. But the vocation to ministry must be understood as a call to identity as well as to practice, one that is rooted in Jesus' life and ministry as well as the Spirit's charisms. InIntroducing the Practice of Ministry Kathleen A.Cahalan defines ministerial leadership as carried out through the practices of teaching, preaching, pastoral care, worship, social ministry, and administration for the sake of nurturing the life of discipleship in the community of believers. In her examination of charisms for each of the practices of ministry, Cahalan presents readers with a Trinitarian foundation, noting that the practices of discipleship and ministry have their origin in the very practices of God."Kathleen A. Cahalan is associate professor of theology at Saint John's University School of Theology, Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota. She is author of Formed in the Image of Christ: The Sacramental-Moral Theology of Bernard Häring (Liturgical Press, 2004) and Projects That Matter: Successful Planning and Evaluation for Religious Organizations (Alban Institute, 2003). She is the past-president of the Association of Practical Theology. "

Ministry is often examined in terms of who the minister is, not what the minister does. But the vocation to ministry must be understood as a call to identity as well as to practice, one that is rooted in Jesus' life and ministry as well as the Spirit's charisms. InIntroducing the Practice of Ministry Kathleen A.Cahalan defines ministerial leadership as carried out through the practices of teaching, preaching, pastoral care, worship, social ministry, and administration for the sake of nurturing the life of discipleship in the community of believers. In her examination of charisms for each of the practices of ministry, Cahalan presents readers with a Trinitarian foundation, noting that the practices of discipleship and ministry have their origin in the very practices of God."

Kathleen A. Cahalan is associate professor of theology at Saint John's University School of Theology, Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota. She is author of Formed in the Image of Christ: The Sacramental-Moral Theology of Bernard Häring (Liturgical Press, 2004) and Projects That Matter: Successful Planning and Evaluation for Religious Organizations (Alban Institute, 2003). She is the past-president of the Association of Practical Theology.

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The Christian life is an imitation of Christ's response to God–a religious response to God's initiative. We are called to make all responses–religion and morality–acts of adoring worship and praise. This sacramental theology is the fundamental moral theology of Bernard Häring, CSsR, whose contributions as a twentieth-century theologian have prepared the way of renewal in Catholic theology today.Part One of this book introduces Bernard Häring and his place in the history of Roman Catholic moral theology. Part Two examines the central concepts of Häring's sacramental-moral theology: responsibility, Christ as Word of God and High Priest, the human person as word and worshiper, and the sacraments as dialogue and response. In Part III the author illustrates how Häring takes a minor category–the virtue of religion–and places it at the center of moral life.Chapters under Part I: Bernard Häring and Roman Catholic Moral Theology are "Reassessing Bernard Häring's Moral Theology," and "Moral Theology and Sacramental Practice." Chapters under Part II: The Dogmatic Foundations of Häring's Sacramental-Moral Theology are "Word and Response: The Theological Foundations of the Religious-Moral Life," and "Sacraments as Word and Response." Chapters under Part III: The Christian Moral Life and the Virtue of Religion are "The Theological and Moral Virtues and the Virtue of Religion," and "The Interior and Exterior Acts of the Virtue of Religion." Chapters under the Conclusion are "Bernard Häring and Contemporary Proposals in Liturgy and Ethics: Critique and contributions."

If only we could do a better job of helping students at "connecting the dots," theological educators commonly lament.  Integration, often proposed as a solution to the woes of professional education for ministry, would help students integrate knowledge, skills, spirituality, and integrity. When these remain disconnected, incompetence ensues, and the cost runs high for churches, denominations, and ministers themselves.   However, we fail in thinking that integrating work is for students alone. It is a multifaceted, constructive process of learning that is contextual, reflective, and dialogical. It aims toward important ends--competent leaders who can guide Christian communities today. It entails rhythms, not stages, and dynamic movement, including disintegration. Integrating work is learning in motion, across domains, and among and between persons. It is social and communal, born of a life of learning together for faculty, staff, administrators and students. It is work that bridges the long-standing gaps between school, ministry practice, and life. It''s a verb, not a noun. Here a diverse group of theological educators, through descriptive case studies, theological reflection, and theory building, offer a distinctive contribution to understanding integrating work and how best to achieve it across three domains: in community, curriculums, and courses.

Projects That Matter introduces project leaders and teams to the five basic elements of project design and describes in detail a six-step process for designing and implementing a project evaluation and disseminating evaluation findings. Written for the nonexpert, leaders in religious settings will find Cahalan''s guidance clear and invaluable. Presenting evaluation as a form of collaborative inquiry, Cahalan show how leaders can use evaluation design to develop effective project plans and prepare case statements for donors or grant proposals for foundations. She introduces project planning and evaluation as mission-related practices and invites leaders to consider how their tradition''s particular mission and beliefs influence the way they plan and evaluate. Cahalan concludes the book by making explicit her own theological presuppositions-that the virtues of discernment, stewardship, and prudence are essential for good project planning and evaluation

2025 Catholic Media Association Honorable Mention, Pastoral Ministry CatecheticalDiscipleship is not a program to be implemented or a goal to be achieved but a lifelong walk with Christ, who is the way. Our calling by Christ to be his disciples is so fundamental to our faith that we sometimes fail to realize its meaning. What does it mean to be called? What is a disciple? In Called on the Way: The Daily Practice of Discipleship, authors Kathleen Cahalan and Laura Kelly Fanucci explore through personal stories, Scripture readings, and prayer experiences, what it means to be called a disciple “on the way.” Through our roles and relationships, each person is blessed with many callings to heed God’s invitation to follow the way of Christ. Calling is something we do, someone we are, and someone we become and the image of “the way” is the central biblical theme of our journey together. Called on the Way includes seven practical ways you can understand and live out your own call to discipleship as a follower, worshiper, witness, neighbor, forgiver, prophet, and steward. Each chapter includes a personal story, biblical foundation, and connections to saintly and sacramental practice. Reflection questions help identify how you and your parish community can live the life of discipleship in the time and place where God is leading you and calling you now.

Discipleship is not a program to be implemented or a goal to be achieved but a lifelong walk with Christ, who is the way.   Our calling by Christ to be his disciples is so fundamental to our faith that we sometimes fail to realize its meaning. What does it mean to be called? What is a disciple? In Called on the Way: The Daily Practice of Discipleship, authors Kathleen Cahalan and Laura Kelly Fanucci explore through personal stories, Scripture readings, and prayer experiences, what it means to be called a disciple “on the way.”   Through our roles and relationships, each person is blessed with many callings to heed God’s invitation to follow the way of Christ. Calling is something we do, someone we are, and someone we become and the image of “the way” is the central biblical theme of our journey together. Called on the Way includes seven practical ways you can understand and live out your own call to discipleship as a follower, worshiper, witness, neighbor, forgiver, prophet, and steward. Each chapter includes a personal story, biblical foundation, and connections to saintly and sacramental practice. Reflection questions help identify how you and your parish community can live the life of discipleship in the time and place where God is leading you and calling you now.