Leonard J. DeLorenzo – författare

2022 Catholic Media Association first place award in pastoral ministry: catechetical

2022 Catholic Media Association second place award in faith formation

God calls each of us to a life of goodness, and our yearnings to become more like God invite us to lifelong practices of conversion. The sacrament of confirmation is a pivotal moment anchoring a Catholic’s commitment to God.But do our current sacramental preparation programs really inspire candidates to turn toward the Lord? Leonard J. DeLorenzo demonstrates how preparation for Confirmation can be life-giving for both candidates and those who accompany them. Turn to the Lord: Forming Disciples for Lifelong Conversion empowers parents, confirmation sponsors, and all who contribute to the holistic formation of young people to share the goodness of God in ways that shape hearts, minds, hands, and habits.

God calls each of us to a life of goodness, and our yearnings to become more like God invite us to lifelong practices of conversion. The sacrament of confirmation is a pivotal moment anchoring a Catholic’s commitment to God. But do our current sacramental preparation programs really inspire candidates to turn toward the Lord? Leonard J. DeLorenzo demonstrates how preparation for Confirmation can be life-giving for both candidates and those who accompany them.

This book is for those who seek a substantive but accessible presentation of the Catholic faith, and who are willing to grow in their knowledge of Scripture and Church doctrines, all while welcoming God into their lives. Turn to the Lord: An Invitation to Lifelong Conversion presents to young people—or adults with struggles and doubts about their faith—a holistic, coherent presentation of the human and divine drama of Catholicism. This book is ideal for parents of students involved in confirmation preparation, family members of those participating in RCIA, and sponsors and godparents of those preparing for sacramental initiation. Fully initiated Catholics who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith would benefit from this introduction, as would students in Catholic high schools or collegiate ministry centers.

Maybe you are a committed young adult Catholic, or maybe you''re not Catholic at all. Perhaps you were baptized and even completed your initiation into the Catholic Church through First Communion and Confirmation, and yet you don''t think of yourself as "Catholic" first. Wherever you are in life, you''re probably seeking a life with deeper meaning and substance.

Living a full life is more than just taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually and doing nice things for others; it''s about becoming like Jesus. And in order to do this, we must "give up childish ways," as Saint Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians. We must be open to growth and strive to become mature adults.

Tackling a host of cultural and developmental topics, including prayer, friendships, dating, discernment, and more, In Search of a Full Life empowers young people with real guidance on the way to a full life of significance and consequence. In this book, Dr. Leonard DeLorenzo offers practical, achievable advice for growing in Christian maturity and becoming the person God created you to be.

“In the blink of an eye, my nieces and nephews will be young adults. When that day comes, I will gift them Dr. DeLorenzo’s book, In Search of a Full Life. Filled with incisive, relevant, and practical advice, his book invites its reader to ask the essential questions about life, and to consider what will now, and forever, endure. I, personally, was struck by the wisdom contained in these pages. I have no doubt that those who read this book will, as DeLorenzo desires, become ''more confident, more open, more creative, and more real … as [they] were created and are called to become.''” Fr. Aaron Wessman, PhD, Vicar General of the Glenmary Home Missioners, author of The Church’s Mission in a Polarized World

“What a gift! Doctor DeLorenzo gives us the best of his practical wisdom and spiritual insight in his amazing work, In Search of a Full Life: A Practical and Spiritual Guide. Addressing various topics of life with tangible warmth and a kindly spirit, he offers guidance on Christian living and leads us through the process of reaching a fullness of life in Jesus Christ. This is a great book for young people. This is a great book for everyone!”—Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, STD

“In Search of a Full Life is an honest and accessible guide for genuine seekers who long for a rich inner life in a distracted, unsettled age.” Abigail Favale, PhD, Professor of the Practice, McGrath Institute for Church Life. Concurrent Professor, Theology, University of Notre Dame

Awarded third place in theology by the Association of Catholic Publishers and third place in grief and bereavement by the Catholic Media Association. When someone we love dies, it’s difficult to look beyond our grief to understand that they are still with us.

And yet we hear in the funeral liturgy that “life is changed not ended.”  In Our Faithful Departed, University of Notre Dame theologian Leonard J. DeLorenzo shows us what this means and how we are called to remain faithful in our relationships with the dead.

“Those whom we have known and loved in this life we have only known and loved partially, imperfectly,” DeLorenzo writes. “In heaven, what has been partial shall be made complete, and what has been imperfect shall be perfected.”

He explains that the Catholic Church teaches that heaven is not so much a place as it is a perfect communion in Christ where the living and the dead are forever united.

In this book, you will learn that:

DeLorenzo relates his own story of the loss of his grandparents and shares heartwarming experiences from other Catholics—including Laura Kelly Fanucci, Stephanie DePrez, and John Cavadini—who have felt the connection with their lost friends and loved ones.

DeLorenzo said that the Church must encourage communion with the dead through public acts such as Eucharistic processions, prayer, monthly adoration with prayers for the souls in purgatory, and by accompanying the grieving with tenderness and compassion.