AN INSIDE LOOK AT Our Parish Library: Offering Faith-Based, Spirit-Filling Materials for All

Parishioner Debbie Locke has seen the spiritual fruit that comes from studying the Catholic faith diligently through reading books that explain Church teaching and describe the lives of the saints. This is why she is now the ministry leader for the Parish Library. She believes that educating ourselves in what we believe strengthens our resolve to live out the faith and share it with others.

“The purpose of having a parish library is to offer spiritual reading to help people grow in their faith,” Debbie says. “I think all parishioners should delve deeper into an understanding of the faith through reading and studying to know the ‘why’ behind the doctrines of the faith.”

The Parish Library can be found on the upper level of the Church near the reconciliation rooms and is open whenever the Church is open. The library is stocked with over 500 books.

All are welcome to visit Our Lady of Lourdes’ Parish Library and take a book or two to read. The experience is easy and fun. All the books have been donated and can be “checked out” on an honor system, which means that you don’t have to worry about signing the books out or taking a while to read them.

Navigating the library is simple and is very reminiscent of looking for treasure in a beautiful sea. The books are categorized by topic, which will help you to narrow down your search, but finding a specific book may be more of a challenge as it may already be checked out.

“Our library is full of spiritual books,” Debbie says. “They are loosely divided into sections starting with Bibles and Catechisms and ending with books based on death and dying, with everything in between. There are books on Catholic traditions, the sacraments, how to pray, and spirituality. There are books about the lives of the saints and books written by saints!”

There is certainly something for everyone. Many books can assist people during times of hardship, others will inspire you to discipleship, and still, others will explain some of the deepest mysteries of the faith in a way that will enliven your relationship with Christ.

“In my experience, when I hear someone who is Catholic say they don’t agree with the church’s teaching on a particular topic, most of the time they are basing their assessment on what they ‘think’ the Church teaches rather than what it actually professes,” Debbie says. “This can lead to confusion.”

The Parish Library offers a solution to one’s questions about the faith or curiosities about how to pray or live a life of holiness.

The library is always open to receiving book donations — this is the primary means by which the library grows. Monetary donations are also accepted, which will be used to buy additional books.

Growing in the faith is a lifelong endeavor, and the parish library is a great resource to pursue this noble task. Go visit and get reading!

The Parish Library can be found on the upper level of the Church near the reconciliation rooms and is open whenever the Church is open. The library is stocked with over 500 books.

The library is strictly staffed by volunteers. Once a year, the volunteers do a deep clean of the bookshelves and reorganize the books, which typically takes them a full day’s work. By volunteering on this day of the year, you can be a great help to the staff’s efforts. If you are interested in donating books or volunteering, please reach out to Debbie Locke by emailing her at debbie7yankees7@gmail.com.