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Our Parish Library Provides a Host of Opportunities to Delve into the Riches of Our Faith
As Catholics, we can look toward a great many writers who share our tradition. From prolific saints to current theologians and even everyday people — we’ve inherited a wealth of resources from those who have taken the time to share their journey with God, and reflections on the doctrines of our faith, through the written word.
Here at St. Francis Xavier, we hope to make some of these texts, and other resources, available to our parishioners, aiding them in their understanding of the faith and spirituality, while also empowering them to share the beauty of these truths with others.
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“We are trying to evangelize Payne County,” says Fr. Brian O’Brien. “To do that, we need to know our faith well. Anyone who engages with the library has a wealth of resources to grow in their faith.”
Our library offers a wide variety of published resources, giving parishioners access to over 500 high-quality theological and spiritual books. From children to adults, or from lifelong Catholics to those who are curious about the faith, our library has something for everyone.
“The books are theological in nature and are good for newcomers to the faith and lifelong Catholics,” Fr. O’Brien says. “There are books on saints, liturgy, Church history, family life, and more.
“I’ve seen other parishes with libraries, but they are usually a bunch of books nobody wants,” he adds. “I wanted this library to have the best of Catholic theology. Every book in there is valuable. At any given time, about 150 books are checked out. It’s making a difference in the parish.”
As we seek to share our faith with others in our community, the Parish Library can be an invaluable tool, for as the saying goes, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” For those struggling to be open about their faith, reading a book can lead to greater understanding and confidence in what we believe and why it’s worth sharing with the whole world.
“After we’ve encountered Jesus, we then need to grow with Him,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Reading is a way we can grow.
“The Catholic faith is inexhaustible,” he adds. “Any adult who’s not reading about their faith is falling short of what’s possible. I recommend everyone always be reading or listening to a book about their Catholic faith.”
Volunteers are also needed to help keep the library organized and up-todate. For those who prefer quiet, behind-the-scenes roles, this may be the perfect form of service, helping our parishioners, who will then go out to all of Payne County.
“We can always use people who love books and want to help keep it organized and updated,” Fr. O’Brien says.
Fr. O’Brien encourages parishioners to consider stopping by the library any time the church building is open and to find a book that will enrich their spiritual life. The borrowing process is simple — take the card from the inside cover of the book, write your name in it, and drop the card in the “checked out” box.
“Any time the church is open, the library is open,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Just go on in!
“You don’t know as much as you think you do,” he adds. “I encourage everyone to find a topic they don’t know a lot about and dive in!”
