A helpful guide for busy leaders to prayerfully reflect on their work or engage in group reflection with their team.
Mission and ministry work can often be very demanding, so making time to hit the pause button for reflection before meetings and other important work has become a valued practice in many Catholic faith-based organizations. These pauses for spiritual reflection can enliven institutions, support the wide variety of individuals who work in Catholic organizations, and strengthen their important contributions to society. Designed for professionals in any organizational setting, Together Through Reflection serves as a helpful resource for mission formation and crafting fruitful reflection experiences for both personal and group use. Deegan-Krause offers theologically grounded content, prompts for thought and prayer, practical guidance, and other content to inspire a creative process.
Designed as a resource for faith-based, mission-driven leaders to use with their teams, this accessible guide offers practical direction for producing an effective and prayerful reflection experience. Professional ministers and chaplains, as well as lay leaders serving in Catholic organizations or institutional settings, and all engaged with shepherding Catholic identity into the future will find Together Through Reflection an essential resource for building community and living a reflective life.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Preface ix
Introduction Why Reflection 1
Chapter 1 Finding the Sacred in Each Day 13
The Sacred Around Us 14
The God Who Makes a Home with Us 16
The Image of God We Bring 18
Making Each Day a Sacred Place 19
Reflecting Together on Meaningful Work 21
Shaping the Workday for Others 24
Sacred Work, Sacred Rest 26
Chapter 2 Recognizing Callings and Commitments 28
Discerning Our Path 29
Meeting Guides Along the Way 30
Naming Gifts and Charisms 32
The Commitments That Shape Us 34
A Story of Saying Yes 36
Solidarity on the Path 38
Chapter 3 Responding to Hard Things 40
Meeting the God of Mercy 41
A Pattern That Shapes Our Lives 43
Finding the Cross in Our Communities 45
Finding Our Way Through Hard Times 47
All That We Hold as Leaders 49
Putting Grace to Work 51
Stories of Hope and Light 53
Chapter 4 Building Community 55
Encountering the God of the Group 56
The Sacred Space Between Us 58
Practices for Building Community 59
Breaking Bread for the Mission 61
Blessing Our Tables 63
Celebrating Gifts Among Us 65
Treasuring Community 67
Chapter 5 Doing Right in the World 69
Ethics Day by Day 70
Discerning God’s Dream for Us 72
Putting Social Teaching to Work 74
Using Power for Good 78
Finding Your Prophetic Voice 80
Shaping a Community’s Character 84
Chapter 6 Learning About Our Story 88
Exploring the Story of Our Name 89
To Say We Are Catholic 90
Unpacking Mission and Values 93
Leveraging the Logo 95
Discerning the Spirit’s Gifts Among Us 97
Shoulders We Stand Upon 99
Making Room at the Table 101
Chapter 7 Seeing the Bigger Picture 104
Taking the Long View 105
Living Betwixt and Between 107
Trusting in God’s Timing 109
Letting Go with Grace 110
Becoming the Shoulders 112
Choosing to Stay 114
Naming the Graces in a Lifetime of Service 116
Conclusion Helping Our Communities Become More Reflective 118
Appendix 1 Leading Reflection: A Step-by-Step Guide 129
Appendix 2 Template for a Retreat on Vocation 136
Acknowledgments 139
Notes 141
Reflective Activities at a Glance 149
Index 151
About the Author :
Bridget Deegan-Krause has served for nearly 30 years in ministry in Catholic healthcare and higher education. As a consultant for Catholic health systems and a retreat facilitator for boards and teams, she has worked to equip mission-focused leaders for service and is passionate about exploring spirituality as a resource for leadership. Her award-winning ministry leadership formation programming has been used in dozens of Catholic healthcare institutions throughout the United States. A former Jesuit volunteer, Bridget holds an MDiv from Notre Dame with a BA in its Great Books program. A board-certified chaplain, she has long served in leadership within the profession of chaplaincy. She currently serves as a sponsor director for Bon Secours Mercy Health System in Ohio, and as a founding board member for the Discerning Deacons project. A native of Michigan, Bridget resides in the Detroit area. Visit her website: http://www.togetherthroughreflection.com
Review :
"This timely volume offers a bold, constructive vision for reflective practices among teams working in ministry and mission-driven organizations, drawing richly on the Catholic tradition to speak broadly to people of all—and importantly in today’s world, no particular—spiritual traditions and experiences. It emphasizes how leaders, employees, boards, and other stakeholders can benefit from personal and collective attention to thoughtful, spiritual reflection and discernment, and it is rich with examples, short passages, and suggestions for how to bring this to life in diverse settings. With chapters spanning foundational formation experiences for newcomers to the organization, the challenges of difficult moments and hard decisions, and the construction of a shared community, it will prove immensely useful for audiences across mission- and faith-inspired organizations. And I imagine they will return to it many times over the years, each time deepening their appreciation for the fruits that dedicated, intentional reflection and spirituality can bring to our lives and work."
Matthew Carnes, SJ, vice president for mission and ministry, Santa Clara University
“Taking on roles of both companion and counsel, Bridget Deegan-Krause provides a gentle, thoughtful, faith-filled, and practical guide for reflective practice. This book serves as a source of inspiration for personal reflection as well as a primer for those who are called to lead prayer or communal discernment practices. What Deegan-Krause offers in this text is simultaneously beautiful, profound and helpful.”
Virginia Herbers, author of Gifts from Friends We’ve Yet to Meet and Gifts from Friends We Never Wanted
“Thank you for this simple yet profound resource. Leading meaningful reflections can be daunting. The beginning comments on ‘why reflections’ and closing ‘step-by-step guide’ are brilliant. I can imagine that Together Through Reflection will be sought after by many as a valuable resource.”
Mary Anne Sladich-Lantz, Providence Ministries sponsor
"In one accessible and concise volume, Bridget Deegan-Krause has contributed a seminal reflection resource. Together Through Reflection is perfect for anyone searching for a new spiritual practice, ministry veterans finding themselves in a ‘reflection rut,’ or those looking for practical advice on how to increase the use of reflections throughout their organization. Leaders in all sectors of ministry should keep this book close at hand for both personal and shared formation opportunities."
Michael Miller Jr., DHCML, HEC-C, system vice president for mission and values, SSM Health
“Bridget Deegan-Krause offers a powerful guide to reflection and discernment in leadership, drawing on her deep experience in chaplaincy, healthcare, and ministry. She equips leaders with practical tools to create sacred space, encounter God, and lead with mission and purpose, grace, and authenticity.”
Erica Cohen Moore, executive director, National Association of Catholic Chaplains
“A must-read for anyone seeking to be a visible sign of God’s love in the world. Bridget Deegan-Krause offers an insightful invitation to live our vocation with intention, courage, and compassion.”
Angela Moloney, CAP®, president and CEO, Catholic Foundation of Michigan
“Together Through Reflection is a book that invites the reader to press the pause button—to stop, breathe, and notice the sacred in the ordinary. It is a delightful series of spiritually inclusive reflections for those of us who serve in Catholic ministries and are asked to lead reflections. It will be on my bookshelf, right next to my desk, to pull out with ease. Bridget Deegan-Krause offers beautiful, theological perspectives on relevant ministry themes. She includes thoughtful questions that prompt deeper exploration, insight, and rich dialogue. Truly a gem of a book—a great resource.”
Amy D. Marcum, BCC, MA, Chief Mission Operations Officer, Catholic health care, Bon Secours Mercy Health
