Review by Lisa Mladinich
“Anyone who works with young people knows that it can be a trying experience. Society and culture have invited our youth to grow up sooner and deal with more complex issues than we had to deal with when we were young. The only answer to the mayhem and the madness is a relationship with Jesus Christ… Our role as catechists is to provide a path to Christ. We must become the road to Jesus.”
Alexander J. Basile, “The Gentle Road to Jesus”
If you have teenagers of your own, or have a desire to work with them, read Alexander J. Basile’s new book, The Gentle Road to Jesus: Bringing Christ to Every Classroom and Home. Backed up by 14 years of teaching experience at one of the premiere Catholic high schools on Long Island, and 12 years as a catechist before that, Mr. Basile holds aloft a torch in a dark place with this insightful and engaging book about drawing adolescents to Christ.
Amid the noise of a high-tech society that drowns out the whispers of the Spirit, Basile has been successful in engaging high school seniors in their own personal walk with Jesus Christ. Through solid religious training, innovative spiritual enrichment opportunities, and outreach projects that challenge them to express their own Christian mission to the poor, this dedicated instructor has forged a pathway to Christ based in his own faith and reliance upon the Master Himself.
Basile is a catechist after my own heart, calling catechists to deepen their own faith in Jesus Christ first, and then providing specific, practical, and inspiring advice about how best to reach the hearts and minds of teenagers. It’s a lovely little book, a quick and satisfying read, written in the humble and gentlemanly spirit that exemplifies all of Basile’s previous work.
Here’s what others are saying about this superb work:
“Employing his professional expertise — and with the heart of a disciple — author and teacher Alex Basile offers both practical wisdom and inspirational techniques. The Gentle Road to Jesus is a terrific resource for any parent, youth minister, or educator looking to help young people grow closer to Christ.”
Lisa M. Hendey — author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms and founder of CatholicMom.com
“This is a book I would like to put in the hands of every Catholic parent and every Catholic educator. Alex’s easy, conversational tone is the perfect conduit for this instructive and supportive message about how to gently and effectively bring young people into communion with Jesus Christ. Because the book includes reflection questions, it is capable of generating conversations that can cause Catholic homes and schools to break into new blossom! Alex’s work is a great gift to the Church.
Sr. Marie Pappas, C.R. — Associate Superintendent for Mission Effectiveness. PATHWAYS OF LEARNING /SIRIUS Radio 159/XM 117
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