Southern Nebraska Register
The first “One Book + One Diocese” discussion evening of 2025 will be held Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at All Saints Church in Holdrege.
The “One Book + One Diocese” program is underway in celebration of the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025. Instead of one book, the program features four short books by Father Jacques Philippe. One book will be read each quarter, followed by an evening of discussion. The events will be held in different parts of the diocese.
Father Jacques Philippe is a member of the Community of the Beatitudes in France. His books have sold more than a million copies in 24 languages.
The first Father Philippe book diocesan participants will read this year is “Time for God,” in which Father Philippe explains the foundational principles for a healthy prayer life and gives advice for overcoming the various obstacles that can arise.
The April 3 book discussion in Holdrege will feature a reflection by Father Jay Buhman, pastor of All Saints Parish.
“The thing that strikes me the most about it is while the thrust of the book certainly is tips and techniques and methods that help us to pray, it also reminds us so well that’s not the essence of prayer,” Father Buhman said. “Prayer is a relationship with God. It’s a relationship with a God who loves us and desires that relationship with us if only we would desire a relationship with Him and recognize that that’s possible. That’s the essence of prayer and all of these other tips and tools, they’re helpful, but nothing takes the place of the desire for God.”
Jeff Schinstock, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, and Dennis Kellogg, the director of the Office of Communications for the diocese will lead the April 3 discussion, which will be recorded for those who cannot attend in person.
Father Buhman said the first book can be especially helpful during Lent.
“Lent is an opportunity to renew the desire for God,” he said. It’s so great that we have the season of Lent every year, because over the course of the year so many other things creep into our life and distance us from God or displace God. Lent is just a great opportunity to renew that desire to put Him back into that prominent place and renew that desire to be in a very fruitful and loving relationship with Him. That’s a crucial part of the season of Lent and I think the books that the diocese is going through can also be a great help to further and deepen that desire, to help us to act on that desire.”
Subsequent books in this year’s “One Book + One Diocese” program will be “Searching for and Maintaining Peace,” with a book discussion by Father Benjamin Holdren of St. Gregory the Great Seminary June 10 in Seward; “Fire and Light: Learning to Receive the Gift of God,” with reflections by Father Adam Sughroue of Presentation Parish in Bellwood Aug. 26 in David City; and “Interior Freedom,” with the discussion led by Father Ryan Kaup, pastor of the Newman Center in Lincoln Nov. 21, in Lincoln.
All of Father Philippe’s books featured in the “One Book + One Diocese” program this year are available for purchase through Gloria Deo Bookstore. Books can be purchased at the store in Lincoln in person, or ordered online through a dedicated link: bit.ly/DioceseLincolnOBOD. The books can be purchased individually for a total price of $52.80, or as a bundle of all four books at a discounted price of $45.00.
Editor's note: Dates have been updated. The livestream for each talk will be available at the Diocese of Lincoln YouTube page; subscribe to be notified. Go here for the: April 3 talk in Holdrege.
