"Often during periods of boredom on holiday, in the heat and quiet of some deserted neighborhood, 
      finding a good book to read can provide an oasis that keeps us from other choices that are less 
      wholesome. Likewise, in moments of weariness, anger, disappointment or failure, when prayer itself 
      does not help us find inner serenity, a good book can help us weather the storm until we find peace of 
      mind. Time spent reading may well open up new interior spaces that help us to avoid becoming trapped 
      by a few obsessive thoughts that can stand in the way of our personal growth."
       --Pope Francis.

   The Catholic Readers Book Club meets once a month to discuss selected books and their application to our personal, social and spiritual lives as Catholic Christians.

   Participants in the club choose books of literary merit which reflect basic Catholic convictions about human existence -- the value of community, beauty, truth, hope and reconciliation. 

   The book club meets virtually on the first Monday evening of the month (September through May), 6:30-8:00pm.

     The book club is coordinated and facilitated by Bev Byford.  Bev served as Director of Faith Formation for St. Mary and Queen of Peace Parishes from 1994 to 2014.  She has BA and MA degrees in English Literature from the University of Northern Iowa and formerly served as an adjunct professor in the English Department at UNI.

     For more information about the Book Club, contact Bev Byford at 319 229 6395 (email: beverlybyford@gmail.com).

Take-Away

Adults and young adults who participate in this opportunity will:
  • read and discuss significant works of modern literature.
  • recognize the presence or absence of Catholic values in modern
    literature.
  • learn to identify and appreciate the presence or absence of Catholic
    values in daily life.

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 Schedule and Books for 2024-25