Tools for Rebuilding: 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish Better

by Michael White, Tom Corcoran

Overview

Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran know that the fundamental work of the Church is to evangelize—to introduce people to Christ and make them disciples. Still, they’re the first to admit: “the difficulty comes when we reach down into the details and get to work.” In their barn-burning first book, Rebuilt, White and Corcoran shared their story and vision of building better Catholic parishes. Now, in their eagerly anticipated second book, Tools for Rebuilding, they lay out seventy-five proven tactics for getting the job done.

In Tools for Rebuilding: 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish Better, White and Corcoran share seventy-five foundational tactics that helped to rejuvenate their parish. Their candid, hands-on advice gives a clear way forward—one that will make church matter to the people in the pews and that anyone working in parish ministry can implement.

Principles/tactics include:

• Get the Right People on the Bus
• Christmas Is Over, So Throw Out the Dead Poinsettias
• Stop Advertising (Other People’s Stuff) in Your Bulletin
• Don’t Let the Insiders Take All the Good Seats
• Just Because It’s Slow Doesn’t Mean It’s Holy
• When It Comes to First Communion, Just Surrender
• Funerals Are Scud Missiles
• Preach the Announcements
• Start Getting Rid of Fundraisers
• Everything Takes Longer (Than You Think)
• Pastor, It’s Not All About You
• Stop Trying to Make People Go to Church and Make Church Matter

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594714450
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	11/25/2013
Series:	A Rebuilt Parish Book
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Fr. Michael White is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, and cofounder of Rebuilt—an organization designed to rebuild parishes for growth and health.

White is the coauthor of the best-selling  book Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, The Rebuilt Field Guide, and ChurchMoney. He is also coauthor of Seriously, God?; Rebuilt Faith; and the best-selling Messages series for Advent and Lent.

During White’s tenure as pastor at Church of the Nativity, the church has almost tripled in weekend attendance. More importantly, commitment to the mission of the Church has grown, demonstrated by the significant increase in giving, service in ministry, and much evidence of genuine spiritual renewal.

White earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Maryland and his graduate degrees in sacred theology and ecclesiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

In 2023, White and his lay associate, Tom Corcoran, were honored by Pope Francis with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award for outstanding service to Church and Pope.

Tom Corcoran has served Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, in a variety of roles that give him a unique perspective on parish ministry and leadership. First hired as a youth minister, Corcoran has also served as coordinator of children’s ministry and director of small groups. He is lay associate to the pastor and is responsible for weekend message development, strategic planning, and staff development. Corcoran also is the president of Rebuilt—an organization designed to rebuild parishes for growth and health.

Corcoran is the coauthor of best-selling book Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, The Rebuilt Field Guide, and ChurchMoney. He is also coauthor of Seriously, God?; Rebuilt Faith; and the best-selling Messages series for Advent and Lent.

In 2023, Corcoran and Fr. Michael White were honored by Pope Francis with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award for outstanding service to Church and Pope.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Introduction: Building 1

Strategic Tools

1 Don't Just Do Something, Stand There 11

2 And Then, Focus 17

3 Know Why, What; and How 20

4 Clearly Define Evangelization 25

5 Pull Down the Silos 28

6 You (Probably) Need More Gratitude and Enthusiasm 31

7 The NFL Is the Enemy of the Church 34

Building Tools

8 Sometimes It's Okay Not to Be Generous 41

9 Did Anyone Unlock the Front Door? 45

10 I'm Not Interested in How Much You Love Jesus; Just Clean Your Nursery 48

11 Christmas Is Over, So Throw Out the Dead Poinsettias 52

12 Be a Control Freak (But Only about Your Building) 55

Office Tools

13 Foot Traffic and Phone Calls Do Not Prove You're Relevant 63

14 Break Up the "Nests" 66

15 Empty Your Own Trash Can 68

Communication Tools

16 Stop Advertising (Other People's Stuff) in Your Bulletin 73

17 You Are Your Website 76

18 "Look, They Have a 'Kidzone' Too!" 79

19 Connect with Your Community 83

People Tools

20 Know Who's Not Here 89

21 Vestments Are Like Golf Clubs 92

22 Churchpeople Don't Belong in the Pews 94

Weekend Tools

23 Greet Guests 99

24 Remember All That Money You Saved on Vestments? 101

25 Invest in Music 103

26 Nobody Is Growing in Christ Just Because of Your Pious Procession of One 106

27 Manage the Transitions 110

28 Take People on a Journey 113

29 Know What Season You're In 116

Preaching Tools

30 Find Your Message; Then Stay on It 123

31 One Church, One Message 126

32 Comfort Outsiders/Challenge Insiders 130

33 Preach the Announcements 134

Sacramental Tools

34 Baptisms Are Opportunities-Take Them 139

35 When It Comes to First Communion, Put Down the Carrot and Stick 143

36 Make Confirmation Initiation, Not Graduation 147

37 People Really Will Come to Confession-Really 152

38 Use Anointing Strategically 155

39 Beware of Self-Righteous Super Consumers 158

40 Seriously, See What Happens When You Stop Announcing Mass Intentions 162

41 Funerals Are Scud Missiles 167

Kids and Student Tools

42 Do Something for My Kids, You Do Something for Me 175

43 After Second Grade, School Isn't Cool 179

44 Treat Students Like Adults 183

Money Tools

45 Fundraisers Create Sideways Energy 189

46 Pass the Basket as Seldom as Possible 193

47 Seal Up the Poor Boxes 196

48 Losers Go for Fruit 199

49 Know How to Ask for Money 202

50 Shape the Path 205

51 Be Responsible/Be Transparent 208

Staff Tools

52 Widen the Gene Pool 213

53 Get the Right People on the Bus 216

54 Talent Attracts Talent 220

55 Work Weekends 222

56 Be Leaders Who Learn 224

Critical Tools

57 Prepare for Battle 231

58 Cards Are Good; Letters Are Bad 234

59 Don't Be Upset When the Wrong People Leave 237

60 Don't Be Surprised When the Right People Leave 240

61 Say You're Wrong When You're Wrong; Say You're Sorry (Even When You're Not) 243

62 Admit You Don't Know What You're Doing 246

63 Get Over It 249

Fun Tools

64 Celebrate Wins 255

65 Because a Win Belongs to Everyone 258

66 What Gets Rewarded Gets Repeated 260

67 Have Fun 263

Overall Tools

68 Father, It's Not All About You 269

69 Be an Authority 273

70 Everything Takes Longer Than You Think 276

71 There Are No Silver Bullets 279

72 Seek Wise Counsel 282

73 Christmas Eve Is Paradigm for Everything 286

74 Its Not an Air War; Its a Trench War 291

75 Stop Trying to Make People Go to Church, and Make Church Matter 294