Description: Rich in social justice and other contemporary issues, The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering by Fr. Daniel Horan, OFM, invites young adults to reflect on the Lenten tradition of “The Seven Last Words.”
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Preparation should begin at least three weeks in advance to allow enough time to obtain and distribute the book to participants. For each of the six weeks of the series, participants will need to spend 45 minutes to an hour to complete the designated reading in advance of the discussion. Time should also be spent reflecting on the questions that accompany each chapter before gathering for discussion. Each of the six weekly meetings lasts about an hour.
- Volunteers Needed: At least one volunteer leader is needed to cover the group logistics and facilitate discussion.
- Supplies: Each participant should purchase a copy of Fr. Daniel Horan’s The Last Words of Jesus (Franciscan Media). These range from $8.50 (Kindle) to $11.50 (paperback). The book is available from the publisher or Amazon.
- Reserve the Space: Arrange a regular book discussion time and meeting location during the six weeks of Lent.
- Ideal Group Size: Three to 12.
- Who is this for? All young adults
- When is a good time for this? Any time people can meet regularly for a series of six weeks.
- Publicize the Program:
- Use social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in addition to traditional outlets (parish bulletins, flyers, etc.) to reach young adults.
- When you advertise the book discussion to young adults, be sure to provide information about where participants can purchase Horan’s The Last Words of Jesus. Publicity should also include information about preparation for the first meeting, which includes reading the preface and introduction of the book.
- Include the author’s promotional video in e-mails.
Prayer for Program Planner: God of love and suffering, you accompany us as we journey across the diverse terrain of life. Help me to be a sensitive guide to others during our Lenten pilgrimage together. Amen.
Community Building: Be sure to introduce group members to one another, especially on the day of the first discussion. Nametags may be helpful from week to week. Community building will take place organically as the group engages the challenging content of the book and its accompanying reflection questions.
Make It Happen
- Arrange logistics: Well before the Lenten season begins (three weeks or more), arrange a weekly discussion time and location for each of the six weeks of lent. Each book discussion gathering should last one hour. Consider ordering some copies of The Last Words of Jesus that prospective participants can buy from you directly (this will ease logistics for those who want to participate).
- Advertise: When you advertise for the discussion group, be sure to mention the cost of the book in addition to the logistics concerning time and place. Participants should read the preface and introduction of the book for the first meeting, which should also be advertised.
- Check in before first discussion: In the few days before the first meeting, send out a reminder to young adults about the book discussion. Remind them that the Preface and Introduction should be read before that meeting.
- Suggested reading schedule:
- Week 1: Preface and Introduction
- Week 2: The First Word
- Week 3: The Second Word; The Third Word
- Week 4: The Fourth Word; The Fifth Word
- Week 5: The Sixth Word; The Seventh Word
- Week 6: Afterward
- Format of each gathering
- Begin with participant introductions, as needed.
- Go over the reading schedule for the following week.
- Each chapter begins with the scripture passage to which the chapter refers. Ask a volunteer to read this scripture passage from the book as the group quiets down for reflection and discussion. If the group is discussing more than one chapter that week, ask two volunteers to read scripture, one from each chapter that the group read.
- The facilitator should transition the group out of the scripture reading time by directing them to the page number where the reading discussions are for that week’s readings. If the group is covering more than one chapter, start with the reading questions for the first chapter you are covering. Transition to the second set of questions as the discussion proceeds.
- The facilitator can take a more hands-on approach by presenting the group with the discussion questions, one by one. Alternatively, the facilitator can “open up the floor,” asking the group what ideas from the chapter and what discussion questions stuck out to them the most.
- Conclude the group discussion with the prayer that accompanies the “Word” (or Words) that the group reflected on.
- Remind participants what the group will be reading for the next discussion gathering.
Ideas
- First gathering: In addition to ensuring that the group members meet one another, you might want to focus the discussion on people’s familiarity (or unfamiliarity) with the Lenten tradition of The Seven Last Words. Information about this tradition is included in the introduction to the book. Discussing past understandings and experiences with Lent is a great way to get people talking and engaging with the preface and introduction.
- Last gathering: In addition to reading the book’s “Afterward,” ask readers to identify some of the stories, topics, and questions that have stuck out to them in the book.
- Gather together for “Seven Last Words” on Good Friday: Parishes in your area may host a “Seven Last Words” service on Good Friday. Consider organizing a group trip to experience the service together.
Help
- If you have a group member who is not a strong reader, or someone who simply doesn’t enjoying reading all that much, recommend the audiobook, which can be found on Amazon.
