WRITING AND BOOKS
Words in service
of the journey to holiness
Available Now!
Solving the Parish Puzzle
One Person, One Disciple, One Leader at a Time
✝ Released on the Feast of Saint Anselm of Canterbury — Saint Anselm, pray for us!
“Leaders see the future as a picture puzzle and figure out how all the pieces come together.”
— Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge
Why do so many parish renewal efforts fall short—despite good intentions, dedicated leaders, and countless programs? Because renewal is not about adding more pieces. It’s about assembling the right ones.
In Solving the Parish Puzzle, Christina Semmens offers a clear, practical, and deeply Catholic framework for building healthy, mission‑driven parish communities that truly save souls, make saints, and transform the world. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, leadership formation, and evangelization, she presents twelve essential leadership principles—the “puzzle pieces” every thriving parish must have in place.
This book moves beyond theory to provide a repeatable, relational, and prayer‑rooted approach to leadership and discipleship. Readers will discover how evangelization, holistic formation, hospitality, communication, collaboration, and intentional leadership work together to create a sustainable community of communities—where people are known by name, accompanied with care, and empowered to live their baptismal call.
Say Yes to Holiness
Weekly reflections, resources, and encouragement for Catholics on the journey toward holiness — rooted in the liturgical calendar and everyday Catholic life.
Catholic Leadership Puzzle
Christina's writing on Catholic leadership formation, parish renewal, and evangelization strategy — the Substack that inspired the new book.
AVAILABLE NOW
Say Yes: Discovering Purpose,
Peace and Abundance in Daily Life
by Christina Semmens · Translated by Father Joshua Altonji
A simple, time-proven method synthesized from Sacred Scripture and the wisdom of the Catholic Church — a process that will revolutionize your daily life and empower you to live a life of purpose, peace, and abundance. The four steps of the SAY YES to Holiness process, once implemented, will help you encounter authentic peace each and every day.
Historical Fiction for Children
A TIME FOR COURAGE–Book 1 in the History Comes Alive Series
Tom Devaney is miserable at his new school. Teased by his fellow students, Tom is now assigned to be partners on a history project with one of his worst tormentors, JT Kennedy. While doing research at the library, Tom and JT suddenly find themselves outside the State House in colonial Philadelphia just prior to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. As the two boys experience events straight from their history books and meet people like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Tom and JT slowly become friends. But can their friendship stand the test of time?
MARCH TO CANADA
Matthew Hollister longs for adventure. When he learns of the American military expedition to conquer Canada, Matthew is determined to join despite his father’s prohibition. After stowing away, Matthew becomes a member of the expedition led by Colonel Benedict Arnold. Along with Aaron Burr, Daniel Morgan and Morgan’s famous riflemen, Matthew quickly discovers that severe weather and many miles of desolate wilderness lay ahead. Out of supplies and faced by one obstacle after another in the wilderness, will Matthew and the expedition survive the march to Canada?
Books Christina recommends
Spirituality, leadership, evangelization, ministry, and peak human performance — all applied to the Catholic life.
Unrepeatable
Forming Intentional Disciples
Atomic Habits
The Art of Impossible
Herding Tigers
The 12 Week Year
The Art of Forming Young Disciples
Tattoos on the Heart
Don't miss Solving the Parish Puzzle
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