Brad Bursa

A Contemporary ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ for the Lay Minister My new book is out. It’s title: Surviving Catholic Ministry: A Contemporary ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ for the Lay Minister. Ironically, the earliest manuscript of this work emerged during a season of life when it seemed I didn’t survive ministry. I thought I’d share a…

A Sobering Report from the Ground A shorter version of this essay will appear in an upcoming bulletin for the parishioners of Stella Maris Family of Parishes. I think the topic of parish decline, parish renewal, and parish consolidation is interesting, so I thought I’d share a bit on Substack. Of course, it’s impossible to…

Another one from Dorothy. I suppose it is a grace not to be able to have time to take or derive satisfaction in the work we are doing. In what time I have, my impulse is to self-criticism and examination of conscience, and I am constantly humiliated at my own imperfections and at my halting…

Three Lessons from Dorothy Day As I put the bow on another year of ministry (about 17 years in all), I’ve been considering all the apparent failures along the way. Programs launched that seemingly failed. People who flaked. Times I overpromised and underdelivered. Ideas that seemed sound before going sideways. Ministry is a divine venture,…