Book Review: Rebuilt by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran

If you have been involved in the Catholic world for a while, you will know that there are some very real problems in our Churches. We all see it. More and more, people are leaving the Catholic Church right after Confirmation or college and never coming back.Why is this? What can we do about it?

Rebuilt by Fr Michael White and Tom Corcoran begins to answer these questions. Full of ideas and anecdotes, Rebuilt empowers readers to breathe life back into their parishes. From exploring the reasons why people stop going to church, to giving ways to re-focus efforts on Sunday, White and Corcoran give parishes what they need to do is what Jesus said at the end of Matthew: “Go out and preach to all nations” (starting with our own).

Now this book is not supposed to be an answer to everything or a claim to know all things to fill the Church again. However, White and Corcoran both know this. The book is a story of how they changed a dying parish in North Baltimore to a parish that is so big that the building is bursting at the seams. The tips and tricks are all placed within the context of their own story. They are open and honest about the ways they did not do well at the beginning of their time in the parish and things they are still figuring out. In context of the book though, it adds more credibility. It shows different ways they have failed to contrast with and emphasize their successes. As well, it gives other people a chance to avoid these same mistakes as they try to revive their parish. Overall, there are many amazing tips and philosophies and observations that more Catholics need to know and recognize.

While Rebuilt is the story of how a parish was changed from the inside out, it is clear that Corcoran and White have done their homework. One of the points they make is how important it is to learn from others, and they practice what they write by including quotes throughout the book. The index is full of both Catholic and non-Catholic sources that have to do with faith and reaching out to others, which is their main focus. While Rebuilt is very testimonial, the additional research shows that White and Corcoran’s discoveries are not unique to their own parish. They can be applied anywhere.

If you see problems in your parish but do not know where to begin, I highly recommend checking out this book. You can find it here at Amazon.  The book contains attainable steps for anybody so that tackling this issue does not seem too big. If you are a priest looking at a way to serve your community, this book is for you. If you are a parish employee who does not want your parish to fall into the same traps as so many places in the United States, this book is for you. If you are a Catholic who wants to listen to make sure that your parish is doing what Jesus asked us to do as Catholics, this book is for you.

Personally, I give this book a 9/10. It was a very easy read; I found the writing style to be very engaging. I actually finished this book in less than a week. Plus, what they write about, and many of the ideas that they have are consistent with, both agree what I have read from other reliable sources and my personal experiences as a missionary. While I am uncertain about a few of their ideas, White and Corcoran are trying to get us to look at the heart behind it. For more information, look to their book and, as Jesus said to St. Francis, “Rebuild my Church.”