Why 10,000 Parishes Have Joined the Book Program

Your Greatest Opportunity 

Have you ever noticed how full Mass is at Christmas? 32% of the people in the pews at Christmas come to church only once or twice a year. Some come at Christmas and Easter; others for Christmas and a wedding or a baptism. The point is, at Christmas they are all there in one place, and it is the only chance we get each year to re-engage them as a group. At every other time of year we have to go searching for them one at a time.

Imagine if a business knew that all their previous customers were coming together on the same day in the same place. What would they do with this information? Businesses would pull out all the stops and overcome every obstacle to find ways to re-engage those customers. If 3,000 people attend Christmas Masses in your parish, that means 960 are in the once-or-twice-a-year category.

Do you know how difficult it is to get 960 people to come to anything? Think about how many parish events have only 12, or 35 or maybe 50 people show up. Now imagine how much time, energy, and resources would be required to get 960 once-a-year Catholics to come to your church on a single day. Most parishes simply would not be able to make it happen. It would be that difficult. But once a year they show up of their own accord. 

Isn’t it time we take full advantage of that opportunity?

That’s where the Parish Book Program comes in.

How It Works

For more than 15 years, the Parish Book Program has been providing parishes a simple, affordable, and effective way to reach every single person who comes to Christmas Mass. Instead of letting them leave empty-handed, parishes hand them a life-changing Catholic book that invites them back to a life of faith. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Get the Books: Dynamic Catholic selects a few special book options and makes them available for just $2 a copy. Each book is designed to invite and inspire your parishioners, from simple and beautiful covers to deeply engaging content that’s written just for them.
2. Hand Them Out: At Christmas Mass, have friendly volunteers give the books to every single person who walks into Mass. (Tip: Parishes that hand the books out before Mass see an increase in collections on Christmas day. Generosity breeds generosity.)
3. Watch God Work: Every book you hand out is like a seed. Some may sprout right away, others may take a few months…or even a few years. The important thing to remember is: if you sow the seeds generously, God will use them to ignite transformation.

A 15-Year Legacy of Impact

Over the past 15 years, 10,000+ parishes across the United States have handed out over 65 million Catholic books with the Parish Book Program. 

Thanks to our incredibly low pricing model, each of these 60 million books was offered to parishes for $2 per copy. The typical retail price on these books is $20 or more. The result? Since the program’s launch, parishes have saved $1.7 billion on book costs.

At Dynamic Catholic, we believe that the right book at the right time can change lives, and we stake everything on it. We also believe that every parish in America deserves access to world-class resources. The Parish Book Program combines these two principles—and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

How Will the Parish Book Program Impact My Parish?

Want to know how the #1 evangelization program in America will transform your parish? We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves: 

Over 10,000 parishes in the United States have participated in the Parish Book Program. 
99.7% of parishes participate in the Parish Book Program again after their first year. 
Parishes that participate in the Parish Book Program three years in a row on average experience a 9.1% increase in attendance and a 10.4% increase in collections. 

There are over 77 million Catholics in America. And every Christmas, without fail, many of these 77 million Catholics make their yearly pilgrimage Mass. It might be the only time they step foot in a church all year. Will your parish take advantage of the opportunity?

Is It Really Worth the Investment?

Even knowing the numbers, some people still hesitate to make the choice to get books for their parish for one reason or another. It’s a big investment, and they aren’t sure what kind of return they will get. But think of it like this: 

If just one person comes back to Mass because you give them a book this Christmas, and that person is 40 years old, lives to be 80, and puts $10 in the collection each Sunday, that returning Catholic will contribute $520 over the next year and $20,800 over the rest of his or her lifetime. 

That’s a $20,800 return on your $2 investment.

And the spiritual benefits? Priceless.

Which Book is Right for My Parish?

This year, we have three fantastic books for you to bring to your parish for just $2 a copy. Which book does your parish need?

The first is The Forgotten Way: The Saint James Master Plan. Most people don’t believe holiness is possible for them, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This book is based on one epic spiritual truth: Governing your speech is a sure path to holiness. This single truth can radically reorient the lives of everyone in your parish. 

The second is The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality. God has been using these seven habits to transform ordinary people into saints for a long time. It’s time to help your parish discover why the genius of Catholicism is still relevant in the modern world.

The third is Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. The majority of people across America are completely overwhelmed with stress. Matthew Kelly wrote this book to teach readers how to slow down, reclaim the Sabbath, and take their lives back from the tyrant we call busy. Who in your parish doesn’t need that?

What’s Your Plan This Christmas?

32% of the people at Christmas Mass only come once a year. Don’t let them leave empty-handed. Place a great Catholic book in their hands for just $2 a copy.

The results are already in. We know that the right book at the right time truly makes all the difference. 

Bring the Parish Book Program to your community this year and discover for yourself the simple, proven way to take advantage of the greatest opportunity your parish has to transform lives.