A Miracle for St. Cecilia's

A gentle kind of novel with a lot of people, most of whom attend a Catholic Church. All of them have their problems... and the church itself is in danger of closing down. Meanwhile, a somewhat nerdy teenager who has been suspended from school for hacking, comes up with a rather unusual idea that gets somewhat out of hand, and an elderly priest goes missing in a snowstorm.

It makes pleasant reading, somewhat in the style of Jan Karon, although there was no main character and I found it very hard to remember who was whom. The storyline was a bit rambling, though, and some of the conclusions felt rather contrived - rather literally 'deus ex machina' in some cases.

Still, it made good reading on a long flight, and parts of it were quite show more uplifting. Three and a half stars would be fairer. show less

I was reading A Miracle for St. Cecilia's, by Katherine Valentine, just before and after the attempted coup by Trump via his fanatical supporters' violent assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Right book, right time, I guess, as the book had been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for over 14 years.

St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Dorsetville, Connecticut, is slated to be closed, due to dwindling membership after the shutdown of the local wool mills, coupled with increased maintenance costs for the aging building. Father James has to prepare his parishioners and his elderly assistant, Father Keene, for the closure and moves. But of course, a miracle happens.

The book is full of realistic, funny characters, and overall doesn't get too show more serious or preachy. I enjoyed reading a "Christian fiction"/inspirational book that actually featured Catholics (I am one) rather than the Amish or some other sect. Some readers have complained about various blunders or misrepresentations concerning Catholic doctrine and rituals, but the only thing that bothered me was the singing of "How Great Thou Art" on Easter Sunday (page 274). That would not be likely to happen in the Catholic Churches I know!

The charming Early American style cover is by JT Morrow, "best known for his parodies and imitations of the Great Masters," like naïf style painters Grandma Moses and Michel Delacroix

This is the first book of five in the Dorsetville series. I am not a fan of "Christian" fiction, nor inspirational books, but I might be tempted to read another book in this series in a time when I need some hope about the world. show less

Most people know of the books about Father Tim set in the tiny mountain town of Mitford by Jan Karon. Featuring a lovably eccentric crew of regular characters, they explore faith as Father Tim goes about ministering to his little Episcopalian flock through the trials and joys of daily life. However, they are something of a guilty pleasure for me as the level of sappiness is enough to put a diabetic into sugar shock and there is a definite air of unreality since every other person in town seems to have a lot of money tucked away ... so handy in case of emergencies. This doesn't keep me from reading these books as I have grown quite fond of Father Tim and environs. It simply propels me to seek out possible alternatives. (The first book in show more the Mitford series is At Home In Mitford.)

Set in the small town of Dorsetville, where residents have fallen on hard times since the wool mill closed, we see Father James struggling with a very modern problem. The bishop plans to close the church right after Easter because it can't support itself any more and has a huge burden of debt. This will leave the many elderly and needy parishioners without any nearby support. Meanwhile, we are introduced to locals with a variety of problems ranging from a teenager suspended from school because of computer hijinks to a young family fighting cancer.

Valentine's writing is less sentimental than Karon's and the characters, though with the requisite eccentric folks included, include many who are simply real people struggling with the same often overwhelming problems that many of us face. I particularly enjoyed the way that one woman found God's message of hope while praying in the church. It echoed the real life stories that I have heard time and again from trusted friends. Another point I appreciated is Valentine's inclusion of real angels at one point, as well as the reactions of the person who saw them. She is not afraid to use all the methods that God speaks to people in her work and it is handled quite well.

Valentine also painted a realistic scenario with the seemingly insurmountable plight of Father James in trying to figure out how to save the church or provide realistic alternatives for his flock. His realization that he has strayed from trust in God to trying to do everything himself is one that is echoed in various ways by other characters throughout the book. When reading Valentine's afterward and her reasons for writing the book it becomes even more understandable that that specific message is true to life. show less

Father James Flaherty presides over the parish of St. Cecelia's in Dorsetville, Connecticut. The parish consists of a community in economic decline and aging residents. The church itself is in disrepair and in violation of the fire code. There is a lot of need both in the families of the parish and the community at large that will go unmet if the parish is forced to close. Unfortunately the archbishop decides to do just that. The parish will close after Easter unless a miracle transpires. I loved the characters in this book. They are endearing yet real, having their share of problems and flaws. While many others have claimed this book is similar to Jan Karon's Mitford series, I feel that it is more of a cross between Jan Karon and more show more traditional Christian fiction, while being distinctly Catholic. I would hesitate to recommend this book to many of my Evangelical friends because of the emphasis on the Virgin Mary. If one can get past those doctrinal differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, this would be a great read for fans of the Jan Karon series or of Christian fiction. show less

A loving community that fills your heart with its warmth and goodness is at the center of this novel perfect for fans of Jan Karon. Dorsetville is the place, St. Cecilia's is the local Catholic church, and the story in this first installment of the series centers around the church's woes and the struggle to save it--which does not happen without a lot of heartache, spiritual struggle, pranks and hijinks, and a miracle or two. Along the way the reader meets many endearing characters who are charming, amusing, and sometimes strangely familiar. This was a ton of fun to listen to at times, and at times it also felt like I was having a devotional time as I experienced the spiritual wranglings of the characters right along with them. An show more excellent series to read or listen to. show less

This absolutely charming story about the people of Dorsetville, CT and the parish of St. Cecilia's is a feel-good book that warms the heart.

Didn't finish this one. I started it, and I looked to have some potential, but there was some languageinappropriateness, and a lot of Catholicism, which isn't my cup of tea. Disappointing, because I think I would have enjoyed the story.