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What is being a Catholic like in a Secular, Liberal Democracy?
Joseph P. Grayland looks at the contemporary experience of a Roman Catholic parish in New Zealand and how it has changed under the influence of modern culture. He outlines the New Zealand context and offers a pastor’s view of the impact of secular and pluralistic culture on believers, belief and liturgy.
Catholics. Prayer, Belief and Diversity in a Secular Context explores several of the key forces that are driving changes in beliefs, social concerns and liturgical experiences such as secularism, pluralism, globalization, technology and indigenization in the formation of contemporary liturgical community in New Zealand, a modern liberal democracy.
J.P. (Joe) Grayland is a Catholic priest, teacher and writer with undergraduate degrees in Education and Theology and graduate degrees in History and Theology. Joseph completed his Doctorate in Theology at the University of Münster in 2002 after studies in France and Belgium. He has taught liturgical theology and architectural theology in Auckland, New Zealand, and Boston, USA and Tübingen University, Germany. Joe enjoyed a 13-year career working in professional organisations in New Zealand, focusing on professional development and adult education at the Director and General Manager levels. Joseph has worked in parish and military ministry throughout this time. J.P. Grayland has published numerous scholarly and popular articles, written four books, and contributed chapters to books in both English and German. Joe Grayland is currently a research assistant and lecturer at the Chair of Liturgy at the University of Würzburg, Germany. J.P. Grayland currently resides in Germany.
