Tag: Emmaus Road Publishing

Resource for Sunday Mass Prep: Breaking the Bread

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Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics (Year A)

By Scott Hahn and Ken Ogorek

Published by Emmaus Road Publishing

 

While 2026 doesn’t begin for another two months, the new liturgical year (year A) starts the weekend of November 29, so now is the time to get your Mass-preparation materials lined up. Whether you’re a musician (like me) or lector and therefore “on duty” during Sunday Mass, pulling parent duty in the pew, or aware that sometimes distractions tear your attention away from the readings and the homily, preparing for Mass ahead of time can help you get much more out of the Liturgy of the Word.

In three short pages per week, Breaking the Bread by Scott Hahn and Ken Ogorek offers background information about what’s happening in the Sunday readings. Knowing the historical and religious context of these readings is a great help in understanding them. Material from the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides even more information and context, and the reflections in this book always bring the reader back to the focus on the Mass, inviting us to consider what they teach us about the Eucharist.

Little extras in this book that make it even more special are full-page pull quotes from Scripture, as well as full-page, full-color sacred art (there’s an index at the back in case you’d like to learn more about each image). The clothbound hardcover book feels sturdy in my hands, and this book is built to last — which is good, because in 2029 it can be used again! With the publication of the Year A volume, this series from Emmaus Road Press is now complete.

 

 

 

As I mentioned in my review of the first book in the three-year liturgical cycle, Breaking the Bread takes Sunday Mass prep to the next level!

Four-Part Weekly Format:

  • a listing of the Mass readings for the Sunday or holy day (have your Bible or Sunday missal handy, or use the USCCB’s online daily readings);
  • a reflection on the readings for the day, tying them all together;
  • further information including quotes from the Catechism; and
  • questions for reflection and a closing prayer.

One Thing I’d Change

It’s important to note that when a solemnity with a fixed date falls on a Sunday (in 2026, that’s November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints; we had quite a few in 2025), you won’t find the readings for the solemnity in this book, but the general liturgical Sunday. I would have liked a section at the back that includes those solemnities. Breaking the Bread does include both Ascension of the Lord and Seventh Sunday of Easter options, so no matter where you live, you’ll have the correct material for that Sunday.

Ask for Breaking the Bread at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Emmaus Road.

Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz

Photos copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.

This article contains Amazon affiliate links. Your purchase through these links supports my work at no extra cost to you. I received these books from the publisher for the purposes of my honest review. No other compensation was given.

"The Attic Saint"

A Cozy Catholic Read-Aloud: “The Attic Saint”

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New from Emmaus Road Publishing, The Attic Saint by Tim Drake is a wonderfully cozy story, perfect for family read-alouds or for newly independent readers.

Leo and his family have just moved to a big old house in a new city. As the old-fashioned charm of Leo’s new home (a former convent) begins to grow on him, the reflection from a stained-glass window leads him to explore the attic, where he discovers an unusual piece of art: an icon of St. Ambrose.

When the icon seems to speak to Leo, explaining how icons are created and what they mean, the little boy learns about this religious art form and the story of the saint depicted in the icon in his attic. Leo’s insistence on hanging the icon in a special place in his new home begins a transformation for the whole family.

The Attic Saint

Charming illustrations by Theodore Schluenderfritz bring the story to life. The depiction of a small boy in a large, nearly-empty home underscores Leo’s loneliness in his new city. Just as the story is quiet with a touch of suspense, the art is not garish or harsh. The story’s gentle message of openness to God is underscored when Leo’s parents follow his lead in opening the door to faith.

An article in The Central Minnesota Catholic tells how both the story itself and the illustrations were inspired. Schluenderfritz, the creative director at Today’s Catholic Teacher (where I work), told me that Leo’s house in the story was based on an actual home in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I lived in Scranton for four years during college, so that was a fun connection for me.

Don’t miss this cozy Catholic read-aloud: The Attic Saint is a charming picture book featuring a lonely child, an old convent, and a mysterious icon.

"The Attic Saint"
Illustration copyright 2019 Theodore Schluenderfritz. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the publisher.

Copyright 2019 Barb Szyszkiewicz
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I was given a free review copy of this book, but no other compensation. Opinions expressed here are mine alone.