James M Philipps

Laughter of the Spirit James M Philipps

"Laughter of the Spirit" tells the story of one pivotal week in the life of Father John Latimer, a gifted and beloved Catholic priest. Through a confluence of events leading up to the celebration of an interfaith prayer service, Father Latimer learns that the Holy Spirit is blowing up quite a storm. Will the tumult mark the end of all he believes in and holds dear? Or is it the sign of renewal within his life and the life of the Church? "Laughter of the Spirit" introduces the reader to a diverse community of ministers and parishioners who belong to Catholic parish in transition. They include Carol Schweibert, Father Latimer's pastoral assistant, and Father Alan Henesey, a fellow priest whose visions of what the Church should be contrast sharply with those of the pastor and his assistant. The trio is aided in their efforts to overcome their differences and work together by devoted members of the community such as Deacon Jorge Gonzalez, choirmaster Barbara Johnson, and Lottie Ettinger, beloved matriarch of the community. Young people such as Joyce Ettinger, Lottie's daughter, and Michael Johnson, Barbara's nephew, play a crucial role in helping Father Latimer expand his vision of Church and rediscover the depth of love and compassion that embraces them all. Amid the internal conflicts within the parish, the demands of ministry, and an unexpected encounter with a woman who represents for him the "road not taken", Father Latimer struggles to overcome an unanticipated case of writer's block as he attempts to put together the keynote address for the prayer service. With the help of good friend Rabbi Isaac Neiderstein he comes to understand that what seemed to be a simple welcoming address is actually the proclamation of a spiritual revolution. "Laughter of the Spirit" is, at its' heart, a celebration of the Holy Spirit and a reminder that, then as now, the wind, fire - and laughter - of the Spirit are the lifeblood of the Church.