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Author challenges faith with her latest book

Date: 11/11/2008

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD Local author Suzanne Strempek Shea grew up to praise Catholicism and discredit all other forms of the faith.

In 2005, she watched the coverage of Pope John Paul II's wake and began to reconnect with the ideals of worship while also arousing her curiosity about other Christian faiths.

"I was raised like a lot of people and was basically told by our teachers, priests and nuns not to go into any other type of church," Shea said in an interview with Reminder Publications. "When Pope John Paul II died it clicked my mind into several thoughts: 'We're so connected to the Catholic faith but what about the Quakers and the Shakers and do they have a pope and whom do they worship?'"

The following year, Shea spent 52 weeks visiting one house of worship per week from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Her experiences are chronicled in her latest book, "Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith."

Shea has accepted an invitation by the Grace Lutheran Church's book club to partake in a discussion of her book at their next meeting on Nov. 16 at 10:45 a.m.

Carolyn Harrington, a member of Grace Lutheran Church explained that she has been an avid fan of Shea's work and is eager to hear her speak at the meeting. Harrington noted that she too spent several weeks visiting other Christian houses of worship throughout last summer.

"I very much enjoyed it," she said, adding that she was able to learn how other parishioners worship each Sunday.

"It was very fun and very eye opening," Shea said of her yearlong journey. "I don't think we stick our heads out enough [and this] opens your eyes to different ways of doing things."

She said that she hopes her book as well as her discussion later this month will spur others to take their own trips to alternative houses of worship. Shea added that she will also share some of her travel tips as well as ways to make the trips economically viable.

She explained that she has still not settled on a permanent place of worship for herself but that she is "still up for suggestions."

Shea noted that the book chronicles her experiences within the Christian faith but she has not ruled out the possibility of writing another book about faiths outside Christianity.

For more information about Shea's discussion group at Grace Lutheran Church on Route 20, e-mail Harrington at harringtonws@yahoo.com.

To learn more about Shea and her other published works visit her Web site at www.suzannestrempekshea.com.