Paraclete Press: Unique Roots

by Donna Freitas, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 1/10/2007

Most publishing houses owned by religious orders or denominations have roots and histories that are familiar, at least to those who know religion. But Paraclete Press grew out of a unique religious community with a comparatively short history, and most people know nothing about that history.

Paraclete is situated by the ocean on Cape Cod, on the campus of the Community of Jesus, an ecumenical Christian lay community that opens its doors to everyone for both worship and retreats. It's the relationship with this Benedictine group (which includes monks, nuns, single and married people) that makes all the difference.

The Community was officially founded in 1970, but its members began meeting in 1958. Two Episcopalian women living in the town of Orleans, Mass.—Cay Andersen and Judy Sorensen—began getting together to pray in what was soon known simply as "Monday night meetings." It wasn't long before many families were attending, and some even decided to relocate to Orleans.

"The two women didn't look to start a community. But soon there were two families, then three, and now there are 300 people living here," said Belinda Schmitt, director of communications for the Community. "All members take vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of life, but the community is also organized with a sisterhood and brotherhood, each member taking an additional vow of celibacy and living in a convent or friary."

The Community of Jesus prizes the creative arts as a way of connecting to God. It sponsors performing arts groups and built a basilica—the Church of the Transfiguration, dedicated in 2000—known for its stunning mosaics, frescoes, sculptures and bronze doors, said Belinda Schmitt, director of communications for the Community. "It's clear how the arts go hand in hand with our worship," Schmitt said. "And our choir was just on tour with the Boston Pops."

All of this is reflected in how Paraclete is staffed and in what they publish."The Community of Jesus considers writing part of the arts, but as a press we also distribute CDs and sheet music, and we are very involved in music, drama, dance, and stonecutting, in addition to books," said Carol Showalter, director of publicity for Paraclete. "We have probably seven nuns and monks that work here." The press's top-selling books include Medjugorje: The Message, with about 500,000 copies sold since 1989; the books in the Paraclete Classics series, with more than 200,000 in combined sales (Practice of the Presence leading with 54,000); and 3D: Diet, Discipline and Discipleship, with more than 500,000 sold in two editions since 1975.

A typical workday at Paraclete might be considered anything but at another house. "We pray the Divine Offices [the Benedictine practice of fixed-hour prayer] in Gregorian chant every day," Showalter told RBL.

Phyllis Tickle, a prolific author of many books about prayer, including The Night Offices (Oxford, Nov.) and former PW religion editor, has a special relationship both to Paraclete and the Community of Jesus: she's engaged in writing their history and is an honorary member of sorts. Said Tickle, "Paraclete has emerged over the last decade or so to become one of the country's strongest and most aesthetically satisfying publishers of Christian spirituality."

Pamela Jordan, the publisher and CEO of Paraclete, probably boasts the most intimate relationship of all to the Community of Jesus: she's lived there since the age of ten.

"Growing up here I was surrounded by the essence of Benedictine spirituality—understanding all things to the glory of God, extending hospitality in the name of Christ, and praying the Divine Offices," said Jordan. "These practices are at the heart of the press."