Bestselling author Richard Leonard has written an accessible, engaging, and educational journey through the history, liturgy, and theology of the seven sacraments, as well as the Rite of Christian Burial, where history, liturgy, and contemporary theology intersect. The book expands the ritual and theological horizons of those who have celebrated the sacraments for their whole lives and introduces neophytes to the question of why sacraments are essential in the Christian life. In addition, it explores the endless possibilities they provide in developing our Christian lives.

The final chapter in the International Bestselling trilogy first Published in Spain and subsequently Brazil, Poland, Russia and Mexico. Three years have gone by and the cult of the new savior has dramatically grown by means of the Internet. Blogs devoted to sightings of him, as well as descriptions of the miracles that he has presumably performed, have flourished. Millions of people wait for him to emerge, but powerful forces from across the globe fear his impact on the world. He must be found and bought off or forever silenced. In THE SAVIOR, a thriller that raises profound spiritual questions, the fate of a man is linked inextricably to the survival of his soul. It combines the suspenseful elements of the high-tech adventure story with the equally riveting aspects of a spiritual quest. " . . . an electrifying story . . ." - LA REVISTA IMPAR (Spain)

The International Bestseller first Published in Spain and subsequently Brazil, Poland, Russia and Mexico where it spent 10 weeks on the bestseller list. Hannah Manning, a 19 year-old waitress in a New England diner, is waiting for a sign - something that will tell her what she is supposed to be doing with her aimless life. One day, she notices an advertisement in the newspaper looking for surrogate mothers. The emptiness in Hannah's life suddenly subsides; she seems to have found a worthy calling. But instead of finding fulfillment as a surrogate mother, Hannah ends up taking a terrifying journey deep into a land of fanaticism and madness, where nothing is what it appears to be. "Keeps the reader on the edge of his seat." - LA REFORMA (MEXICO) "An electrifying story" - LA REVISTA IMPAR (Spain)

Athletic program administrators have a tremendous influence on the success of their organisations. They must construct viable program plans; oversee budgeting, marketing, and fund-raising efforts; and effectively manage employees. These concepts and many more are covered in this book , an indispensable guide by Richard Leonard for any aspiring athletic program administrator or coach. Chapters are grouped into four sections covering key areas of responsibility for administrators. Section I focuses on management concepts such as program planning, managerial controls, and human resource management. Section II focuses on various budgeting methods and travel administration. Section III explores marketing concepts, program promotion, and public relations. Section IV covers external administration aspects including fund-raising, risk management, and ethics.

Book Two in the International Bestselling Trilogy first published in Spain and subsequently Brazil, Poland, Russia and Mexico. THE SON takes up the story of THE SURROGATE twenty years later. A young man discovers the mysterious (and possibly miraculous) circumstances of his birth, which the media instantly spread around the globe. While some people want to exalt him and others vow to destroy him, the youth resolves to get to the truth of his origins and undertakes a perilous search of his past. A compelling thriller about a young man coming of age in a world governed by hype and religious zeal, THE SON asks the eternal question, "Who am I?" and comes up with a provocative response that implicates us all. "A labyrinth of adventures that exposes the fanaticism that exists in Spain, as well as in the United States." - EL COMMERCIO (SPAIN) "After triumphing with "The Surrogate," the authors have returned with the second part of their successful thriller, 'The Son.'" - LA VOZ DE ASTURIAS (SPAIN)

Richard Leonard's Twixtujons is a collection of entertaining and poignant anecdotes chronologically structured from the Civil Rights protests of the 1960s through the educational skirmishes of the new Millennium. Twixtujons celebrates his thirty-two happy years teaching high school students and honors the one constant for all teachers throughout the years: the timeless gift of their making teenagers feel special-and safe-in their home away from home.Adults will hear the banter of teachers and students enjoying one another, and recall their favorite classrooms. Teenagers will find a teacher's personal thoughts about them surprising-and encouraging. Teachers will recognize themselves and their students in Leonard's tales and appreciate his respect for a noble profession, familiar to all but understood best by those fortunate enough to teach."Best book I ever read. They should make a movie."-Trixie Laverne

100 years, the popes have spoken about women on more than 40 occasions. This book is the first study, in any language, of that teaching. From speeches to encyclicals, Richard Leonard takes the reader through 27 of the most important papal documents concerning women, including Pope John Paul's most recent statements, Mulieris dignitatem and Ordinatio sacerdotalis. Writing in an easy and accessible style, Leonard shows how the popes have had very different things to say about women, depending on whether they were issuing Catholic social teaching or reflecting on the role of Mary. Leonard exmaines why recent teaching about women has met with scepticism and hostility from women and men inside and outside the Catholic Church. He demonstrates why there is such an outstanding contrast in approach to Christian womanhood taken by the papal teaching office and that of leading Catholic feminist theologian, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what the popes have actually said about women and why they say what they do

There are libraries of books on theodicy-the branch of philosophy and theology that wrestles with how God can allow a world to exist within which there is suffering and pain. The problem with these libraries is that they contain books that are generally written by professionals for their peers. Where the Hell Is God? combines the best of the professional's insights with the author's own experience and insights to speculate on how believers can make sense of their Christian faith when experiencing tragedy and suffering. Starting with a very personal story of the author's sister being left a quadriplegic from a car accident twenty years ago, Where the Hell Is God? gently leads the reader through some "take-home" messages that are sane, sound, and practical. Among these messages are: God does not directly send pain, suffering, and disease. God does not punish us; God does not send accidents to teach us things, though we can learn from them; and God does not will earthquakes, floods, droughts, or other natural disasters. This concise, accessible, and experience-based book will help people who are suffering as well as those who minister to them and their families.