This book proposes a theology of preaching from the perspective of the poor. Traditional homiletic methodology concentrates on the "how" of preaching. Pastro maintains that the real question for a renewal of preaching is theological, the "who" of the preaching. The center of the "who" is the Triune God living in the poor community.

"Drawing in productive ways from Bonhoeffer's Christus als Gemeinde existierend, as well as years of listening attentively to the Mexican immigrant community in the U.S. that he served for decades, Dr. Pastro demonstrates the myriad ways that the Holy Spirit indwells in the pueblo, among the poor, inspiring those, like him, who listen."
--Tamara R. Williams, Professor of Hispanic Studies, Executive Director, Wang Center for Global Education, Pacific Lutheran University

"There is, broadly speaking, a tendency in the field of theological and pastoral studies to
consider homiletics--the art of preparing and delivering biblical messages--as a matter of lesser importance. This is a big mistake. In fact, homiletics is the crown of pastoral and theological formation. And Vince Pastro's The Preaching Church: The Poor as Sacra Praedicatio, is the most precious jewel of that crown. Nec plus ultra!"
--Carlos Caldas, Research Fellow, The Jesuit School of Philosophy and Theology, Belo
Horizonte (Brazil)

"Fr. Vincent Pastro approaches the preaching event in a way that is disciplined, fresh, and
invigorating. A deeply spiritual and accessible journey into the dynamism of the preaching event. The active subjects in the dialogue are Word, Spirit, and People, a Holy Preaching that meets Jesus Christ as incarnate and proclaimed in the pueblo of God. This new sacramental paradigm does not begin with how to preach, but who is the privileged voice of revelation: the suffering poor, beloved of God."
--Paul Janowiak, SJ, Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara in Berkeley


Vincent J. Pastro is a Catholic presbyter from the Archdiocese of Seattle. He has pastored Mexican immigrant communities for many years and has a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the author of Enflamed by the Sacramental Word (Pickwick, 2010).