Wake Up, Lazarus!

Pierre Hegy is professor emeritus from Adelphi University. He received his PhD from the University of Paris in 1972. He served as visiting professor at the Catholic University of Lima, Peru, and as Fulbright scholar at the Taiwan National University. His field of research is the sociology of Catholicism in a pastoral perspective. His last book is Wake Up, Lazarus! Paths to Catholic Renewal.

Today's Catholic Church faces a major decline, and a dramatic renewal is needed to facilitate positive change.
In Wake Up, Lazarus! author Pierre Hegy documents the most important issues facing modern Catholicism and presents a convincing argument for renewal in the Catholic Church.


Wake Up, Lazarus! examines three general factors that contribute to the spiritual decline of all mainline churches and three factors that are special to the Catholic Church. Hegy describes the inner workings of two successful parishes-one evangelical and the other Catholic-to illustrate the strategies used that contribute to vibrant and growing church communities. He also reviews various renewal plans and then presents his personal, long-term plan for renewal in the Catholic Church, with practical implementation suggestions included in each step.


Hegy communicates that the strategy and principles of Catholic renewal must lead passive Sunday church-goers to become active participants; it must help active participants to become involved in parish life; and it must inspire all involved to become committed disciples.