unfolds as Teresa shares her testimony to the scheduled program she had been watching, or running, in her life. She candidly reveals how God interrupted that program and then, in the back of the book, has a corresponding reflection section for the reader to become a reporter, so to speak, and identify the scheduled program he or she is running and contemplate ways in which God may be trying to interrupt the program. The way in which the news items have been played upon makes the book a lot of fun to read and apply while really driving home Teresa’s message that we must subject ourselves to an extreme close-up if we are to work effectively for God.

Throughout the book, Teresa expertly uses quotes from papal encyclicals, the Catechism, and Scripture to continually draw the reader back to the abundant Truth found in such writings. It is quite inspirational and it is no wonder that more than a dozen people have endorsed the book: From Monsignor Mangan of Italy to Jerry Usher of Catholic Answers Live, Catholics understanding what Catholics need or want in their reading have offered great words of support for “Newsflash!”

Al Kresta, host of Catholic radio’s “Kresta in the Afternoon” and President and CEO of Ave Maria radio wrote:

Many of Teresa Tomeo’s friends and fans have been after her to put her story in book form. At last we have it and it’s been worth the wait. Her tale for our times moves briskly, sped along by her distinct voice and personality. You will feel the amphetamine of media competition as it euthanizes her Catholic girlhood. When her career takes off, expectations grow extravagant, compromises creep in, rewarding relationships grow feeble. She turns her back on her God and neglects the love of her husband. The seduction then complete, the glamorous world of journalism itself grows fickle. But she mysteriously changes even ‘as the news-world turns’. Christ slips back into her life to destroy the work of the devil. Years of misplaced love and loyalty are restored. Bad news gives way to the Good News and a new apostolate is born.

Teresa’s story has and will continue to shout hope to many women entangled by the contradictory and impossible promises of the world. She is as instructive as she is colorful. Her portrayal of ongoing conversion is pointed and realistic and she doesn’t mislead by glittering promises of ‘just believe and everything will be fixed.’ Throughout God is off-camera ready and able to breakthrough at any moment. When He does we get a taste of the glory, the greatness of ‘Woman,’ that mere celebrity can never seriously offer. I am humbled by the small role I’ve played in such a wonderful story of redemptive love.

We all need to see how God’s hand is upon our lives and Teresa’s testimony does just that; it shows us that God cares about all the details and will participate in our journey when we give control over to Him, or using Teresa’s media lingo, master control. What Teresa does beautifully is to share with her reader a journey in which she had to participate; she had to learn how to listen, how to respond. As Al points out, it isn’t all about “just believe and everything will be fixed.” That is, after all, simply another brass ring for which we sometimes attempt to grab.

“Newsflash!” isn’t a simple autobiography, even though it is the story of Teresa Tomeo. Nor is it just another book of inspiration, even though it offers reflections for the reader to use in contemplation or prayer. It also isn’t just about catechesis, even though the entire book is filled with references to Catholic documents and Catholic saints. “Newsflash!” is really a book by a Catholic whose life has been lived in the public eye for almost three decades and who is here to say, “We can’t live a half-way Christianity!”


“Newsflash!” is available at www.TeresaTomeo.com

Contact

Bezalel Books
http://www.BezalelBooks.com  , US
Cheryl Dickow - publisher, 248 917-3865

Email

BezalelBooks@gmail.com

Keywords

conversion, Church