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- Dorsetville is portrayed as a loving, caring community. What makes a community more than just a place to live? How can we foster that sense of fellowship within our own communities? Can we create close knit, everybody-knows-your-name types of communities in today's transient society?
- God's silence in response to prayer is presented throughout A Miracle for St. Cecilia's. Father James prays for a miracle to help save the church, yet the archbishop decrees the church to be closed; Lori Peterson prays for a bone marrow donor for Bob, time is running out, yet none appear; for two decades, Harriet Bedford has prayed to be reunited with her son and granddaughter. How do these delays impact their Christian faith and their faith community? What does it mean to "pray through"?
- Harriet Bedford is known as a "prayer warrior" for her zeal of intercession for others. How does one become an effective intercessor? Must one be called?
- Timothy, Ben and Matthew try to solve St. Cecilia's problems by creating a hologram. How many times have you tried to fix a situation yourself instead of allowing God to work it out in His own time? What were the results and lessons learned?
- Biblical stories abound of angels coming to the rescue of man. Angels saved Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom; angels rescued Peter from prison. In A Miracle for St. Cecilia's Father Keene is rescued from a blizzard by angels. Do heavenly messengers still work in the lives of men?
- When George Benson sees the hologram of the Blessed Virgin and interprets it to be real, he has a powerful conversion experience. Is George's experience anyway less valid since the apparition turned out to be a hoax?
- Mention is continually made of the conflict between the Congregationalists and the Catholics. Why is there so often contention between the many Christian faiths? Is it possible to remove the denominational walls that separate us while maintaining our unique individual Christian heritages?
- Deputy Hill constantly lands on the wrong side of Sheriff Bromley's good humor; yet Hill continues to portray the Sheriff in a good light. How is Hill able to refrain from bitterness and find open admiration for a person who continually criticizes him?
- Bob Peterson, Peter Bedford and Father Keene all face death. How does each deal with their mortality? What would be your first concern if you were told that you were dying?
- Ask participants to share in the reading of Father James' Easter homily, pages 270-273. Discuss strategies for maintaining faith when circumstances foster unbelief?
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