John Ruane's stories of growing up Catholic in the 1960s —- chronicled in his new book

The readers "can relate my experiences in the book to their own lives, which they seem to enjoy and appreciate. They like taking a step back to the simpler time," said the Roswell resident, adding "they also like the humor."

Ruane transports his readers back to a time before cable television, cellphones and the Internet. The author recounts his experiences as an altar boy who ate unblessed communion bread, forgot his Latin prayers at the foot of the altar and rang bells at the wrong time during Mass. He recalls Catholic school mishaps, the tension of the anti-war 1960s and the tragedy that struck his family of five children.

The author said proceeds from his book will be used to benefit Catholic schools. Ruane, a member of St. Peter Chanel parish in Roswell, recently sat down with the AJC to talk about his book.

Q: You grew up in the Catholic church in Chicago. How does that compare with your experiences in suburban Atlanta's Catholic community?

A: Chicago is a Catholic town with every square mile of the city occupied by a parish church and Catholic grammar school. Nearly everyone I knew growing up was Catholic.

There was only one Jewish family and one Lutheran family that lived on our block. Everyone else was Catholic. In suburban Atlanta, it is a mix of race, ethnicities and religions. In our neighborhood, we have a mix of Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran and Baptist families.

Q: Have your children been equally involved in the Catholic faith as they've grown up? Is there a sense of deja vu with them, or is it quite different?

A: It's very different for our four children. They have to be driven to school, Queen of Angels and Blessed Trinity [in Roswell]. I walked one block to school and church. When I went to St. Bede's grammar school, I got out of school at 1:40 p.m. and was out playing with my friends by 2:15 p.m. We pick our twins up from Queen of Angels at 3:15 p.m., they eat a snack and then are loaded down with homework each day. It's much more demanding and stressful, which is one of the purposes of the book. The kids today have it so much harder. "Parish the Thought" provides a nostalgic step back in time when life was much simpler and stress-free for kids growing up.

Q: Why did you write this book?

A: To document a time period that has long since passed but is cherished more and more by those who lived it with each passing day. I don't know that any of us knew it at the time, but it was a special time. The 1960s has a cliche image —- long-haired hippies smoking dope, attending Woodstock and protesting the Vietnam War. Yes, that was part of the '60s, but it is not the whole story. My experiences reflect the lives of so many others who grew up in that time period. Television shows like "American Dreams" and the "Wonder Years" also capture that time period. I hope other books, movies and TV shows will be produced to provide a wider view of that time.

Q: What would you like for people to learn from "Parish the Thought"?

A: I think the book's greatest value is the lesson about facing tragedy. My mother and father died very young, within a 15-month time period, and it devastated all five of us. Stepped away from the church for 10 years. I had prayed that God would save my mother from cancer, but that didn't happen.

When my wife and I had our little girl Megan, I had to make a decision. There was really no choice. I wanted her to have the same Catholic experience I had growing up. I wanted her to have the same moral base, the same beliefs. Tragedy strikes so many people, so many families. It will test their faith.

Like me, some will walk away for a while or forever. But I came to the conclusion that if I truly believe in God, and I do, then I must accept His will, regardless of the outcome.

From: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/08/09/nsworship.html