Invited In

101 Questions and Answers for New Catholics

Part of Invited: Your Journey Into the Catholic Church

$18.95

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Invited In is the companion trade book for the Invited program—written for people who are becoming Catholic and still have questions they haven't quite figured out how to ask. It takes the posture of a knowledgeable friend who remembers what it's like to be new: someone willing to explain the things everyone else seems to take for granted and who believes no question is too small or too simple to deserve a thoughtful answer.

The book addresses the questions people most commonly have as they explore or settle into Catholic life: from the profound ("What do Catholics believe about salvation?") to the practical ("Why do Catholics genuflect?") to the puzzling ("What's the deal with all the candles?"). It strikes a balance between the essential and the cultural, the ancient and the contemporary, the serious and the everyday— since becoming Catholic means grappling with everything from the mystery of the Eucharist to the etiquette of Communion lines.

Following the structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Invited In can be read straight through, used alongside the Participant's Guide, or picked up at any point in—or after—the OCIA process.

Part I: The Creed
Part II: Celebrating the Christian Mystery
Part III: Living the Faith
Part IV: Prayer and Spirituality

SKU: 9798892761123
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: Ascension Press
Publication Date: May 05, 2026

Kara Kardell

Kara Kardell has been serving in Catholic ministry since 2014, with experience in diocesan ministry, youth ministry, adult faith formation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). She is co-founder of Draw Near, a ministry dedicated to helping people encounter the love of God through speaking, music, podcasts, and written resources and retreats (www.drawnear.me). Along with co-hosting the Draw Near Podcast, Kara helped establish Small Ember, a non-profit dedicated to helping lay people deepen their spirituality. Through apprenticeship and formation, it equips each person to live the Church’s mission in the unique way God has called them.

She holds bachelor’s degrees in Business and Communications, and a Master’s degree in Catholic Theology from the Augustine Institute. Her work emphasizes community, pastoral care, prayer, and the centrality of Scripture. Kara and her husband, Bruce, live in the Midwest, where they are raising their family and serving God.

Fred Shellabarger

With over twenty years of ministry experience, Fred Shellabarger has dedicated his life to helping others encounter the redeeming love of Christ. For more than eight years, he served the Diocese of Sioux City as Director of Evangelization, Catechesis, and Family Life, supporting pastors and parish leaders in forming disciples and strengthening parish life. He now serves at Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City, where he helps others grow in faith and deepen their relationship with Christ. As co-founder of Draw Near and co-host of its podcast, Fred strives to create spaces where people feel loved, valued, and seen; to help ignite hearts with the love of God.

He and his wife of twenty years are the proud parents of seven children whose joy, creativity, and faith continually remind him of God’s goodness. Fred’s life and ministry are shaped by one conviction: no wound is too deep, no situation too broken, and no heart too distant for the transforming love of Christ.