When the Saints Go Flying In: Stories About Faith, Life, and Everything in Between

A Love Letter to God, the best of Christianity, the Saints, and Pop Culture

Stories have the ability to transport us to different times and places. They have the power to inspire, challenge, distract, and transform lives. We tell stories to entertain, change minds, and share experiences. Methodist-turned-Episcopalian priest, Joseph Yoo, uses the power of stories — both ancient and contemporary — to remind us how we are often unexpectedly intertwined with one another and with God.

For example, Yoo seamlessly connects the story of St. Catherine of Bologna, the patron saint of art, with the troubled life of Vincent van Gogh. In so doing, he encourages readers to ponder how Starry Night could be viewed as a sharp commentary on the modern church. He tells the story of St. Dymphna to help de-stigmatize mental health. Yoo’s refreshing theology asserts that it’s more than okay to love Jesus and have a therapist.

As Joseph shares his personal journey, he tells stories that are irreverent and relevant to inspire you to dream and invite you to join him on this journey of discovery, calling, and faith.

When the Saints Go Flying In…

• Is a resounding testament that there is no separation between the so-called secular and religious realms.
• Reminds us that God’s love and mysterious presence are found in every corner of our world.
• Is for anyone who may be struggling on their journey of faith or seeking the affirmation that they matter to God even if God may not matter to them, yet.
• Is for anyone looking at the world today and asking questions that may not have clear, precise answers.
• Is for those who feel overwhelmed when confronting the messiness of the world.
• Offers an invitation to not be afraid of the mess but courageously enter it, for it is precisely in the messiness and brokenness of this world that God is found.
• Is an invitation to search for God, only to discover that God has been with us this entire time.

“When the Saints Go Flying In is a love letter to God, Christianity, the saints —and pop culture. In this irreverent, yet somehow deeply reverent meditation, Yoo explores faith with compassion, wisdom, and a snap, crackle, pop humor.” —Casandra Morgan-Loyer, screenwriter and writer.

Joseph Yoo provides a textured backdrop to a conversation about life and ministry for individuals and reading groups. He walks us through his journey to discover the saints of old through newly discovered Episcopal eyes. This is a book about his faith, calling, and discovery that he is continuously growing spiritually. With a delightful tromp through the lives of saints, we have a refreshing invitation to become one. For that is part of what Yoo discovers: the mystery of sainthood is a “disposition of our hearts.”
—C. Andrew Doyle, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and author of Embodied Liturgy

Joseph Yoo's journey is as compelling as his writing. His quest for understanding his place in the world while fine-tuning his voice in a new community is one that many spiritual seekers will appreciate. This story is more universal in tone and scope than one might imagine because Joseph invites the reader to join him on an ongoing journey through personal stories, comforting images, and inspirational ideas...I read this book as a rite of passage to liberation from familiar rituals and familial structures that no longer brought the security or certainty of earlier years. With the spiritual migration that identifies current generations and the religious malaise that hinders religious institutions, Yoo’s words and wisdom serve as a light to a promised land for others in need of new ways to serve and live out their life’s purpose.
—Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, United Methodist bishop and author of Alabama Grandson: A Gay, Black Minister’s Passage Out of Hiding