The Catholic mayor of Westerville, Ohio, is releasing a book on the role of faith in the civic realm, encouraging readers to boldly express their faith within the public square.
In What Are We Looking For?, Mayor Michael Heyeck connects the Catholic faith with American civic life, according to a recent press release from Catholic Treehouse, an independent publishing company.
The book explores key challenges people of faith face in the public square, including the role of local government and how to discern one’s conscience when making moral decisions in public office, the release noted.
Heyeck emphasized that government service can be an opportunity to embrace one’s calling from the Lord.
“I realized that many Catholics feel hesitant to bring their faith into public life,” Heyeck stated in the release. “My hope is to show that public service can be a vocation rooted in faith, conscience, and the common good.”
Heyeck also expressed how his faith provides a unique lens for serving his community.
“Local government is where policy meets real life,” Heyeck said. “It’s where decisions affect neighbors, families, churches, and businesses directly. That level of service requires humility and a strong moral foundation.”
Heyeck stated he wants to encourage people of faith and goodwill to step forward in times of division.
“This is not just a memoir,” he said. “It’s an invitation. We need good people — people of faith and goodwill — to step forward and serve.”