Outreach to inactive or alienated Catholics
"Once Catholic" via the Internet
This Franciscan Friars program at St. Anthony Messenger seeks to help people reconnect with a local Catholic faith community. www.OnceCatholic.org does this by offering: information, opportunities for interaction with others, personal responses and referral to "Come Home" programs within the Catholic Church in the US.
Eight chat rooms offers a cyber but personal connection with a "companion," a pastoral minister in the Church. The eight areas are: marriage issues, not being fed spiritually, just drifted away, quarrel with a Church representative, feeling excluded from the Church, abortion and or post-abortion issues, difficulty with a Church teaching and an general area where those not represented above can add their own story or issue
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Encouragement for non-practicing Catholics
Jesus Christ loves you. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety nine sheep and searches for the one who is lost. When Christ finds the lost one, he places it on his shoulders and carries it home. The Catholic faith is centered on Jesus Christ. Let nothing hinder or discourage you from being one with him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life." John 3:16
Jesus guides us in our journey. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." John 14:6 Jesus demonstrates his love by his life. He defines the relationship everyone must have with the heavenly Father. When we look at the crucifix, we see love. When we attend Mass, we see love. Christ offers himself for our salvation. "In the institution of the Holy Eucharist, Christ gave us the most perfect, most intimate form of communion between God and man possible in this life..." (Inter Mirifica #11)
Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15 God's commandments are an expression of his holy will. They lead to happiness, to God himself. Worshipping the Lord on the Lord's Day fulfills both the first and third commandments. The highest form of praise is to unite with Christ as he offers himself at Mass.
What does it take to be reunited with Christ? To receive him in Holy Communion? Forgiveness is found with Christ in confession, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A problem or doubt? Talk it over with a parish priest! Married outside the Catholic Church? Solutions may be less complicated than you imagine. Apathy or indifference? Pray for God's inspiration and grace. We are to love the Lord with our whole heart and soul. The Lord already loves us all.
There may be many reasons why people no longer worship the Lord on the Lord's Day. Whatever the reasons or excuses, they melt away in the presence of God's love. To be in the state of grace, to receive Christ in Holy Communion, brings interior peace and harmony. The heavenly Father so loved all of us that he sent his Son. Jesus stands at the door of our hearts. The door must be opened from within.
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Do you know someone who has left the Church?
Most of us do not have to look very far to find "non-practicing Catholics" in our circle of family and friends. Many of us are concerned about these loved ones however we don't know how to help them. Obviously, most of them are searching, but how can we help them find their way home?
As baptized, practicing Catholics we have a precious gift of faith and love from the Lord that needs to be shared with our non-practicing brothers and sisters. First, we need to pray for them. Secondly, we need to extend a personal invitation to them to come home to the Catholic Church. Most non-practicing Catholics are waiting for an invitation to return. Many mistakenly think they are excommunicated and are not welcome to return for a variety of reasons.
Many non-practicing Catholics carry a tremendous amount of guilt and misinformation about the Church so they are afraid of approaching the Church for fear of being rejected. You can make a tremendous difference in someone's life simply by reaching out to them and telling them that we miss them and would like for them to come back home to our Church family.
Catholics Returning Home is an RCIA-like process for reaching out and inviting inactive Catholics to return "home" to the Church and resume an active practice of their faith. It is conducted in a non-judgmental support-group format. However, a sequence of topics on the basics of Catholicism is covered during the six-week series so that attendees are updated. The process is both formational and informational.
- Were you raised Catholic but do not come or seldom come to church anymore?
- Are you a Catholic who now feels separated from your church?
- Would you like to know more about the Catholic Church as it is today?
- Would you like to feel at home in the Catholic Church again?
No matter how long you have been away and no matter the reason, we invite you to consider renewing your relationship with the Catholic Church.
Need more information? Contact the Catholics Returning Home program at one of these parishes:
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Albany 812-944-1184
- St. Barnabas, Indianapolis 317-882-0724
- St. John, Bloomington 812-876-1974
- St. Jude, Indianapolis 317-786-4371
- St. Simon, Indianapolis 317-826-6000
- St. Gabriel, Indianapolis 317-291-7014
- St. Vincent, Shelby County 317-398-4028
May we assist you in your journey of faith?
Contact:
- Evangelization Ministries
- Office of Catholic Education
- 1400 N. Meridian Street, P.O. Box 1410
- Indianapolis, IN 46206-1410
- Local: 317-236-1432
- Toll Free: 800-302-9836, ext. 1432
- Fax: 317-261-3364
- E-mail: jvalenti@archindy.org
Your local parish priests have a welcome mat at the door and are delighted to serve you!