Away From the Church? Come Home!
If you have been away from the Catholic Church - for however long and for whatever reason - we invite you to COME HOME!
These words can be found quite often in the Infant of Prague parish bulletin.
Since 1988, when I arrived in the Diocese of Raleigh from New York, I have been stopped by people and asked how a person returns to the church after a brief or prolonged absence. At times, the person is asking the question for a relative or friend, many times that person is asking for himself/herself.
Over the years, I have seen that people leave the church (take a "vacation," so to speak) for various reasons. They usually can tell you why they did not attend Mass the first, second or third Sunday in a row. After that, a habit of not going to church was established. Sometimes, a person has felt hurt by a priest, religious, or lay minister and has not been practicing.
Much of the time, the birth of a child reminds the parents of the rich religious traditions they took part in when they were practicing Catholics, and this rootedness is what they want for their child.
Living in Jacksonville, near Camp Lejeune, I see an increase in interest in returning to the Catholic Church both right before a deployment and right after a Unit returns home from Iraq or Afghanistan.
What we try to do first and foremost is to assure the person that we want them to come home - that the church is not the same without them, that they have much to offer, and that they are and always will be Roman Catholic.
After that, it is important to help them re-assimilate into the pews. What has happened in the church since they were last here? How can we give them the information they need to feel more comfortable - to truly feel at home? How can we help them prepare to renew their sacramental life? How can we as a worshiping community sincerely welcome them back into our congregation?
I believe that we are all called to the ministry of welcome or, in this case, welcome home. Most people return to the church because a spouse, friend, neighbor, relative, or child has invited them.
If you or someone you love has been away - for however long and for whatever reason - I encourage you to call your parish. Find out what is available in terms of a program like Come Home. If one does not yet exist, think about volunteering to help get one started.
Let us search out those who are missing from our midst and invite them to come home!
Sr. Barbara Marie Cady, S.U., is Pastoral Administrator of Infant of Prague Parish, Jacksonville.