Our
Welcome Back Program that will take place on the Thursdays of November 6, 13, and 20 in the Lower Church, from 7:00?8:30 PM.
By now you should have received a brochure that describes that program in detail. So what will you do with it? You can quickly dispose of it, but I hope you will not. You can let it clutter your desk, but I hope you will not. Or, you can give it to someone who no longer practices his or her faith and invite them to explore their Catholic faith once more.
I realize that it is not easy to invite someone back. We Catholics tend to be rather private about our faith. If someone no longer practices their faith, we tend to overlook it. Or, we are simply silent about the matter. But there is another approach, one that those who have left their faith may be waiting to hear. Simply invite them back. Tell them that St. Mary?s Parish has begun a program just for them, a program that will allow them to ask questions, express their frustrations with the church, and perhaps be reconciled to their faith once more.
It is not as difficult to do this as you might think. If you know someone who has been away from the faith for a long time, you can simply say, ?Here?s a brochure that may be of some interest to you.? Or, ?Our parish has begun a program for those who are interested in exploring their Catholic faith. This brochure explains what it is all about.?
Some people will simply say thank you, and say no more. Others may be grateful and express an interest in the program. A few may become angry and upset with you and respond: ?I don?t believe in that foolishness anymore.? If you get a strong negative response, there is no need for you to become defensive or angry in return. You have made the offer; you have become an instrument of God?s grace. And who knows, perhaps after some reflection, the person will be inspired by God?s grace to give the program a chance.
We have mailed out 1600 brochures. If we as a parish hand out several hundred of these brochures to people who have left, we will receive a good response in November. But if we do not hand out those brochures, if they remain on our desks, we will have an empty church hall on the nights of November 6, 13, 20.
I have been preaching about the need to reach out to those who have left us for some time. With the help of a strong team of people, I have done my best to provide a program for such people. But there is a point at which I need your help, a point after which I can do nothing without your help.
This is a moment of truth for us as a parish, a moment when each one of us can take the initiative and say to someone, ?hey, have you heard what we are doing at our parish. Take a look at this brochure, and welcome back!?
Father Matera